Background
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: (1) 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 (2) 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 directly 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 expand access, UNCDF’s work also contributes indirectly to additional SDGs. Since 2008, UNCDF has been supporting digital finance with significant success; digital finance is currently the largest part of its inclusive finance portfolio. Digital finance 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 60 professionals who have strong digital finance experience across the globe and with several hundred projects in digital on-going, UNCDF is one of the leading development agencies in digital finance aimed at very low-income customers in some of the world’s most difficult markets. UNCDF is in the process of consolidating its financial and technical resources to create a comprehensive team of experts in various domains to drive the new strategy “Leaving no one behind in the digital era.” This strategy aims beyond household- or community-based interventions to support the evolution of inclusive digital financial ecosystems. The strategy recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the SDGs aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies for the following reasons:
The ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ strategy to move from DFS to digital economies represents a logical integration of UNCDF interventions, developed over many years, in financial inclusion and digital. The legacy of UNCDF interventions was built through a range of country/regional programmes and global thematic initiatives, and has established a very strong reputation for UNCDF vis-à-vis donors and peers. Please refer to www.uncdf.org
International Remittances The UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015. The 2030 Agenda recognizes migration as a core development consideration, marking the first time that migration has been explicitly integrated into the global development agenda. The 2030 Agenda also recognizes international migration as a multidimensional reality for the development of countries of origin, as well as that of transit and destination countries, and one which thus requires coherent and comprehensive responses. Migration is considered key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are the heart of the 2030 Agenda. All member states of the United Nations have signed on to the 17 SDGs which collectively contain 76 explicit references to migration, demonstrating that migration has been mainstreamed into global development policy. Migration can reduce poverty (SDG 1), improve health and education outcomes (SDGs 3 and 4), enhance gender equality (SDG 5), foster growth and innovation (SDGs 8 and 9), and reduce inequality (SDG 10). Meanwhile, remittances can also contribute to reaching the SDGs in a variety of ways:
Guided by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and informed by the Declaration of the High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development adopted in October 2013, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives adopted the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. The Global Compact expresses a collective commitment to improving cooperation on international migration, leading to a set of focused objectives on remittances:
UNCDF aims to improve the functioning of the remittance market in order to improve the financial health of migrant families while strengthen economic development efforts of the origin and host countries. In doing so, UNCDF engages with public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen the capacity of the regulators to monitor and analyze the remittance transaction data towards evidence-based policy making, enable a conducive policy and regulatory environment, and deliver financial and technical assistance to a wide range of financial institutions (e.g. banks, cooperatives, microfinance institutions, money transfer operators, and mobile networks operators) to improve the digital remittance ecosystem and design migrant-centric financial products and services (e.g. savings, credit, insurance, payment services, remittances, pension, and investment). |
Duties and Responsibilities
The objective of this role is to lead the communications and digital engagement strategy of UNCDF’s migration and remittance portfolio. Under the supervision of the Lead Specialist, the consultant will work very collaboratively with UNCDF global, regional, and country leads and colleagues on the implementation of Digital Strategy. UNCDF is looking for a resource with strong knowledge of the digital economy and the role that the digitization of finance can play in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The core function of the consultant is to proactively lead the design and implementation of a well-targeted communication and advocacy strategy for UNCDF’s digital portfolio, seeking opportunities for effective engagement and tailored content creation for diverse range of partners and market actors.
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Competencies
Competencies Core Competencies · Demonstrates ethics and integrity. · Demonstrates political acumen and calculated risk taking. · Impeccable diplomatic skills and knowledge of protocol. · Builds own competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation. · Creates and promotes open communication. · Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure. · Conducts fair and transparent decision-making. · Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability. · Shows strong corporate commitment.
Functional Competencies
Professional · Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals. · Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas. · Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives. · Makes effective use of UNCDF’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships. · Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations. · Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking.
Technical · Demonstrates strategic thinking, creativity and innovation; positive, proactive, “can do” approach. · Ability to listen and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues, members and partners. · Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, being pro-active and taking the initiative and smart risks, but also able to identify threats in the use of social media and other digital platforms. · Ability to translate complex policy ideas and technical concepts into accessible and compelling language. · Seeks and proposes opportunities for advancing the UNCDF’s mission. · Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities. · Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise. · Ability to juggle competing priorities, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines. · Excellent writing, editing and verbal skills in English. · Ability to visualize: to turn complex or arid content into graphic representations that tell a story non-specialists can understand and care about. |
Required Skills and Experience
Required Skills and Experience Education
Work experience
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