UNCDF Jobs - 29394- Programme Manager (CleanStart) UNCDF

Programme Manager (CleanStart) UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Apr-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year, with the possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

This is a Re-Advertisement of the same vacancy announcement. The applicants who have already applied, do not need to resubmit their applications.

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their small businesses by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives. UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyze larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Millennium Development Goals.

UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has developed a programme that aims to assist poor households and micro-entrepreneurs to obtain access to sustainable, low-cost clean energy supplies through microfinance loans. This programme, called CleanStart for short, will support 18 Financial Service Providers (FSPs) across six countries in Asia and Africa to build capabilities to provide clean energy lending, backed by a policy environment and energy value chain that is focused on reaching the poor.

CleanStart (2012-2017, US$26.1) will be delivered through four outputs:

Finance for Clean Energy to strengthen capabilities of 18 MFIs to provide microfinance for clean energy to low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs.
Technical Assistance for Clean Energy to remove barriers to the successful deployment of those technologies and services for which the selected MFIs will provide microfinance.
Global Knowledge and Learning to enhance understanding and awareness globally of the potential for microfinance to scale-up access to clean energy and make available the tools and knowledge needed to scale-up access to clean energy beyond the project
Advocacy and Partnerships to create an enabling policy and business environment to expand microfinance for clean energy.

CleanStart is largely divided into four phases of programming (inception, roll-out, consolidation and scale-up, phase-out). The inception phase will be one year from January to December, 2011 and will initially support three FSPs across two countries in Asia and Africa. CleanStart aims to incrementally expand to additional four countries in Years Two and Three of programme implementation.

CleanStart will establish a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) based in the UNCDF Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok. The Programme Manager will work under the direct supervision of the UNCDF Senior Regional Technical Advisor for Inclusive Finance based in Bangkok and in cooperation with other regional staff from UNCDF and UNDP based in both Asia and Africa.

This is a Development Project Funded position.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key result of the Programme Manager will be to successfully implement the programme by undertaking the following responsibilities:

Develop methodology for strategic market research in pilot countries:

Develop a standard methodology for conducting strategic market research in pilot countries to assess energy needs of low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs, technology options, end-user finance requirements, and gaps in scaling-up decentralised clean energy solutions for the poor;
Test and refine methodology in pilot countries;

Ensure high-quality and timely technical assistance is provided to FSPs and energy suppliers in:

Building awareness and confidence in clean energy financing, and developing business plans;
Brokering reliable partnerships based on sustainable risk-sharing agreements;
Developing financial products and business systems;
Improving the energy supply chains of technology/service chosen for lending.

Facilitate the award and management of grants and loans:

Conduct Request for Proposals (RFPs) in pilot countries and manage the selection process, including reviewing FSP proposals, conducting due diligence, short-listing and presenting recommended proposals to the Investment Committee;
Ensure national government (i.e. Central Bank) of pilot country is aware and has “no objection” to providing funding to selected FSPs;
Draft Performance Based Agreements (PBA) with disbursement conditions and targets, and negotiate with applicants on final agreements;
Oversee FSP’s execution of agreed milestones in the PBA and ensure disbursements are made on time if/when conditions are met;
Review quarterly performance reports, analyze performance and work with FIPA network of country and/or regional advisors to ensure timely intervention to keep investments on track.

Select and manage a network of technical service providers to assist FSPs and energy suppliers:

Develop detailed strategies for technical assistance together with UNDP staff and (where applicable) in cooperation with existing UNDP technical assistance platforms for energy products in a given country context ;
Prepare, negotiate and manage framework contracts with International and Local Technical Service Providers;
Manage technical service providers and oversee delivery of high-quality outputs;
Ensure sustainability and quality of the network by through a system of training and certification of local technical service providers.

Explore partnerships with relevant programmes and initiatives:

Liaise closely with the UNDP/GEF Unit to explore potential to integrate CleanStart into UNDP/GEF project(s);
Liaise with UNDP’s MDG Carbon Facility on possible linkages between program activities and carbon finance markets
Contribute through evidence and experience to the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative;
Represent CleanStart in relevant events.

