Background

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization with a capital mandate (unique in the UN System) focused on reducing poverty and inequality first and foremost in the least developed countries (“LDC”s).   To support the realization of UNCDF’s Business Plan and drive the rapid expansion of the organization’s capacity to assist LDCs to meet their graduation goals, respond to LDC demand for its services, and increase its geographical coverage of and average investment size in LDCs, UNCDF requires a partnership and business development strategy.  This strategy encompasses specific, and interlinked, strategies for partnerships, branding and communications, and resource mobilization, which capitalize on mandate-specific partnership building, inter-governmental/client relations, and specific business development opportunities.

By the end of 2015 the international community is expected to endorse a new and, probably, single and universal sustainable development agenda that will replace the existing Millennium Development Goals. This will likely be accompanied by a new financing framework to be adopted at the next UN Financing for Development summit.  This new framework faces a rapidly changing development finance landscape that is characterized by an increased diversity of: providers and sources such as DAC and non-DAC donors (e.g. India, China and Brazil), philanthropic foundations, high net-worth individuals, crowd-sourced donations, remittances and other private sector providers – such as the emerging impact investing industry; and, types of funding including traditional ODA, loans, risk mitigation, equity and blending instruments, as well as innovative financing mechanisms and the increasing use of ODA to leverage private finance including from domestic sources.

Against this backdrop, the UNCDF/LDFP (Local Development Finance Practice) works with Least Developed Country governments to: mobilize additional capital for local development including from the domestic public and private sectors (for example by promoting fiscal decentralization, increasing own revenue of local authorities and stimulating investment finance by domestic banks); design appropriate allocation mechanisms for this capital (intergovernmental fiscal transfers, public-private partnerships, structured project finance, municipal debt instruments); support local investments that provide a demonstration effect and lead to upscaling and mainstreaming of these mechanisms (including supporting UNCDF’s pipeline of investible projects); secure these investments within an accountable institutional environment that sustains and promotes local development. (legal, political, administrative, social).

Post-Specific Context - Under the guidance and supervision of the Practice Director, LDF (Local Development Finance) and in coordination with the Senior Regional Advisor (primus inter pares) and other FIPA and LD colleagues, the Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) will provide technical leadership and managerial support to Local Development Finance programmes in specific countries while ensuring cross practice collaboration with inclusive finance.

Duty stations for the LDFP Regional Technical Advisors will be in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Cairo, Dakar, Dhaka, Maseru, Rwanda and Vientiane. In each case the post holder will be assigned a specific set of countries to implement these terms of reference. The management structure of the Local Development Finance Practice at UNCDF is illustrated below.

For Dhaka the post will run concurrently with the position of CTA in Bangladesh and the post holder will be responsible for the portfolio in Bangladesh and Nepal;
For Maseru the post will run concurrently with the position of CTA in Lesotho and the post holder will be responsible for the portfolio in Lesotho and Zambia;
For Vientiane the post will run concurrently with the position of CTA in Lao PDR and the post holder will be responsible for the portfolio in Lao PDR and Myanmar.
For Tanzania a Global Project Manager (GTI) concurrently performs the function of RTA outlined in this ToR.
For Timor Leste a Global Project Manager (GTI) concurrently performs the function of RTA outlined in this ToR.
For Addis Ababa and Bangkok the RTA will be responsible for the LDCs in their region excluding the countries explicitly mentioned above. The allocation of countries will be determined at the beginning of each calendar year and is subject to change according to the demands of the portfolio.

 The RTA is accountable to assure and track quarterly reporting and inform management (Regional Bureau, UNCDF Directorate and Practice Director) on overall performance including where inadequacies are found.  The RTA will ensure that all programming is accurately reflected in UNDP’s results based management framework and accurately captured in financial expenditure reporting.  The RTA will develop a list of Technical Service Providers (TSPs) including individuals and institutions that could be contracted on a long-term basis to provide technical assistance to Country Office programmes.

The incumbent is accountable for the identification and implementation of Cross-Practice collaboration with FIPA and the sound articulation of country-level opportunities within UNCDF corporate strategy while ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF. In doing so, she/he must translate corporate strategy into country programming and regional positioning, ensuring the development of synergies of technical/programme support and relationships with LDCs through a sound collaboration with UNDP and the UNCT at the regional and country levels.

This programme positioning is also to be ensured through the conception and formulation of country / regional programmes embedded in the UNDAF and national priorities.

