Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) is the only United Nations unit exclusively dedicated to the design and administration of multi-stakeholder pooled financing instruments. Since 2003, it has supported over 200 UN-implemented pooled funds, providing an integrated platform of inter-agency pooled fund services to help UN organizations and partners make fast and efficient progress towards collective outcomes, like the 2030 Agenda. The MPTF Office’s current portfolio is over $18 billion in total, with more than $1 billion per year in contributions and includes more than 150 active pooled financing mechanisms.
The MPTF Office’s trustee and fund design and administration service is a standard-setter in the UN System – professionalized, highly transparent and firewalled from all UN implementing entities. The MPTF Office has put in place a number of tools and systems to support its transparent and accessible fund administration services such as its digital platform the MPTF Office Gateway. As a shared UN service provider, the MPTF Office operates in a distinct and dedicated business unit. It provides an integrated service platform that, in addition to core trust fund design and administration functions, provides complimentary services to users like data analytics, research administration, and knowledge management.
Duties and Responsibilities
The MPTFO Deputy Executive Coordinator reports to the Executive Coordinator and supports her/him by overseeing the effective management of the Office, representing the MPTFO in key UN Interagency fora, leading the MPTF Office in quality assurance, performance standards, portfolio analytics and enabling functions in pooled fund design and administration; and overseeing the hosting services to pooled funds where MPTFO hosts an MPTF Fund Secretariat. She/he is a primary contributor to deepening UNDP MPTFO’s strategic partnerships with the UN System, National Governments, Contributors/Partners and Multilateral and Regional Financial Institutions with respect to UNDP’s role as Administrative Agent for inter-agency pooled funds.
1) Contribute Strategic Leadership and Direction to the MPTF Office
- Advances the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UNDP MPTFO in support of an effective and efficient UN development system;
- Prepares and monitors consultative strategic plans to respond to medium and long-term trends in the external environment, evolving demand for pooled fund design and administration services and features required for internal functions in the office;
- Oversees the preparation of annual work plans and targets, and monitors progress;
- Oversees Annual Reports of the MPTF Office to internal and external stakeholders;
- Leads on MPTFO’s engagement with UNDP governance and oversight bodies, including internal and external Independent Audit and Evaluation; and
- Acts as Executive Coordinator a.i. in the absence of the Executive Coordinator.
2) Quality assurance in fund design, risk and policy management
- Oversees and ensures the efficient and smooth functioning and business processes of the office’s portfolio management team ensuring supportive systems, practices and monitoring of fund administration quality, KPI’s, coverage, information exchange.
- Leads the Fund Appraisal Process for new funds or fund extension;
- Engages in UNSDG policy frameworks for pooled funds, including by promoting policy innovations based on demand trends;
- Leads and supports MPTFO’s engagement in UNSDG oversight mechanisms for pooled funding mechanisms, in particular with Fiduciary Management Oversight Group (FMOG)
- Provides risk-based advice to the Executive Coordinator on emerging opportunities, new fund designs and cross portfolio issues;
- Provides guidance for on new product development designs ensuring adherence to the UN Funding Compact principles;
- Enables and leads Fund Portfolio team to ensure the effective use of standard legal instruments and oversees the day-to-day work of the legal advisor in view of ensuring clearance of non-standard agreements and escalation to UNDP Legal Office and/or UNSDG mechanisms as appropriate;
- Oversees policy development and implementation of operational policies for MPTFO fund design and administration services; and
- Oversees the Office monitoring and evaluation function, including implementation of monitoring frameworks, and undertaking of reviews and evaluation exercises at the Office lever as well as in support to the Portfolio team for evaluation of key pooled funds.
3) Partnership Development
- Leads and supports the office’s engagement and partnership development in relevant UNSDG inter-agency fora;
- Leads on partnership development and management with selected contributors, UN entities and non-UN organisations as required;
- Provides strategic input into interagency initiatives advancing pooled funding design and administration;
- Leads on partnerships with the World Bank and other International Financing Institutions; and
- Represents the office in UN system accountability, financing and policy reforms linked to pooled financing mechanisms.
4) Leads on Advisory Services Provision
- Manages UN system relationships for MPTFO service provision in hosting MPTF fund secretariats and other Advisory Services;
- Leads and manages the office’s Advisory Services function including support to Fund Secretariats, with the support of Portfolio Managers; and
- Ensures Advisory Services are provided on a full cost recovery basis and appropriate SOPs are in place.
5) Knowledge Management and Accountability on Pooled Financing Mechanisms
- Leads MPTFO staff in identifying, documenting and drafting of best practices and lessons learned on the role, impact, efficiency and effectiveness of pooled financing mechanisms;
- Improves knowledge management processes across the office especially related to data and analytics on financing of the UN Development System and pooled funding data in particular.
- Ensure continuous competitiveness of MPTF Office services for innovations, enhanced accountability, transparency and implementation of lessons learned on designing and managing funds for performance.
Competencies
Core Competencies – UNDP Core Competencies can be found
here.
- Achieve Results – LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
- Think Innovatively – LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
- Learn Continuously – LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
- Adapt with Agility -LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
- Act with Determination – LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
- Engage and Partner – LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion- LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy – 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.
Business Direction & Strategy – Business Acumen:
- Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
- Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
Business Development – Integration within the UN:
- Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations
Business Management – Communication:
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management – Portfolio Management:
- Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.
Digital and Innovation – Alternative Finance:
- Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilise them for the purpose of addressing 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.
Finance – Development Finance Expertise:
- Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, funds,
climate finance, etc.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Social Sciences or any other related fields, OR
- A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Social Sciences, or any other related fields, in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of the master’s degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 15 years (with Master’s Degree) or 17 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of experience in international organizations with senior level management responsibilities, is required;
- A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in fund management is required, particularly quality assurance in fund design, risk and pooled fund policy management;
- Extensive knowledge of UNDG and UNDP programming is required;
- Familiarity with UNDP financial rules and regulations is desirable;
- Knowledge of UNDP and the UN system and good understanding of the multilateral and bilateral development system is an advantage;
- Experience working in more than one UN agency with both country office and HQ settings is preferred;
- Solid experience and demonstrated results in managing teams, leading inter-agency operations, as well as establishing partnerships, resource management and negotiations is desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is highly desirable.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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