Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.
As a Flagship Catalytic Blended Financing platform of the UN, UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, United Nations Organizations, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. UNCDF’s work is focused on three priority areas, including:
• SME Finance
• Sub-National Finance
• Digital Finance
UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by an Executive Board comprised of UN Member States.
In Ghana, UNCDF is managing a portfolio of projects focused on youth empowerment, SME finance and climate finance for a total portfolio of 10M USD. Under this framework UNCDF team is supporting a wide range of service providers from public and private sector to design and pilot new business models to increase access and usage of digital financial services for vulnerable segments (youth, women, MSMEs in particular). This includes:
Support financial intermediaries in developing financing facilities that target Small and growing companies (SGCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) SGC/SMEs starting using green product or use green technologies to run their business
• Support service providers that can better prepare these Small and growing companies (SGCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing finance through investment readiness support
• Support service providers that can better equip these Small and growing companies (SGCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in using digital solutions to better access financial services
• Support key policy makers to provide enabling environment for the financial services and investments that target the Small and growing companies (SGCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
By helping companies grow their businesses, achieve commercial sustainability, strengthen their balance sheets, and build credit history, UNCDF aims to unlock further private capital to companies that serve last mile communities, to scale up what works and to foster local economic development.
To this end, UNCDF is looking for a candidate to lead the technical implementation as well as the investment process for selected transactions including but not limited to: screening/pre-assessment of implementing partners, due-diligence (including credit appraisal), preparation and negotiation of transaction documentation and term sheet, approval from credit committee, implementation, monitoring and termination of investments as well as stakeholder engagement and other key aspects for the successful delivery of projects under the UNCDF Ghana portfolio.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Investment Specialist will work under the direct supervision of UNCDF Programme Management Specialist in Ghana and guided by the UNCDF Regional Investment Specialist
Under the supervision of the UNCDF Programme Management Specialist based in Accra, Ghana and in close collaboration with other colleagues in-country as well as the Regional Office (Dakar, Senegal), the Investment Specialist will contribute to capital deployment and delivery of investment transactions, with particular focus on SME finance.
The Investment Specialist will be responsible for leading and executing the following tasks and deliverables:
1. Lead Pipeline & Due Diligence
• Lead the overall identification and nurturing of a high-quality project pipeline, including Request for Applications (RFA) processes.
• Conduct preliminary assessment of the pre-identified investment transactions in line with UNCDF corporate instructions and project’s ambitions
• Conduct detailed due diligence on the identified investees, covering financial, operational, legal, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions.
• Prepare high-quality investment memo and recommendations for submission to the UNCDF investment committee for approval.
2. Provision of technical assistance to the project’s partners to ensure delivery and achievement of targets
• Identify technical assistance needs of UNCDF partners in line with UNCDF corporate instructions and project’s ambitions
• Contribute to manage the UNCDF transactions active in the current portfolio (banks, fintech, crowdfunding players) by supporting them in the delivering expected results throughout the project through TA
• Support partners to identify critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and drive analysis and understanding of customer behaviour
• Provide basic business advisory services meant to improve the investment readiness and bankability of the companies
• Design and structure blended finance solutions, integrating catalytic capital with potential commercial co-investment as well as technical assistance plans.
• Provide technical support and expert advice to regulators or policy making bodies to complement and support existing efforts in providing sustainable finance solutions to Ghanaian businesses
• Support policy action of selected GoG agencies to provide enabling environment to effectively deliver innovative financial solutions
• Liaise closely with UNCDF colleagues and project partners to ensure alignment on investment strategy, pipeline priorities, and project goals.
• Act as the UNCDF focal point for coordination with investees on technical assessments.
3. Monitoring, Reporting & Impact Measurement
• Develop and apply monitoring frameworks to track financial performance, ESG compliance, and environmental and social impact.
• Produce progress reports, investment updates, and lessons learned for UNCDF and other stakeholders as requested.
• Support the integration of investment learnings into adaptive programme management.
• Conduct on-site due diligence and verification of results as needed.
• Monitor compliance with investment agreements, contractual obligations and environmental and social safeguards.
• Identify emerging portfolio risks and recommend corrective actions.
4. Support broader UNCDF operations and positioning and facilitate knowledge sharing
• Provide internal advisory services for best practices on increasing private sector engagement and finance flows.
• Actively advocate for practices that support the objectives of UNCDF, leveraging professional expertise and networks.
• Support the organization of knowledge sharing events which promote investing in Ghanaian businesses to investors
• Contribute to corporate and project reporting, contract management with external consultant and service providers
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or relevant related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
• A minimum of 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas: banking or financial services, development finance, impact investing, and investment management is required.
Required Skills:
• Experience working on development finance, rural finance, agri-food finance and experience in emerging market financing and investments in LDCs.
• Demonstrated experience conducting investment due diligence and financial analysis, including the assessment of financial, operational, legal, environmental, social and governance risks.
• Demonstrated experience structuring and underwriting financing transactions.
• Experience in underwriting grants, debt, or guarantees
• Experience financing small and growing companies (SGCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets, particularly least developed countries.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
• Experience in emerging market financing and investments in LDCs, or Ghana is desired.
• Experience monitoring investment performance, development impact, environmental, social and governance compliance, and portfolio risks is desired.
• Experience in sourcing and screening of investees, conduct due-diligence, financial analysis, debt transactions, capital deployment, match-making concessional or commercial capital, structuring (including identifying promising investees seeking investment TA) and monitoring, is strongly desired.
• Computer and IT skills in Microsoft applications (e.g. MS Project Management tool) is an advantage.
• Experience working with the Ghanaian financial ecosystem is desired.
• Experience with UN entity or UN-funded programmes is an asset.
Required Language(s):
• Fluency in English is required.
Professional Certificates:
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) diploma, ACCA, CPA, PMP, or similar, is a distinct advantage.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
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The United Nations Development Programme works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
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