Overall programme implementation and management:

Manage the delivery of programme objective and outputs to ensure it is implemented on-time and on-budget;
Provide direction and guidance to the project team;
Ensure research outcomes inform project design;
Liaise closely with the Investment Committee to keep the members abreast on programme progress and assure the overall direction and integrity of the project;
Prepare and implement quarterly and annual work plans;
Prepare quarterly and annual progress reports and submit the report to the Investment Committee;
Facilitate annual reviews required by the Programme;
Convene Investment Committee meeting(s);
Convene annual event to disseminate initial pilot results and experiences (e.g. Global Clean Energy Finance Partnership Forum).

Resource mobilization and corporate support:

Develop strategies to mobilize additional resources based on programme resource requirements and new opportunities;
Support the efforts of the Senior Regional Technical Advisor for Inclusive Finance, FIPA Director and Deputy Director, UNCDF Partnerships and Communications Unit to mobilize additional resources for the programme.

Impact of Results: Results of the work will have a significant impact on:

Strengthening the capabilities of FSPs to provide microfinance for sustainable, low-cost clean energy systems and services;
Ensuring programme outputs and good human and financial resources management are directed at achieving the intended results of the programme.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards
Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly and without favoritism

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values and strategic goals of UNCDF and UNDP;
Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of the Programme;
Plans, prioritizes and deliver tasks on time;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Responds flexibly and positively to change through active involvement;
Establishes clear performance goals, standards and responsibilities, and manages them accordingly;
Promotes a learning environment, and facilitates the development of individual and team competencies

Results-orientation:

Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Generate innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations

Partnering and Networking:

Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside the programme;
Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors with a view to building relations and facilitating links;
Ability to manage multi-partner, multi-country projects in complex environments that use state-of-the-art innovation and practice;
Experience in organizing and coordination of a wide variety of meetings, conferences, events and other activities in professional contexts

Innovation and Judgment:

Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues and how they relate;
Contributes creative, practical ideas and demonstrates sense of entrepreneurial initiative to deal with challenging situations;
Strives for quality client-oriented services (internal and external) when making decisions and taking action

Communication:

Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Demonstrated strong technical and practical leadership and knowledge in micro-finance, clean energy loan products for the poor, clean energy sector and carbon markets;
Uses ICT and web-based management systems effectively as a tool and resource;
Is motivated and demonstrates capacity to pursue personal development and learning

Nature of Interactions:

Active and continuous engagement with FSPs and energy suppliers to generate viable microfinance products for clean energy solutions that can be supported by the programme;
Frequent travel to countries to meet with FSPs, policy makers, regulators, clean energy industry actors, and development partners to promote the programme, identify partnerships and to conduct monitoring of the programme;
Build strong working relationships, supported by an effective communications strategy, with donors contributing to the programme;
Build strong networks with international and regional institutions and programmes involved in promoting access to clean energy for the poor

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in economics, finance, business, public administration or related field,. Concentration on energy an advantage.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years relevant, practical working experience within the financial sector and/or microfinance and/or decentralized energy solutions for the base of the pyramid, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs) both at field level as well at senior management positions and across more than one country. At least 3 years demonstrated experience in managing a development programme in the field of microfinanceDeep technical knowledge and experience with microfinance for clean energy solutions;
FSP management, preferably in an emerging market;
Experiences with similar assignments in LDCs and developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Experience undertaking market research;
Experience with new product development, testing, roll-out;
Resource mobilization experience and record of success in reporting to and managing donor grants and reporting mechanisms;
Strong programme management experience with emphasis on monitoring, evaluation and incorporating lessons learned into inclusive finance projects and programmes;
Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skills, including solid experience in financial management;
Strong financial analysis and business project appraisal skills;
Familiarity with UNCDF/UNDP rules and procedures is an advantage

Language:

Excellent command of the English language, with outstanding written and oral communication skills