Summary
Date Posted: Friday, October 21, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Project Officer – Investment
Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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.

Project Description
The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). 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.
Under the framework of the UNCDF Municipal Investment Finance programme, LTF has partnered with SDC to launch a 4-year project called Financing Durable Solutions Initiative for Forcibly Displaced Persons. The overall objective of this project is to promote equitable access to social services and economic opportunities for forcibly displaced persons in host cities in developing countries so that they have a better quality of life with dignity. The specific objective is that durable solutions initiatives in support of forcibly displaced persons (FDP) are sustainably financed in the FDP host cities in target countries.
The project aims to promote equitable access to social services and economic opportunities for FDPs and their host communities. It is designed to benefit in total eight city governments hosting about 1.2 million FDPs. It aims to provide support to 3-5 inclusive infrastructure projects per city and enable up to 15 catalytic MSMEs to promote job creation and economic opportunities for IDPs and their host communities.
Four key results are expected from the project:
• Result 1: Established local policy and regulatory framework that creates an enabling environment for FDPs to have access to legal rights, services and social-economic opportunities.
• Result 2: Improved local capacity in increasing own source revenues and strengthening fiscal health.
• Result 3: Financing mechanisms designed to unlock private capital for municipal projects that are economically productive with the capacity to absorb commercial funding.
• Result 4: Financing and technical assistance provided for durable enterprises to create jobs and economic opportunities for FDPs.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Officer – Investment will directly report to the Regional Project Manager.
Scope of Work
Organization and facilitation of key programme activities related to developing and financing infrastructure projects:
• Prepare eligibility and screening criteria and develop calls for proposals for FDS private sector and public infrastructure projects;
• Support build pipeline of public revenue generating investments in catalytic sectors that address the urbanization and FDP challenges;
• Business and project development support to municipal investment projects;
• Supporting establishment of an inclusive LED promotion capacity in partner cities;
• Supporting develop and finance public revenue generating projects;
• Provide implementation support for the process of identifying;
• Provide directly and facilitate provision of support services to project sponsors identified in close cooperation with private sector associations and Government Ministries and agencies. This includes feasibility studies, business plans, financial analysis, market assessment, financial advisory services, and project finance transaction structuring;
• Ensure financing by the FDS projects financing Facilities for eligible projects for private sector and local governments. This includes application of credit enhancement measures, such as equity top-ups and contracts guarantees, preparation of the Bank Info Memorandum and loan applications for FDS facilities and proposals for grant/loan restructuring;
• Designing financing mechanisms to unlock private capital for municipal projects that are economically productive with the capacity to absorb commercial funding;
• Participate in activities to promote FDS activities resulting in a project pipeline and/or strategic partnerships;
• Prepare and facilitate technical missions for project and pipeline development;
• Support the establishment of co-financing relationships with local and international financial institutions, nurture relationships and manage activities needed to secure co-financing of FDS projects;
• Facilitate the required technical studies under guidance by engaging the project sponsors, consultants, local authorities, and communities as appropriate, including the development of TORs that reflect project finance requirements and support of the procurement processes;
• Identify alternative financing sources and structures, including the preparation of and participation in discussions and negotiations with banks, investors and other stakeholders;
Supporting planning, monitoring and evaluation activities of the project, in consultation with the Programme Management Specialist and Programme Manager.
• Support and participate in the development of project work plans;
• Support and participate in the development of project monitoring and evaluation tools;
• Support and participate in the development of project procurement plans;
• Support the organization of project reviews/meetings;
• Support the timely preparation and submission of progress reports, donor reports, project reviews, financial reports, audit reports and any other required project reports;
• Perform any other tasks assigned by a supervisor.
Provide support in Establishing local policy and regulatory framework that creates an enabling environment for FDPs to have access to legal rights, services, and social-economic opportunities;
• Contribute to analysis of forced migration dynamics, including patterns, composition, spatial distribution, etc. and city-level interventions required to cope with it against the relevant current policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, focusing in particular on the aspect of financing durable solutions;
• Closely work with consultants who will be tasked for capacity of Legal and regulatory review of the central/state/regional policies, laws and regulations that define city capacities to deal with challenges of forced migration and development of amendments to increase that capacity, particularly in terms of fiscal and budget autonomy;
• Contribute in the assessments of mainstreaming FDP response in city-level local development strategies, investment plans, financial management guidelines and frameworks as well as annual planning and budgeting to make it more sensitive and inclusive of FDP populations.
Provide support to improved local capacity in increasing own-source revenues and strengthening fiscal health;
• Contribute to the conducting of Completing tax administration training of municipal staff and tax administration diagnostics in the target cities focusing specifically on how the current tax administration approaches and procedures affect FDPs.
• Maintain a record of the people trained, by Sectors on the tax administration diagnostics in the target cities focusing specifically on how the current tax administration approaches and procedures affect FDPs.
Provide support in financing and technical assistance for durable enterprises to create jobs and economic opportunities for FDPs
• Support in the Initial appraisal, data collection, site visits, review of business and technical feasibility studies, compliance and governance requirements/structuring, contracts, financial analysis, and deal/financing structuring;
• Closely work with consultants who will be tasked with training and technical assistance to project developers to build their capacity in financial instruments, capital requirements and awareness of business opportunities.
Provide administrative support on operations and financial matters.
• Support and participate in the development of project work plans;
• Follow-up, daily, with project partners, to guarantee smooth implementation of administrative and operational activities of the project;
• Maintain up-to-date files and records of project documentation;
• Provide logistical support for workshops and other meetings as tasked by the Programme Specialist;
• Process project-related travel arrangements;
• Support the timely preparation and submission of progress/donor reports, project reviews, financial reports, audit reports, and any other required project reports;
• Perform any other tasks assigned by a supervisor.
Competencies
Core
• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business direction and strategy:
• Entrepreneurial Thinking: Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
• Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
Business development:
• Human-centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
Business management
• Project management: Ability to plan, organise, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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.
• Evaluation: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize 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 optimizing return on investment.

Education:
• Master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Social Sciences or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
• At least 2 years of experience in investment portfolio management in a reputable institution.

Required Skills
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
• Experience in investment/banking/ financial management in a reputable institution;
• Experience with private equity/venture investments, credit and risk assessment, with solid financial modelling and risk assessment skills;
• Proven experience in data collection, data and financial analysis skills;
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Excellent organizational and technical skills;
• Good interpersonal and multi-tasking skills;
• Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable; along with knowledge of UNCDF/UNDP and the UN system and / or NGO;
• Experience in managing investment portfolio in projects with the government, NGO or private sector;
• Experience coordinating and or working under a local government or ministry or Agency in a related development program shall be an added advantage.
Required Language
• Fluency in oral and written English.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

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