Job Description

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

The Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) is the headquarters for UNDP's regional programme and country programmes in 17 countries in the Arab region. The Bureau engages with internal units and external partners, including the UN Secretariat, Permanent Missions, donors and the Executive Board, to facilitate UNDP's work in the region. RBAS conducts strategic analysis and monitors development trends to inform the Bureau's forward-looking direction and to support policies and programmes at the regional and country levels, in line with the SDGs, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and the RBAS Regional Programme Document 2026–2029. The Bureau also provides strategic, programmatic and operational oversight of the regional and country programmes.

As part of the RBAS Regional Programme, UNDP has launched the Green Financing Platform (GFP) for Arab States, led by RBAS as part of its Regional Programme. The GFP is a catalytic mechanism designed to unlock and channel private and blended capital to green development projects by strengthening sustainable finance ecosystems, developing bankable project pipelines and improving access to finance for SMEs.

The GFP's overall objective is to mobilize private green finance and strengthen sustainable private investment ecosystems to accelerate inclusive green growth in the Arab States. This is pursued through two interconnected outcomes: (1) enabling environments and green investment pipelines strengthened; and (2) private capital mobilized and green investment pipelines expanded.To advance these outcomes, the GFP will undertake a Sustainable Finance Landscape Assessment (SFLA) to strengthen the evidence base for sustainable finance policy and investment, alongside the development of a Common Framework of Green Finance Taxonomies for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to promote greater alignment and coherence in sustainable finance frameworks across the region. Together, these activities will contribute to strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable finance, enhancing institutional capacities and facilitating the mobilization of green investment.

In this context, the Regional Programme seeks a Sustainable Finance Analyst to support the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Landscape Assessment (SFLA) and the Common Framework of Green Finance Taxonomies for GCC countries, contributing to the design and scale up of sustainable finance solutions through analytical work, programmatic support, policy dialogue and technical assistance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Part 1: Sustainable Finance Landscape Assessment (SFLA)

• Support the implementation and finalization of the SFLA milestones 2-4, working with consultants, UNDP Country Offices and national counterparts to assess policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks, market actors, financial instruments and capital flows.
• Coordinate country deep dives in selected Arab States, in close collaboration with UNDP Country Offices, national authorities and consultants, to assess each country’s sustainable finance ecosystem in depth.
• Support the preparation of country diagnostic reports and the regional synthesis report, consolidating findings on sustainable finance policies, regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities, market actors and financing mechanisms.
• Support the development of the first phase of the digital Sustainable Finance Landscape Platform, coordinating technical consultants and relevant UNDP teams to translate assessment findings into structured digital content.
• Identify gaps, barriers and investment opportunities, and translate assessment findings into policy recommendations, technical guidance for national institutions and entry points for UNDP support.
• Support the organization of capacity building, consultations and validation workshops with governments, regulators, financial institutions and the private sector to ensure national ownership of the findings.
• Contribute to knowledge products, including assessment reports, policy briefs and investor guides, and document lessons learned, case studies and trends in green and sustainable finance.

Part 2: GCC Common Framework for Green Finance Taxonomies

• Assist in coordinating the development of the Common Framework of Green Finance Taxonomies for the GCC under the GFP.
• Provide day-to-day assistance to the senior taxonomy consultant, including background research, data collection, stakeholder introductions and review of draft deliverables.
• Contribute to the mapping and analysis of the taxonomy landscape in GCC Member States, benchmarked against the G20 voluntary principles for alignment approaches, the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, the ASEAN Taxonomy and the Common Framework for Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes inputs on sector prioritization, technical screening criteria and Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) approaches.
• Support engagement with the GCC Secretariat, the GCC Presidency, ministries of finance, central banks and financial regulators on the governance of the Framework. This includes setting up regional and national coordination structures and drafting political statements.
• Organize awareness-raising sessions and technical consultations on the Framework and consolidate stakeholder feedback into successive drafts.
• Ensure regular communication with the European Commission (DG INTPA), including monthly progress updates and the review of draft documents before external sharing.
• Help with the Arabic translation, dissemination and launch of the final Framework.

Competencies

The Sustainable Finance Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Finance and Private Sector Specialist, RBAS and the overall guidance of the Regional Programme Manager.

Core

Achieve Results: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Think Innovatively: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Learn Continuously: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Act with Determination: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Engage and Partner: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Replicate Reliably: Carry out work, as directed, and demonstrate motivation to develop

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

SDG Finance : Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

SDG Finance :Private Sector Services

Business Direction & Strategy

Entrepreneurial Thinking: identify and seize opportunities to service and add

value to clients, Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate

Business Management

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

Business Management

Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Development

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, Finance, Development Finance, International Development, International Relations or a closely related field is required; or

A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the above fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

1. Minimum 2 years (with master's degree) or 4 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant professional experience in sustainable finance, development finance, financial sector policy or a closely related field, at the national or international level, is required.
2. Experience in sustainable finance or financial sector assessments, diagnostics, or policy and regulatory analysis (e.g. taxonomies, green bond and sukuk frameworks, ESG disclosure, central bank and regulatory frameworks) is required.

Required skills

• Demonstrated technical knowledge of sustainable finance, including taxonomies, green and sustainable bonds and sukuk, blended finance and de-risking instruments, and financial sector regulation.

Desired skills

• Strong analytical, research and drafting skills, with the ability to produce assessment reports, policy briefs, concept notes and donor proposals.
• Familiarity with Islamic finance instruments and with the financial sector and regulatory landscape of the GCC and the wider Arab region is desirable.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders under tight deadlines
• Experience supporting partnership development and resource mobilization with donors, IFIs/DFIs or private sector partners, including drafting concept notes and proposals, is desirable.
• Experience in programme or project coordination, including work planning, monitoring and reporting, and coordinating multiple stakeholders and consultants, is desirable.
• Experience working with ministries, central banks, financial regulators or other national policy bodies is an advantage.
• Experience in emerging markets, particularly in the Arab region and the GCC, is desirable.
• Knowledge of the UN system is an asset.[RD1.1]

Required Language(s)

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable; knowledge of French is an asset.

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.

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