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:

• Tier 0 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

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, UNOs, 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and in close collaboration with the Country Lead for Bangladesh, the incumbent will perform the duties and responsibilities mentioned below.

Objective 1: Support UNCDF Bangladesh in increasing the visibility of UNCDF work

• In the framework of the current UNCDF context, contribute to planning informational campaigns, exhibitions, conferences, social events, and projects to promote a better understanding of UNCDF activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or targeted audiences.
• Establish close working relationships with national-level TV, radio, and news agencies to promote and disseminate UNCDF’s mandate, goals, activities, and principles in Bangladesh.
• Suggest stories and topics about the UNCDF Bangladesh activities for the media.
• Brief and coordinate the work of photographers, designers, and videographers for the Bangladesh teams as necessary.
• Organise and participate in press trips, briefings of journalists, as well as press conferences of partners.
• Develop new strategies to increase the visibility of UNCDF towards partners in Bangladesh.
• Support efforts to establish and maintain an open communication with partners to implement commitments.
• Monitor readership and identify ways that the readership of UNCDF Bangladesh comms material can be increased.
• Draft and edit a wide range of materials, including media products, blog posts, web content, brochures, and presentations, keeping in mind the cultural sensitivities of the region.
• Liaise with the Partnerships and Communications teams in the Asia Regional Office & HQ for necessary approvals and support for publishing comms materials both online and offline.
• Support the regional and country teams with the planning, development, and production of knowledge management and communication assets.

Objective 2: Support UNCDF Bangladesh in advancing cross-learning within country and the regions

• Support the Bangladesh team with the development and implementation of a learning agenda and a knowledge sharing strategy to make sure that lessons learned from one initiative contribute to the implementation of the others
• Support in the collection of results at country levels and ensure their dissemination to other countries and regions for learning purposes, as well as to advance the UNCDF strategy in the country.
• Identify new and/or innovative communications methods to publicise further the regional activities, achievements and lessons learned.
• Plan and ensure webinars, online workshops, and knowledge sharing sessions are happening with partners regularly, and that project results are showcased

Objective 3: Ensure Operations and project management support

• Assist in preparing grants and performance-based agreements, track progress, and take the lead in quality assurance for approved partners and for donors
• Assist in developing all required systems, tools, reports, and indicators as are necessary for efficient, effective reporting of ongoing projects in Bangladesh, including periodic reports/projections to UNCDF HQ, UNCDF Regional team, Bangladesh Bank, MoF, and any relevant stakeholder/Ministries.
• Assist in onboarding, managing, and guiding project interns to ensure high-quality deliverables

Objective 4: Provide comprehensive technical and operational support to the Country Lead, including partner engagement, strategic analysis, project implementation, and coordination of stakeholder activities to ensure achievement of country portfolio results

• Support the Country Lead to provide technical assistance to private sector partners and ensure achievement of the results of the portfolio.
• Conduct analysis and research of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to the country strategy.
• Support to develop regular contact (e.g., monthly) with partners, monitoring overall progress and satisfaction with UNCDF support.
• Participate in weekly project progress meetings for projects with partners.
• Support the implementation of all the initiatives in the country to ensure the results are achieved as per expectations.
• Support in effective reporting to donors as well as national stakeholders to ensure they are kept abreast of the activities implemented by UNCDF in the country.
• Assist the Country Lead to review and respond to quarterly reports, ensuring partners are reporting accurately, monitor progress and reporting under agreements and contracts, and verify milestones and targets for disbursements.
• Support Country Lead in the implementation of country assessments as well as other studies or research.
• Organise workshops, meetings, and visits as per the needs of ongoing projects as per the plan;

Objective 5: Support in Resource Mobilisation

• In consultation with the Country Lead, update the donor map on an annual basis.
• Prepare donor briefs for the use of the Country Lead.
• Maintain an updated corporate UNCDF presentation of activities in Bangladesh.
• Ensure financial and narrative reports are issued on time as per Cost Sharing Agreement requirements with donors.
• Update and manage UNCDF Bangladesh stakeholder list.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

• The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Country Lead for Bangladesh.
• The position will be expected to engage with UNCDF Bangladesh Team, UNCDF Regional Team, UNDP Bangladesh team, Donors, and our key external stakeholders in Bangladesh as needed, to ensure smooth delivery of our projects. He/she will also engage with the UNCDF Regional Communications Specialist.
• The country weekly meeting with team members will be arranged every week; the incumbent is required to provide work arrangements and updates on project activities to the team.
• The Regional call will be conducted every month. The incumbent has to be involved in updating and presenting the project’s progress each month, as well as providing the plan for the following month and potential risks to the regional team.
• The incumbent will also participate in working groups and steering committee meetings as requested.

Competencies

Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Ability to research information and to turn it into

useful knowledge, relevant for context, or

responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply

existing concepts to new situations, and to develop

new concepts to generate workable solutions and

new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts,

conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with vast networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society, and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organization business process to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

• Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives

External Relations and Advocacy

General (across the functions)

• Ability to plan, manage, and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNCDF's overall brand and mandate.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional 2 years of experience, will be given due consideration instead of the advanced university degree.
  

Experience:

• Applicants with master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in the development finance domain, especially related to digital financial services, including providing program support, hands-on experience in design, and monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
  

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills.
• Experience working in international development organizations
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Proven Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Experience in matters related to financial inclusion and digital financial services, particularly of the most vulnerable groups such as women garment workers or migrant families
• Working experience in a development project team

Language:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.

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

Scam alert

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