Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

 

Office/Unit/Project Description        

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels:

  • Financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives;
  • And by showing how localized investments — through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance — can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs.

Since 2008, UNCDF has been supporting digital finance with significant success, with digital finance currently the largest part of its inclusive finance portfolio. This includes digital innovations linked to off- grid energy, agriculture, employment, health and transport. UNCDF is also host to the Secretariat of the Better than Cash Alliance, a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth.

With many professionals with strong digital finance experience across the globe and with several hundreds of projects on digital finance on-going, UNCDF is one of the leading development agencies in digital finance with a mission and expertise to reach low-income customers in some of the world’s most difficult markets.

Based on this experience, UNCDF started in 2017 to expand the scope of its programmatic agenda to go beyond digital finance using its newly launched strategy “Leaving no one behind in the digital era”. Through this strategy it intends to move its focus from digital finance (DF) to digital economies which constitutes a logical integration of UNCDF experience in financial inclusion and digital, developed over many years. The legacy of UNCDF intervention programmes was built through a range of country/regional programmes and global thematic initiatives, which has established a very strong reputation for UNCDF vis-à-vis donors and peers.

The Digital Finance Country Specialist will be responsible for coordinating UNCDF’s work in Gabon.

In 2021 UNCDF launched a 4-year program in various countries in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean that contributes to the deployment of digital finance solutions at the scale and speed necessary to deepen financial inclusion, accelerate economic recovery from COVID-19, and to make economies and societies more resilient to external shocks.

The Digital Finance Country Specialist will be responsible for activities, outputs and outcomes under the above mentioned programme in Gabon. This involves working closely with UNCDF partners, from the government, such as the central bank and ministeries, the private sector, including but not limited to commercial banks, mobile network operators, fintechs, insurance companies, remittance service providers etc, as well as development partners, such as other UN Agencies, donor organizations and NGOs.

 

 

Institutional Arrangement

Direct Supervisor is Regional Manager WCA, with in-direct reporting line to the Programme Manager.

Org structure in annex, please.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the UNCDF ´s Regional Lead for West and Central Africa, the Digital Finance Country Specialist will be the key person on the ground to structure the UNCDF engagement in the country and will undertake the following tasks:

  • Annually update UNCDF’s country strategy, develop detailed annual work plans and budgets
  • Develop a multi-year roadmap to support digital transformation in Gabon Identify priorities, partners and results that will support the country strategy
  • Develop strong relationships and ensure buy-in from stakeholders in relevant sectors (digital, finance, agriculture, health, education etc.)
  • Ensure UNCDF is represented at key UN agency, development partner and government meetings
  • Identify and select implementing partners
  • Ensure proper planning, staffing and contracting for project to achieve proposed results
  • Facilitate relationship-building with key government ministries/officials to gain support for UNCDF’s programme in Gabon
  • Support and oversee the project delivery and achievement of objectives by working with implementing partners, including supporting their project-related activities
  • Ensure effective coordination between the implementing and other development partners, and that all stakeholders are communicating with each other to enhance synergies
  • Develop and monitor country results. Work closely with the Results Measurements team to ensure on-time and accurate reporting of results
  • Ensure implementing partners produce reliable and timely data to produce donor and global reports
  • Provide input for UNCDF global reporting and business plan needs
  • Measure project targets and progress, including social and gender dimensions
  • Ensure quality project progress reports for donors are produced on a timely basis
  • Ensure there is a system for tracking programme key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/Expected Outputs

  • Establish and strengthen relationship with all country digital finance stakeholders,government departments leading to tangible results and progress in financial inclusion indicators for the country
  • Robust partner & stakeholder engagement leading to development of projects supported by UNCDF
  • Grant and technical assistance management resulting in partner organization meeting targets under the performance-based agreements
  • Represent UNCDF in all country level workshops, seminars and conference related to Digital Finance where UNCDF is invited
  • Facilitate country visits of regional technical specialists and UNCDF teams by liasing with partners in organizing meetings
  • Ensuring timely reporting from partners as may be required

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management: NA

 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Digital and Innovation

Digital Inclusion

Knowledge of how digital inclusion work, opportunities and challenges for governments and society

Digital Finance

Financial Services

Knowledge of how Digital Finance can enable access to finance to low-income households

Digital Awareness and Literacy

Tech and Financial literacy

Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Partnership Management

Private Sector Engagement

Ability to identify, conduct outreach and manage relationships with the private sector

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

  • Master's degree inEconomics, Finance, Accounting, Management or Equivalent
  • Note: Bachelor’s degree can be accepted with 2 years of additional relevant work experience

Min. years of relevant work experience

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in economic development programming, financial inclusion, digital/mobile financial services, digital innovation and/or banking is mandatory
  • Experience working on financial inclusion of vulnerable groups: refugees, women, youth is an added advantage.
  • Prior experience working with or in a UN Agencies is preferred.

Required  skills

  • Solid experience in financial services and/or digital economy sector (e.g. Digital Finance, FinTech, InsurTech, eCommerce, Telco, etc);

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

  • Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
  • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
  • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
  • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem- solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
  • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.
  • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups.
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary.
  • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Required Language(s)

  • Fluent in French and English

Professional Certificates

  • N/A