UNCDF Jobs

• Effective management of the global LFI Programme on behalf of UNCDF, including change agent management and partnership development.
• Policy research and development for the Local Finance Initiative in the framework of the UNCDF corporate strategy.
• High-level policy advocacy and strategic advice.
• Partnerships for development results.
• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

• Global LFI Programme managed at global, regional and country levels in terms of its financial accountability, programmatic coherence, human resources structure, and target achievement;
• Oversight of LFI Programme exercised at global, regional and country levels, including facilitation of innovative approaches in project development, finance, and capacity-building;
• Development of partner relations with existing and future donors to LFI developed, managed, and expanded, in close collaboration with UNCDF’s Partnerships Unit. 
• LFI’s Technical Service Provider(s) on contract with UNCDF managed to ensure full compliance with agreed upon Terms of Reference and contracts issued. This includes negotiation, issuance and management of new contracts, if deemed necessary;
• Assessment of LFI Programme’s deliverables against the Programme’s scheduled deliverables (activities, outcomes, outputs), with an LFI needs assessment carried out and plan of action implemented to address any identified issues and implementation gaps;
• Regular exchanges of information between UNCDF and other stakeholders involved in project development and the improvement of local business environments. Regular reporting on the progress of LFI Programmes, including challenges, bottlenecks and proposed solutions;

• Development and refinement of the LFI concept, programmatic and implementation approaches;
  - Functioning as the UNCDF LFI Focal Point for regular collection, analysis and dissemination of LFI-related information at the global and regional levels;
• Specialist contribution to the LFI-related outcomes, outputs and activities as well as monitoring and evaluation frameworks as part of the UNCDF corporate strategy development and planning;
   

• Strategic advice to the UNCDF senior management in the HQ and the Regional Office for Africa on the development and application of LFI methodology and approaches globally and in the region;
• Policy advisory services to the Governments and other partners globally and in the region in the area of LFI, in consultation with the Regional Office for Africa and the relevant UNDP Country Office(s);
• Contribution to formulation of regional and country programmes drawing upon lessons from LFI programmes and other initiatives in the region and from global experiences;
• Strengthening internal capacity in the HQ, the Regional Office for Africa and the relevant COs on the approaches and methodologies to unlock domestic private financial markets for LED financing.
  

• Partnership building with global, regional and local institutions and consultancies engaged in LED, development finance, project development and finance, etc.;
• Development and maintenance of an expert roster for LFI globally;
• Formulation and implementation of the global and regional partnerships to support LFI and enhance resource mobilization strategies in liaison with the UNCDF Partnership Unit and the Regional Office for Africa;
• Scanning and identification of partnership opportunities and donor intelligence and provision of information to the HQ and the Regional Office for Africa of new partnership developments – e.g. donor priorities, pledges, new donor funding modalities, etc. ensuring that this supports LFI programming;
• Effective mobilization of financial resources for the LFI to ensure expansion of the initiative and further programme development;
• Maintaining and strengthening partnerships with key multilaterals (Bretton Wood Institutions, Regional Banks, etc.) and key regional government and private sector institutions to support the LFI architecture;
• Elaboration and implementation of an LFI communication plan and development of media content and other relevant materials for public awareness-raising and development partner engagement on LFI (global and national).
  

• Based on lessons learned from existing LFI pilots in Africa, preparation, in cooperation with the UNCDF Knowledge Management Unit, of global and region-wide lessons learned, best practices and generation of knowledge needed and lessons learned to shape UNCDF’s LFI global approach in the region;   
• Coordination of all cross-practice collaboration, capitalizing on the approaches and tools in other practices;
• Contribution of evidence-based best practices and lessons learned globally and from the region to inform and shape global practice;
• Presentation, on behalf of UNCDF, of experiences and lessons learned during implementation of LFI globally and regionally, including effective approaches and methodologies for unlocking private domestic financial markets for LED financing at global and regional knowledge sharing events, workshops and conferences.
  

•  Improved ability and willingness of the relevant stakeholders to use domestic finance for LED and to create enabling national and international environments for sustained participation of the domestic financial sector in LED.
• Substantive partnerships strengthened with domestic financial providers, development partners in providing project development and credit enhancement support, and Technical Service Providers.
• UNCDF Regional and Country Technical Advisors/Managers supported to facilitate programme design and implementation for local development finance.
• Planned programme outputs and outcomes are fully achieved in a timely manner, consistentwith the expectations of private sector actors, and optimal output quality assured, throughsound and efficient internal business, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation andreporting processes.
• Profile of UNCDF and its development partners as leaders in development finance strengthened.
• Substantive partnerships strengthened with leading private sector foundations anddevelopment partners.

• Ability to leverage limited public funds through the effective mobilization of the private sector to meet the MDGs and LED using new innovative methods, techniques, and processes
• Ability to be a leader and change agent, integrating new businesses and structures within existing organizations
• 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
• Shows strong corporate commitment
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF and UNDP
• Willing and able to forge new innovative businesses and services that leverage UNCDF’s investment mandate, building partnerships with both the traditional development partners as well as private sector companies, social impact investors, and the larger financial community
• Demonstrated strong technical knowledge in the areas of Development Finance, with particular emphasis on project finance
• Proven practical knowledge of private sector development, local economic development, development of infrastructure projects and project finance, as applied in the developing country context at both local and national levels
• Comprehensive understanding of managing for results

• Leadership and success in building new businesses (for example, start-ups) with demonstrated ability to successfully manage a new programme;
• Focuses on impact and results for client (governments and private sector project sponsors);
• Ability to be a leader and change agent, integrating new businesses and structures within existing organizations;
• Takes initiative and calculated risks 
• Builds trust in interactions with others 
• Displays positive attitude, and is able to provide inspired leadership 
• Takes decisions based on thorough technical analyses, with open communication and consultation
  

Managing Relationships

• Builds strong client relationships
• Identifies opportunities and builds strategic partnerships 
• Communicates clearly and convincingly

• Supports development of clear strategy 
• Develops innovative solutions

• Able to develop concept papers, presentations, and papers, and present in public forums the key issues, assessments, and recommendations in a convincing and professional manner
• Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues
• Provides advice and support to others in UNCDF and UNDP 
• Actively builds deep knowledge in local development finance area 
• Makes valuable substantive contributions in local development finance 
• Supports knowledge management in Unit

• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage internal training programs
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback 
• Supports learning environment in Unit
  

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in development finance, business development, or related fields of finance, development, research, advocacy, and policy development with a focus on economic development, investment promotion and private sector support .
• Successful track record in managing a start-up enterprise and people in different physical locations. 
• Successful track record in raising funds for one or more development programs, businesses or non-profit organizations.
• Substantive experience in private sector development and engagement, local economic development, project finance, development practices
• Skills in using on-line systems for communication and knowledge management.
• Experience in developing and managing training programmes a plus.
• Experience working in, or with, developing countries is a must.