UNCDF, a hybrid development and financial organization, is uniquely positioned in the UN system to collaborate across private and public sectors to build strategic partnerships, co-management frameworks, and deploy various instruments (concessional loans, bonds, guarantees, etc.) as well as technical assistance to incubate solutions and attract private investment. UNCDF recognizes the critical need to catalyze private investment in inclusive and innovative solutions that deliver cross-cutting impacts for sustainable development with a focus on peace, climate adaptation and resilience, food security and nature conservation.

UNCDF launched a new Strategic Framework for 2022-2025 that offers an ambitious roadmap aimed at unlocking the potential of finance to accelerate SDG-positive achievements for the benefit of the most vulnerable nations. In particular, the new UNCDF Framework highlights biodiversity finance as a severely underfunded climate mitigation solution and propose to apply UNCDF multidimensional capital mandate to mobilize further public and private, international and domestic finance in LDCs through concessional capital deployment, financial advisory and support for the establishment of financing mechanisms and systems that promotes the valuation of the LDC unique natural assets potential.

UNCDF intent is to support LDCs to create an enabling environment for nature-positive pipeline building, investments and market opportunities that create equitable and diversified economic growth. The essence of this transformation is a strategic shift from viewing nature as a resource to treating nature as an asset. This represents a very different view to natural resource investing wherein nature is commoditized for short run gain and its long run economic and nature-based value is not taken into consideration. In order to support this strategic shift, UNCDF is consolidating its growing nature-based portfolio into a Nature Asset Team (UNCDF NAT). The team will serve to mobilize the nature-positive public and private finance needed for green & blue economic transformation supporting several pilot projects financed by the Central Africa Forest Initiative – CAFI, the Global Fund for Coral Reef, the Peace Building Fund – PBF and several bilateral donors. UNCDF’s Nature Asset Team’s objective is to identify solutions, drive investment, and transform markets to promote the protection and enhanced valuation of nature assets. Through UNCDF’s tailored financial vehicles and tools, the Nature Asset Team focuses on scaling-up investment in solutions that place nature at the heart of economic transition to enable long-term resilience and restoration.

• Programme Management :
  • Support strategic coherence among UNCDF NAT programming in particular with the Peace Building Fund and the Investment for Peace platform.
  • Support the coordination of priorities and activities across the NAT portfolio for efficient implementation of the portfolio.
• Provide expertise and analysis on nature, climate and stability contexts relevant to key NAT geographic priorities and projects.
• Contribute to the production of concept notes addressing strategic aspects crucial for effective project implementation.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning :
• Set up and maintain a database for the management of the indicator framework across the various projects including the harmonization of data sourcing methods.
• Conduct comprehensive monitoring of project implementation status and provide recommendations to the Deputy Director.
• Contribute to the drafting of the respective project semi and annual report as required by the donors.
• Facilitate regular feedback sessions with project teams to assess the effectiveness of applied lessons and make real-time adjustments to project strategies.
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated in the MEL framework and in results reporting
• Ensure the integration of lesson learning into project planning, ensuring that future initiatives benefit from insights gained during the lesson learning process.

.Liaise with UN Agencies and other stakeholders :

• Establish and sustain effective communication channels with UN Agencies and other partners, fostering collaboration in key areas.

Institutional Arrangement

The Coordination Specialist will join the UNCDF NAT in the UNCDF’s Kigali Office in Rwanda, and will be working under the direct guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director of the NAT.

UNCDF will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

If any unforeseen travel is requested by UNCDF and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be negotiated to be covered by UNCDF in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the individual shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

Achieve Results:              LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.

Think Innovatively:         LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.

Learn Continuously:       LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.

Adapt with Agility:          LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.

Act with Determination:              LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.

Engage and Partner:       LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:   LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) Master’s degree) in Public Administration, International Relations and/or other relevant field is required, or
• Bachelor’s degree with additional two years of experience may be taken into consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.