Investment Policy Expert (NPSA10) UNDP at United Nations Development Programme: (Deadline 7 April 2023)

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. 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’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments—through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance—can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation.

The Least Developed Countries Investment Platform (LDC/IP) serves as UNCDF’s center of excellence on development finance by creating the conditions for investment viability in the “missing middle” or in riskier market segments. The aim of the LDC/IP is to be part of a system that (a) demonstrates to domestic and international investors that LDC markets can and do generate returns, provide opportunities for successful investment, and merit the attention of a wider range of investors and that (b) uses those demonstration effects to support policy and regulatory improvements and scale up by other actors of what works.

The Investment Advisory Initiative (IAI) sitting within the LDC/IP seeks to inform and improve the policy regime for investments in priority countries across Africa from lessons learned through i) the development and implementation of innovative SDG-positive development finance initiatives in conjunction with other agencies of the UNDS ii) the deployment of capital, including through UNCDF financing solutions, into investment transactions meant to provide demonstration effects and unlock additional capital (in a blended fashion when possible) iii) direct policy support to government at country level, at its request through the RC or RCO. Unlike many other actors, UNCDF is able to anchor policy advice and related work with the real experience and lessons learnt gained as development finance practitioner able to deploy capital and develop financing mechanisms.

Policy underpins the approach of the IAI to help governments identify and respond to barriers to attract long-term finance for the SDGs. In addition to using lessons learned from demonstration effects of blended finance transactions and the implementation of innovative SDG-positive development finance initiatives, the IAI will convene and engage with private capital and businesses to understand the challenges they face to integrate SDG support into their business models, and work with government and other relevant stakeholders to design mechanisms to catalyze private investment for the SDGs.

Based in Kigali, Rwanda the Investment Policy Expert will facilitate the dialogue and implementation of policy development and activities between all the relevant stakeholders of the project.

The overall responsibility of the Investment Policy Expert is to contribute to policy development and advocacy activities, including design of an evidenced-based approach and policy tools, organize policy convenings/dialogue, provide advanced policy advise, policy support, stakeholder engagement and advocacy in Rwanda as it pertains to identified priority areas of the Government. Furthermore, s/he will be responsible for the policy intelligence, research and advocacy work for identified area/s of UNCDF LDC/IP’s policy work in collaboration with the Government. S/he will also act as a liaison officer at the country level for RC/RCO, UN agencies, government, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, private sector partners, financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders

Summary of key functions:

1. Design, plan, develop and implement UNCDF’s IAI policy and advocacy projects at the country level including campaigns;
2. Design and implement an evidence-based process for policy advocacy and support including appropriate policy diagnostic tools; conduct surveys, prioritize identified challenges, define a proposed solutions, etc in support of key deliverables: to plan and moderate policy convenings/dialogues, prepare and publish a policy brief;
3. Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research and policy analysis on relevant development investment advocacy issues (including identify and prioritize challenges) and related knowledge management;
4. Actively participate and represent the organization in various networks and coalitions to share UNCDF’s position on various development advocacy issues as it pertains to investment finance;
5. Organize and lead policy advocacy meetings with the RC/RCO, UN agencies, governments, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, private sector, banks/financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders;
6. Produce reports, briefings, articles, updates, and summaries based on research on current development advocacy processes, policies, and practices;
7. Share approved content across various mediums (i.e., UNCDF’s website, newsletter, and other publications);
8. Remain up to date with global, regional, and national policies, frameworks, and guidelines that impact UNCDF’s work particularly as it relates to the project focus country.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to the Investment Specialist at UNCDF based in Kigali, Rwanda and as needed to other LDC/IP colleagues in the regional office/HQ based, country and across the region.

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

Strategic Thinking: Policy Advocacy & Investments: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized policy-led plans in line with the project’s objectives.

• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward.

Project & Programme Management: Time-bound goal with internal & external collaborators: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership Management: Relationship Management & Strategic Engagement: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNCDF’s strategy and policies.

• Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

General: Public relations: Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.

Finance: Development Finance: Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.

Ethics: Ethics Advice & Guidance: Ability to quickly analyze complex fact patterns and provide comprehensive, sensitive, and confidential ethics advice and guidance.

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Public Policy/Administration, Economics, Development Finance, Sustainable Development or other relevant field.

• Minimum 5 (five) years of relevant experience that can include a combination of finance and investment, financial or investment regulation design or enforcement, investment policy advocacy, capacity building for SME investment, planning and implementing an advocacy strategy including conducting policy research, survey design and analysis, working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to shape an advocacy agenda at the community, national and/or local level;
• Experience in managing groups of industry stakeholders (association management, conference moderation, event management, etc.);
• In-depth and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the UN system and the mandates of constituent agencies, including with UN corporate standards and language requirements;
• Relevant experience working within the UN system is desirable;
• Experience working with relevant ministerial agencies and the private sector as it pertains to understanding the barriers to access to investment finance;
• Experience building partnerships, either public-private partnerships or between private sector players;
• Experience and passion in understanding barriers to access to finance for less privilege such as women, youth, people with disabilities;
• Computer and IT skills in Microsoft applications (e.g. MS Project Management tool);
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship management and negotiation skills.

Languages: A strong command of English and Kinyarwanda (local language) is essential.

• Knowledge of other UN official languages such as French will be considered an asset.

Certificate: Project Management Professional (PMP),  a relevant Advanced Certificate Course on Policy, etc.