Programme Specialist – Financing for Environment, IPSA-11, Homebased (UNCDF) - [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

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. 

The Vacancy Announcement aims to fill 2 positions.

Background

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.  UNCDF’s work is focused on three priority areas, including:
•    SME Finance
•    Sub-National Finance
•    Digital Finance

UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by an Executive Board comprised of UN Member States.

UNCDF is expanding its Financing for Environment portfolio, applying its financing expertise and catalytic instruments to address environmental challenges and advance sustainable development outcomes. Key areas of engagement include the sustainable blue economy, plastics and circular economy, sustainable cities, and other environmental priorities where innovative financing can accelerate the transition from policy commitments to investable solutions.

A flagship initiative within this portfolio is the Pacific I2I Regional Project: Ocean Health for Ocean Wealth – The Voyage to a Blue Economy for the Blue Pacific Continent, - part of the Circular Economy Financing Facility (CEFF) Project.  The Pacific I2I project is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters project implemented by UNEP with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as co-implementing agency. Covering 14 Pacific Island Countries, the project aims to strengthen the protection of ocean ecosystems by catalyzing sustainable blue economy investments, enhancing policy and institutional frameworks, and strengthening national and regional financing mechanisms. UNCDF also leads initiatives in the plastics and circular economy space, including the Plastics Transition Investment Facility (PTIF), which seeks to mobilize catalytic and blended finance solutions to accelerate environmental transitions and unlock investment opportunities.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

To support the growth of this portfolio, UNCDF seeks a Programme Specialist – Financing for Environment to provide technical advisory support to the Pacific I2I project; contribute to the development and implementation of the plastics and circular economy portfolio, including PTIF; lead knowledge management, learning, and communications efforts; and support strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization across UNCDF’s broader Financing for Environment initiatives.

Under the overall guidance of the Senior Advisor – Financing for Plastics and Circular Economy, the Programme Specialist will undertake the following functions:

A. Pacific I2I Technical Advisory Support 

• Provide technical advisory support to the Pacific I2I Project Manager and project team on sustainable blue economy, environmental finance, policy/regulatory environments, private-sector engagement and related areas. 
• Guide participating countries in developing sustainable blue economy strategies, policy, regulatory,  and institutional frameworks, financing mechanisms and investment priorities. 
• Provide technical inputs to country assessments, consultations, capacity-building activities, technical studies and the development of sustainable blue economy investment opportunities. 
• Support the integration of innovative and blended finance approaches, including guarantees, concessional finance, SME finance and private capital mobilization, into project activities. 
• Review and provide quality assurance for key technical outputs and facilitate access to relevant UNCDF expertise, experience and partnerships. 

B. Plastics and Circular Economy Portfolio Development and PTIF 

• Guide the development and implementation of UNCDF's plastics and circular economy portfolio, including the Plastics Transition Investment Facility (PTIF) and related programmes and initiatives. 
• Identify and contribute to the development of programme and investment opportunities in plastics, circular economy and sustainable resource use, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Development States (SIDS). 
• Conduct policy, market and financing analysis and contribute to the development of investment concepts, pipelines and innovative financing approaches. 
• Coordinate with UNCDF regional and country teams and external partners to originate and develop programmes and investment opportunities, including SME and private-sector solutions. 
• Prepare concept notes, programme proposals, investment pipeline materials and donor/investor materials to support portfolio development and resource mobilization. 

C. Lead Communications and Knowledge Management 

• Facilitate knowledge management and communications for UNCDF's Financing for Environment portfolio, including sustainable blue economy, plastics and circular economy initiatives. 
• Develop knowledge products, technical briefs, case studies, investment stories, presentations, web content and other communications materials for internal and external audiences. 
• Capture and disseminate lessons, good practices, financing models and investment cases from UNCDF programmes and investments to support replication and scaling. 
• Coordinate knowledge exchange, learning events and engagement with relevant regional and global platforms, including GEF IW:LEARN where relevant. 
• Collaborate with UNCDF communications teams and programme partners to strengthen the visibility of UNCDF's Financing for Environment work.

D. Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization 

• Support strategic engagement with governments, UN entities, GEF and other multilateral environmental and climate funds, development finance institutions, donors, foundations, investors and private-sector partners. 
• Identify partnership and resource mobilization opportunities across UNCDF's Financing for Environment portfolio. 
• Prepare technical inputs, briefing notes, presentations and other materials for senior management engagement with strategic partners. 
• Support donor consultations, partnership meetings and external events and follow up on agreed actions. 
• Contribute to the development of strategic initiatives and partnerships that connect environmental priorities with UNCDF's financing capabilities.

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

Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor – Financing for Plastics and Circular Economy and work closely with relevant UNCDF regional, country, investment, technical and communications teams.
 

Competencies

Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Policy, Economics, Finance, International Development, Public Policy, Natural Resource Management, Business Administration, International Relations or another relevant field 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 of seven (7) years (with a Master's degree) or nine (9) years (with a Bachelor's degree), of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable development, environmental policy, environmental finance, programme development or a related field. 

Required skills:

• Demonstrated experience in environmental policy and sustainable development, including experience in one or more areas such as sustainable blue economy, oceans, plastics, circular economy or related environmental areas. 
• Demonstrated experience in programme and portfolio development, including development of concepts, proposals, programmes and/or investment opportunities and donor engagement. 
• Experience in knowledge management and communications, including preparation of technical, strategic and communications products for different audiences.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in sustainable finance, blended finance, SME finance, investment development and/or private-sector engagement.
• Experience with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) or other multilateral environmental and climate funds is highly desirable. 
• Experience working in LDCs and/or SIDS, including the Pacific region. 
• Experience in strategic partnerships and resource mobilization involving governments, donors, UN entities, development finance institutions, foundations and/or private-sector partners.
• Previous experience with the United Nations or another international development organization.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of another UN official language 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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