UNDP Pakistan is implementing a second-generation intervention of the long-standing National Initiative for SDGs (2016-2023) in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan (GoP). The new SDGs Plus Programme (2023-2028) seeks to strengthen a whole-of-government policy integration, more resilient institutional capacities, diversified partnerships (private and non-government sectors), mobilization of innovative financing, and integrating innovation and inclusion to put Pakistan on a stable and accelerated trajectory of achieving the SDGs. The SDGs Plus programme will continue putting a premium on Pakistan’s national and sub-national governments as leaders and drivers of the SDGs agenda in Pakistan. It will be anchored in an integrated framework comprising of three strategic outputs; a) Mitigate challenges around policy and governance; b) Support mobilization of innovative Financing for Development; and c) Mainstream Gender, Inclusion and Innovation in national, sub-national and local development processes and solutions.

Financing for Development is one of the key pillars of the SDGs Plus programme. In this context, UNDP is advising the Government of Pakistan to adopt a holistic institutional policy framework for Financing for Development. In partnership with the Ministry of Finance, UNDP has set up an SDG Investments & Climate Financing Facility to develop an enabling policy and business environment to strengthen technical capacities and mobilize partnerships for public-private financing for development.

The Development Policy Unit (DPU) of UNDP Pakistan is seeking services of SDGs & Climate Financing Project Manager to support implementation of SDG Investments & Climate Financing Facility activities in partnership with the government, development partners and the private sector. The SDGs & Climate Financing Project Manager will report to and work under the supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR), Development Policy Unit, UNDP and will collaborate closely with Development Policy Unit staff and Financing for Development Specialists at provincial SDGs units. In addition, the SDGs & Climate Financing Project Manager will work closely with relevant UNDP Country Office colleagues, UNDP Country Office, UNDP Programme Units and projects, and as and when required with UN Country Team, UN Residents Coordinator’s Office, UN Agencies, UNDP Head Quarters, Sustainable Finance Hub and UNDP Regional Office SDG Finance Team.

The SDGs & Climate Financing Project Manager will report to and work under the supervision of Assistant Resident Representative, Development Policy Unit, UNDP and will collaborate closely with Development Policy Unit staff and Financing for Development Specialists at provincial SDGs units. In addition, the SDGs & Climate Financing Project Manager will work closely with relevant UNDP Country Office colleagues, UNDP Country Office, UNDP Programme Units and projects, and as and when required with UN Country Team, UN Residents Coordinator’s Office, UN Agencies, UNDP Head Quarters, Sustainable Finance Hub and UNDP Regional Office SDG Finance Team.

Lead development and implementation of an institutional SDGs Investment Climate Financing Strategy based on partnerships and capital mobilization from private sector and supporting upstream policy work with government, IFI’s and Development Partners.

• Map key public and private sector partners and stakeholders including IFIs, Development Partners, Venture Capital Funds, Impact Investment Funds, Think Tanks, Academia, and other private sector actors that may be relevant to supporting the Facility’s goals and activities for potential strategic and/or immediate level partnership with the Facility and liaise closely to report regularly on Facility activities and progress.
• Engage and develop partnerships with relevant private sector stakeholders/potential partners on the Facility’s financing for development portfolio including creating avenues for identifying and/or co-financing SDG-linked projects, involvement in public-private partnerships, sponsorships, and support with advocacy and community engagement.
• Create strategies for mobilizing private sector finance and investment for SDG-linked programs and projects and facilitate execution of strategies with proven results i.e successful transactions.
• Create tools for monitoring and assessment for the impact of private-sector investment/financing on sustainable development.
• Facilitate up-to-date mapping of SDG investment opportunities in Pakistan include creating/maintaining an updated pipeline of viable SDG-linked projects, including creation of relevant pitch books and promotional content for the projects that are ready to be shared with investors and other stakeholders
• Liaison with stakeholders to plan, manage, and execute national and international roadshows targeting investors/stakeholders from the private sector.
• Work in tandem with and assist in leveraging UNDP’s SDGs Investment and Climate Financing Facility and DPUs Policy Innovation Programme (PIP) aimed at advising the Government, IFI’s and Development Partners on an integrated institutional policy framework for development financing.
• Develop synergies of Facility strategies and activities with other aspects of SDGs projects, and UNDP projects from other Programme Units and ensure alignment of Facility interventions with UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), UNDP Country Programme Document, DPU Unit Workplan, and SDGs and PIP work plans.

Manage Project Implementation:

• Lead the strategic planning for the project, including formulation of the annual project work plan (AWP) as well as plans for budget, HR, procurement, and overall project implementation, in line with the Project Document and close consultation with the ARR, DPU.
• Responsible for day-to-day management of administrative, financial and operational aspects of the project in accordance with UNDP Programme Operations, Policies and Procedures (POPP) and project strategy document and be fully responsible for the delivery of the results.
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of project activities to ensure quality and meet timeliness of the activities and delivery of outputs according to implementation, procurement & HR plans.
• Supervise and manage project consultants, including development of TORs / JDs, procurement of the consultancy support and successful implementation of the contract.
• Provide guidance and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel, including technical experts, to ensure activities are implemented on time as planned. Undertake technical review of documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
• Assume direct responsibility for managing the project contracts and resources by ensuring that:
• Funds are disbursed properly.
• Expenditure is in accordance with the commitments and work plans.
• Accounting records and supporting documents are properly kept and financial reports are prepared.
•  Financial operations are transparent and financial procedures/regulations are properly applied.
• Establish and oversee monitoring and evaluation plan for the project activities.
• Manage accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets and ensure that donor and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP SOPs quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to project donors.
• Promote teamwork, information sharing, and collaboration with Facility consultants, government, and partners.
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, communications, visibility and advocacy relevant to SDG Investments and Climate Financing.

• Keep abreast with regional and global trends and issues on Financing for Development and Climate Resilience, analyze their implications, and incorporate recommendations collected from the public and private sector stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project.
• Develop policy briefs and conduct policy dialogues on the success stories, best practices, challenges, and opportunities in SDG financing, resource mobilization, and tapping the role of the private sector in closing financing gaps.
• Support establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for capturing and disseminating knowledge from the project; and ensure development of knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training and other relevant capacity building activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. Lead workshops with senior level officials and stakeholders.
• Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks and communities of practice to promote advocacy for Facility’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends. Represent UNDP in relevant technical meetings and working groups under the direction of ARR DPU.

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

Core competencies:

• 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.

People Management competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• System Thinking: 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.

Partnership management

• Resource Mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources that match funding needs (programmes/ initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirement.

Finance

• Development Finance Expertise: Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.

Digital & Innovation

• Alternative Finance: Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilise them to address development challenges; Ability to review the skills, capacities, procedures, and protocols that are needed to enable new financial mechanisms; Ability to assess the risks, limitations, and implications of using new financial mechanisms.

Partnership Management

• Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain, and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding.