Hubs Revenue and Investment Strategy Specialist at United Nations Development Programme: (Deadline 15 April 2025)

Hubs Revenue and Investment Strategy Specialist at United Nations Development Programme: (Deadline 15 April 2025)

Background

The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan by focusing on three outcome areas:

• African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandate, especially cross-cutting issues related to resilience building (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2);
• Regional growth is inclusive, transformational, and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities, and characterized by structural transformation (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2); and
• Regional institutions sustain peace and build resilience to crises and shocks (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 3).

In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced planning of a new initiative, timbuktoo, which aims to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. timbuktoo’s ambition is to mobilize one billion dollars with US$ 350 million invested as catalytic and more than US$ 650 million crowded in as commercial capital to transform more than 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified new jobs.

In January 2024, UNDP launched the timbuktoo Initiative which includes a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund has already received a commitment of $3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The ambitious plan aims to mobilize and invest the targeted $1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. This focused approach, combined with a “blended capital” model that incorporates both commercial and catalytic funds, aims to reduce risks associated with private investment and foster a comprehensive startup ecosystem. The main target for the Execution Phase is to establish the institutional arrangements for the Fund, and crowd in additional investments on the catalytic side as well as kick off effective operationalization of the Initiative.

The timbuktoo initiative will establish 10 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi – to serve as critical intervention nodes with full innovation ecosystem support. Each hub will be sector-specific and engage with startups across Africa rather than only those based in the host country. These hubs will catalyze innovation for sustainable development transforming ideas into viable businesses critical for powering Africa’s transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area.  The timbuktoo initiative also features University Innovation Pods (UniPods) – bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurial application. The 13 UniPods already established within public universities in Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia, will be linked to the above – mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech – enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs. The timbuktoo initiative is multi-pronged, focused on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem.  The timbuktoo approach will be anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa’s youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as Hub Design Specialist  for the timbuktoo initiative.  The incumbent will report to timbuktoo Global Lead and work closely with the Unipods and hubs section leads.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Revenue & Investment Strategy Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing equity-based revenue streams and revenue diversification strategies to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of timbuktoo hubs. This role focuses on leveraging equity investments, alternative revenue models, and financial innovation to create self-sustaining and growth-driven funding mechanisms.

Equity-Based Revenue Strategy Plan – A comprehensive framework for managing and scaling equity investments within the scope of long-term growth.

Revenue Diversification Roadmap – Identifying new revenue sources and strategies to ensure broader financial independence and reduce dependency on single streams.

Quarterly Financial Performance Reports – Regular tracking and analysis of revenue generation, investment performance, and sustainability metrics within the specified time frames.

Investor & Strategic Partnership Reports – Detailed documentation of new funding and investment opportunities secured, with a focus on scaling the investment base.

Risk & Compliance Assessment for Revenue Models – Conducting thorough evaluations to ensure financial strategies comply with regulatory standards and mitigate potential risks within the established scope.

Key Success Indicators

• Equity-Based Investment Performance → Percentage of successful equity investments and return on investment (ROI);
• Revenue Diversification Ratio → Proportion of hub revenue generated from alternative sources beyond grant funding;
• Investor & Partner Engagement → Number of strategic funding and investment partnerships secured;
• Operational Self-Sufficiency → Percentage of operational costs covered through internally generated revenue;
• Financial Compliance & Risk Management → Adherence to investment policies and regulatory frameworks.

Collaboration with Other Roles

• Tech Hubs Lead → To align equity and revenue strategies with timbuktoo’s broader sustainability vision;
• Hub Operations & Sustainability Specialist → To integrate revenue and equity models into operational planning;
• Startup Support & Portfolio Development Specialist → To ensure revenue generation aligns with startup growth and investment strategies;
• Impact Measurement & Data Analytics Specialist → To track financial performance and assess revenue model effectiveness;
• Digital Infrastructure Specialist → To implement digital tools for investment tracking, revenue modeling, and financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

To ensure effective implementation, the specialist will undertake several core activities, including :

 A. Equity-Based Revenue Strategy Development

• Design and implement equity-based revenue models, ensuring that timbuktoo hubs generate long-term financial returns;
• Develop investment structures that allow hubs to take equity stakes in supported startups while aligning with regulatory frameworks;
• Work with investors, venture capital funds, and corporate partners to create co-investment opportunities;
• Establish mechanisms to track, manage, and optimize equity returns from startup investments;
• Ensure equity-based strategies align with timbuktoo’s risk management frameworks and financial sustainability goals.

B. Revenue Diversification & Alternative Funding Models

• Identify and implement diversified revenue streams, reducing dependence on grant funding and external financing;
• Develop membership models, innovation lab monetization, consulting services, and platform fees as revenue-generating initiatives;
• Structure and negotiate strategic licensing agreements, corporate sponsorships, and revenue-sharing partnerships;
• Explore and implement debt financing, revenue-based financing, and blended finance mechanisms to support hub sustainability;
• Build models to forecast revenue performance, ensuring robust financial planning and risk mitigation.

C. Financial Planning & Performance Monitoring

• Develop key financial indicators (KPIs) to track and optimize the performance of revenue-generating activities;
• Work with the Impact Measurement & Data Analytics Specialist to measure financial performance and return on investment;
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to the Tech Hubs Lead to support data-driven decision-making;
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and risk management best practices for equity and revenue-based models.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the timbuktoo Initiative overall both within UNDP and with the Foundation. 

Institutional Arrangement

The Specialist will report to the Global Lead, timbuktoo and work closely with Unipods and hubs section heads.

Competencies

CORE

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting 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

Cross Functional & Technical Competencies

Business Management:

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Partnerships Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Direction & Strategy

• Entrepreneurial Thinking
• Ability to create clarity around UNDP’s value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate
• 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

Partnership management

• Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding
  • Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
• Resource mobilization
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent degree) in Finance, Economics, Business Management, Public Administration, or other related discipline is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level that includes extensive experience in mobilizing capital venture capital, or running incubators or accelerators or work with startup ecosystems in developing countries, venture capital, digital entrepreneurship, or related areas.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrate high-level strategic thinking skills and business analytical skills;
• Excellent communication skills/experience and proven leadership and team skills.

Desired Skills:

• A good knowledge of the UN system, in particular UNDP would be an asset.
•  Knowledge of Africa, would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language would be 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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