In close collaboration with the UNCDF Directorate and the PPCU (Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit) the incumbent should actively contribute to the development and implementation of UNCDF strategy for partnering with UN Agencies around UNDAF, Post 2015 and other potential joint programming opportunities at HQs and at the global, regional and country office levels. 

RTAs, CTAs and GTI Managers (Global Technical Initiatives) will work together, with one RTA designated as the primus inter pares who will facilitate inter alia UNCDF coordination in its regional integration, partnership outreach and business development, UN representation, technical collaboration, and on-site prioritization (as needed) of the work of local support staff. While RTA/GTI staff will continue to report to their respective Practices (and operations support staff to MSU), work processes and incentives (including through performance assessment) will be put in place to drive active engagement, dialogue, and prioritization for country engagement so as to gain coherence, optimize resource use, and facilitate greater flow of information.

The UNCDF Directorate will nominate an RTA as primus inter pares. She/he will be accountable in ensuring the establishment of “cross-practice, cross-programme” collaboration and synergies through increased communication flows and exchange of knowledge and information. He/she will be expected to establish stronger links between practice, country, and organizational positioning and business/partnership development. RTAs with inter-practice coordination roles will lead strategic corporate synergies between UNCDF practices and UNDP at the Regional and CO levels and liaise with UNDP Regional Programmes and RSC for technical advisory support. All RTAs will be accountable for participating and constructively supporting this coordination role.

Incumbent in Cairo is expected to dedicate 30% of her/his work to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization in the Arab region with a view to creating opportunities for South-South cooperation with African LDCs (least developed countries).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

  • Provides technical leadership and policy advice in the area of local development finance, local public finance and local private finance – in particular in relation to infrastructure & service provision and the development of productive capacity in Least Developed Countries;
  • Provides technical project oversight, quality control and supervision for the assigned portfolio of country and regional projects – contributing to the achievement of corporate and project objectives;
  • Provides leadership in applying business development strategies, tools and intelligence, to build and maintain technical partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization for local development finance, local public finance and local private finance. This includes support to the introduction and implementation of LDFP global projects in the assigned portfolio of countries;
  • Provides technical leadership in policy development and knowledge management in the areas of local development, local development finance and associated thematic areas including Financing For Development, the implementation of the SDGs and the development strategies of Least Developed Countries;
  • Provides technical support and advice to the LDFP Director and to UNCDF Senior Management on UNCDF corporate initiatives and activities. This includes leadership in the active acquisition and sharing of business-sensitive knowledge in local development and local public finance.

PROVIDES TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY ADVICE IN THE AREA OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE, local public finance and local private finance – in particular in relation to infrastructure & service provision and the development of productive capacity in Least Developed Countries. This is about constructively engaging with the government and key stakeholders in the assigned countries and region. The functions include:

  • Maintain close working relationships and high levels of trust and support with government stakeholders in LDCs based on UNCDF’s mandate and a client-based approach – led by country demand. On this basis develop and implement strategies for UNCDF support to local development finance, the provision of local infrastructure and services and the development of local productive capacities in the assigned least developed countries. These strategies to be based on an adaptation of the LDFP approach to country level development challenges, to be aligned to National Development Plans, the Istanbul Plan of Action for LDCs and other relevant national and international policies;
  • Support to the development of national policies in the areas of local development finance, drawing on the latest research and ideas, lessons of policy pilots and substantive dialogue with key practitioners and major international institutions;
  • Apply UNCDF’s local development finance diagnostic tools, instruments and approaches to constructively inform and contribute to these strategies and policies, in a way that leverages UNCDF support to promote the interventions and finance of others;
  • Contribute to high-level debates and consultation processes at regional and country level related to UNCDF’s projects and programmes in the region and UNCDF’s work in local development finance;
  • Advise UNDP in LDCs and non LDCs on issues of local development finance;
  • Provide management and guidance to UNCDF country teams on engagement with government, with UNDP and the UN Country Team, and with other stakeholders.

