Digital Finance Specialist - Tenders Global

Digital Finance Specialist

Plan International

tendersglobal.net

JOB DESCRIPTION

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.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs).  With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers ‘last mile’ finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF leverages digital finance in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the vision of promoting inclusive digital economies. On that basis, the Inclusive Digital Economies Division of UNCDF adopted the strategy of ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’, which is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The goal of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use digital services, which improve their quality of life and accelerate our progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). To achieve this, UNCDF provides capital and technical support through Inclusive Digital Economy programmes to ensure that more households and small businesses gain access to services that expand opportunities and reduce vulnerabilities. The ability of UNCDF to provide risk capital directly to the private sector is helping bring new products and services to under-served and hard to reach markets and spurring innovations. Through flexible grant and loan instruments UNCDF supports a wide range of products and services in various sectors ranging from finance to agriculture, education, health and transportation. This entails working with the public and the private sector to ensure that the services match in particular the needs of key segments such as youth, women, migrants, refugees, and micro-small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

UNCDF requires “Country Relationship Manager” to manage UNCDF Portfolio in Madagascar. The Country Relations Manager will play a critical role in coordinating all UNCDF activities in Madagascar. He / She will manage key functions such as Coordination, Project management, Partnership and Resources Mobilization. The CRM will work closely with the support team in Dakar as well as FMS to ensure effective implementation of IDE strategies and partnerships in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

  • Lead IDE’s programme management and coherence in the country.
  • Develop the necessary pipeline in close consultation and coordination with the government, donors, partners and UNCT.
  • Provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

  1. Lead IDE’s programme management and coherence in the country focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Manage and coordinate the implementation of projects in accordance with the objectives, work plan and timely budget, efficiently and effectively in accordance with the project document and work plan;
  • Ensure that the various documents (multi-year, annual, quarterly, operational work plans, journals, reports) required for the proper functioning of the project are prepared on time according to the required quality standards and updated.
  • Coordinate project activities with relevant government activities and initiatives, UNCDF strategy, CPD and UNSDCF;
  • Maintain close working relationships with all relevant stakeholders and partners to ensure adequate information flow and cooperation among the project’s participating institutions, in particular, with the Project Committee members;
  • Manage and monitor day-to-day budgetary and financial operations to facilitate project audits to ensure accurate and reliable financial reporting;
  • Manage financial resources on the basis of value for money and cost effectiveness principles;
  • Ensure compliance with administrative and financial procedures in the implementation of the program.
  • 2. Develop the necessary pipeline in close consultation and coordination with the government, donors, partners and UNCT focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Represent UNCDF in various meetings with donors and national parties (UN Country Team, Program Management Team, Steering Committee, Investment Committee…)
  • Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, and other documents.
  • Explore and develop partnerships with potential donors (both traditional and newly established) seeking to encourage their commitment to UNCDF;
  • Explore new funding mechanisms through traditional donors, the UN, donor special programs, and private sector and foundations;
  • Analyze specific funding trends and patterns which can assist in predicting donor interest in UNCDF programs;
  • Explore strategic partnerships that do not involve funding but rather collaboration in other forms (joint advocacy, social mobilization, etc.) around goals and objectives central to UNCDF’s mandate;
  • Collaborate with the Regional Office team on positioning and advocating for goals and objectives central to UNCDF’s mandate, raising the visibility and promoting results from country programs and other relevant programming modalities relevant in the region;
  • Manage networks of partners in the region, and create mechanisms for interaction among partners to further UNCDF’s mandate;

3. Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the followingresults:

  • Maintain the quality assurance and the validation of the relevant data (indicators, targets, results) in the established information management system for measuring the qualitative and quantitative impact, and report on the progress;
  • In addition to regular reporting to UNCDF Regional Office, regularly contribute to donors’ reporting and briefings;
  • Facilitate and document human interest stories of beneficiaries and develop various communication materials linked to the socio-economic recovery;
  • Identify and formule lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader CO knowledge management efforts;
  • Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise one Programme Analyst

Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic 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:

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction and 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 Management Portfolio Management Ability to select, priorities and control the organization 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 optimizing return on investment
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
Resource mobilization Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
2030 Agenda: Partnerships SDG Finance Financial Inclusion:

Ability to identify entry points and design interventions that target individuals and businesses to have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs in a responsible and sustainable way.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity Inclusive Growth Economic Diversification: ability to identify and structure strategies that contribute to the efforts of enhancing positive economic growth and development
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced University Degree (master’s degree) in Economics, Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies or a related area is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) and 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in working with inclusive growth, structural transformation and gender and youth empowerment programmes is required.
  • Experience in programme management and multilateral development stakeholders is an asset.
  • Experience in the usage ofcomputers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel etc.) and advancedknowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
  • Experience in handling web-based management systems and ERP of financials, preferably PeopleSoft (Atlas) or Quantum is an asset.

Language requirements (Required / Desired)

  • Fluency in written and spoken French (Required)
  • Working knowledge of English an asset
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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