PROVIDES REGIONAL LEADERSHIP IN APPLYING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, tools and intelligence, to build and maintain technical partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization for local development finance, local public finance and local private finance. This includes support to the introduction and implementation of global projects in the assigned portfolio of countries: This is about proactively leading the development and financing of new programmes and initiatives in Local Development Finance in the countries and region assigned. The functions include:

  • Develop and negotiate funding for UNCDF programmes and projects in local development finance that engage local governments (urban and rural) and local banks as partners of choice and build on the platform and reputation of UNCDF’s support to fiscal decentralization in LDCs over a 20-year period. This includes piloting and testing improved mechanisms, instruments and tools for: Fiscal transfers from central to local government institutions; Improvements in local taxation and fees; Debt instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles and bonds) for Municipal Finance; and project / SME finance for infrastructure largely in the productive sectors;
  • Build partnerships to ensure replication and scaling up of UNCDF programmes in order to achieve greater impact;
  • Increase cost-sharing opportunities for UNCDF programmes/projects;
  • Identify and follow up on investment opportunities that can be leveraged within assigned LDCs and selected non-LDCs;
  • Maintain effective technical relationships with strategic partners, including LDC and selected non-LDC governments at local and national levels, UNDP and other Bretton Woods Institutions, research and academic institutions, civil society and the private sector;
  • Negotiate and implement agreements on provision of technical services at the regional level, with the support of the Operations Division;
  • Dialogue and outreach to key internal and external constituencies and partners, to increase visibility and awareness of UNCDF’s comparative advantages and strategic niches in local development within specific LDCs and selected non-LDCs.

PROVIDES TECHNICAL PROJECT OVERSIGHT, QUALITY CONTROL AND SUPERVISION for the assigned portfolio of country and regional projects – contributing to the achievement of , corporate and project objectives. This is about accountability for the performance, results and impact of UNCDF Local Development Finance activities in the countries and region assigned. The functions include:

  • Oversee and supervise a portfolio of programmes and projects in Local Development Finance that engage local governments (urban and rural) as partners of choice and build on the platform and reputation of UNCDF’s support to fiscal decentralization in LDCs over a 20-year period. This includes piloting and testing improved mechanisms, instruments and tools for: Fiscal transfers from central to local government institutions; Improvements in local taxation and fees; and Debt instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles and bonds) for Municipal Finance;
  • Oversee and supervise a portfolio of programmes and projects in Local Development Finance that engage with local banks and other providers of capital resources for local infrastructure and building local productive capacity in LDCs; This includes piloting and testing improved mechanisms, instruments and tools for: Investments by the domestic banking sector in local infrastructure and SMEs (largely in productive sectors); Debt instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles and bonds) for Municipal Finance;
  • Where appropriate, assume the role of project manager for Local Development Finance activities;
  • Supervise the roll out of UNCDF’s Local Development Finance global initiatives in –
    • Local Development Diagnostics;
    • Investments and financing mechanisms for local climate change adaptation and resilience;
    • Fiscal decentralization;
    • Local public finance and own revenue mobilization;
    • Intergovernmental fiscal transfers and performance based grants;
    • Women’s economic empowerment;
    • Local economic development;
    • Food security finance and investment;
    • Municipal finance including debt instruments such as borrowing and bonds;
    • Capital investment programming;
    • Project finance;
    • Local procurement systems;
  • The rollout of global programmes will be in liaison with the respective global project manager and in coordination with the LDFP Director;
  • Exercise oversight and accountability for the contributions to, and measurement of, LDFP business plan output and outcome indicators in the countries assigned;
  • Exercise oversight and accountability for smooth running of project management, evaluations and reviews, procurement and HR, budgets, financial approvals, fiduciary controls and other programmatic and operational aspects of the portfolio in the countries assigned;
  • Exercise direct financial approval rights, HR supervision and other ATLAS functions as appropriate. This includes the management and supervision of UNCDF Programme Officers, Technical Advisors, Project Managers and other staff in the assigned countries;
  • Apply UNCDF’s Results Based Management approach to the portfolio of projects in the countries assigned;

PROVIDES TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT in the areas of local development, local development finance and associated thematic areas including in Financing For Development, the implementation of the SDGs and the development strategies of Least Developed Countries. This is about contributing to the global debate on Local Development Finance and sharing knowledge from UNCDF activities in this regard. The functions include:

  • Technical leadership in identifying, documenting and incorporating lessons learned from UNCDF and LDC experience with the objective of contributing to scaling up, policy influence and mainstreaming of the models developed;
  • Inputs to global, regional and national level publications, seminars, and conferences to highlight UNCDF support to local development;
  • Production and contribution to papers and other documentation of evidence and results of UNCDF interventions;
  • Collaboration with key partners and local development practitioners, including UNDP practices, within the region for research and development of innovative strategies and approaches to build the reputation of UNCDF as a Centre of Excellence and sharpen delivery of local development projects in order to better achieve UNCDF Business Plan objectives and LDC’s SDG goals;
  • Development and contribution to knowledge-sharing networks on local development initiatives within the region and globally;

PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ADVICE TO THE LDFP DIRECTOR AND TO UNCDF SENIOR MANAGEMENT on UNCDF corporate initiatives and activities. This includes leadership in the active acquisition and sharing of business-sensitive knowledge in local development and local public finance. This is about supporting the leadership of the Local Development Finance Practice and UNCDF senior management with technical and other contributions. The functions include:

  • Technical support from regional and national perspectives to the development of  substantive inputs into the LDFP Business Plan and its implementation;
  • Active participation in retreats, LDFP Practice meetings and teleconferences;
  • Advice to the LDFP Director and Regional Team Leader, including inputs into corporate presentations and reports;
  • Exploration of synergies with the Inclusive Finance Practice;
  • Advice to UNCDF Senior Management on technical issues and business development opportunities, including inputs into corporate presentations and reports;
  • Preparation of substantive inputs into the LDFP Business Plan and to the Results-Oriented Annual Report;
  • Support to the development of the annual LDFP Work Plan.

Impact of Results:

The LDFP Regional Technical Advisers will have a major impact on the overall effectiveness and growth of UNCDF’s support to local development finance in LDCs. This is measured through achieving LDFP Business Plan objectives. These include the policy impact, the leveraging of additional resources for local development and the positive impact of the projects themselves.

The performance of the Regional Technical Advisor will have a major impact on the reputation of UNCDF as partner to the LDCs and as a Centre of excellence in Local Development Finance. Success in engaging key actors, in strategic partnerships and in joint programming of local development and public finance projects will contribute to the development goals of partner countries.

Results will also have a significant impact on resource mobilization for UNCDF and its capacity UNCDF to expand coverage to other LDCs and provide advisory services to non-LDCs.

Competencies

Functional Competencies for Level 3 (P5 positions): working under the strategic leadership of the Practice Director and/or Deputy Executive Secretary

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 3: Influencing the public policy agenda

  • Builds consensus concerning UNCDF’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
  • Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Level 3: Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies

  • Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
  • Makes use of a variety of resources within UNCDF to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
  • Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 3: Building strategic alliances

  • Makes effective use of UNCDF’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
  • Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 3: Fostering innovation in others

  • Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
  • Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources;
  • Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations).

Level 3: Developing resource mobilization strategies at country level

  • Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at CO level;
  • Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level;
  • Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 3: Participating in the development of policies and innovative approaches and promoting  their application throughout the organization

  • Promotes UNCDF as a learning/knowledge sharing organization

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 3: Expert knowledge of own discipline

  • Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
  • For managers: applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
  • Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments;

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNCDF’s Goals

Level 3: Influencing global and national initiatives

  • Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national planning frameworks;
  • Advocates for increased resources at international and national level.

Client Orientation

Level 3: Meeting long-term client needs

  • Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
  • Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services;
  • Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNCDF programmes and operations.

Core Competencies:

  • Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
  • Building support and political acumen;
  • Building staff competence,creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
  • Building and promoting effective teams;
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
  • Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
  • Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNCDF & setting standards;
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
  • Fair and transparentdecision making; calculated risk-taking;
  • Ability to address gender equality and empowerment of women considerations in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Economics, Business, Public Finance, Public Administration, or related field

Experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years relevant, practical working experience in the field of international development working on local development finance, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs) both at field level as well at senior management positions and across more than one country.
  • Proven experience in the Performance Base Grant Management system for intergovernmental transfers or Proven experience of private sector financing of infrastructure projects
  • Deep technical knowledge of local development planning and capital investment programming in urban or rural areas
  • Experience with similar assignments in LDCs and developing countries.
  • Experience in developing project documents and start-up of new projects with UNCDF Programme and Project management standards
  • Experience with new product development, testing, roll-out;
  • Proven resource mobilization experience and record of success in building partnerships, negotiating financing, reporting to and managing grants from development partners.
  • Strong programme and project management experience including budget and financial management, staff supervision, teambuilding.
  • Results based management experience including monitoring, evaluation and incorporating lessons learned;
  • 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 Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
  • Knoweldge of another UN official language is an asset.

Note:

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