SDG Finance Policy Specialist

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.

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's Global Policy Network (GPN) provides a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is responsible for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provide technical advice to Country Offices, advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. 

In order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives. SFH is an integral part of both the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), as well as part of the GPN. The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via the COs, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work. The Sustainable Finance Hub has 4+1 integrated service offers: public finance for the SDGs, private finance for the SDGs, SDG impact management and finance tracking, integrated national financing frameworks and portfolios, and the SDG finance academy.

Integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) were first introduced by UN Member States in the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda as a country-led approach to strengthen public and private financing for sustainable development. Today, more than 80 countries are using the INFF approach to integrate financing and national planning, bringing together policymakers and stakeholders across the public and private sectors to shape nationally-driven approaches to strengthen SDG financing.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the SDG Finance Advisor and INFF Team Lead, Sustainable Finance Hub, and working closely with the other team members, the SDG Finance Policy Specialist will be responsible for the performance of the following functions and duties:

Providing quality assurance on financing strategies, development finance assessments and other INFF activities and products:

• Lead INFF Facility quality assurance and review processes to feed into the development of financing strategies and other INFF building blocks at the country level, applying the IATF INFF methodological guidance.
• Leading quality assurance on development finance assessments and INFF assessments and diagnostics.
• Developing and maintaining service offers that help governments to develop the technical elements of financing strategies and other INFF building blocks.
• Lead the integration of sustainable development priorities across public finance (tax, budgeting, public debt), including working with tax for SDGs, SDG budgeting, insurance and risk financing facility and other SFH teams.
• Maintaining a database and up-to-date information on the content of financing strategies and other elements of INFFs.
• Lead the work with UN DESA to feed country experiences into the updates of INFF methodological guidance.
• Providing substantive oversight and quality assurance for the engagement of technical experts and consultants.

Coordinating with regional bureaus, country offices and INFF Facility partners:

• Working with INFF focal points in Regional Bureaus and Country Offices to support national INFF processes, from initial setup and assessments through to the finalization and delivery of financing strategies and other building blocks, applying the IATF INFF methodology.
• Maintaining a roster of INFF and thematic experts, including arranging contract evaluations and updates.
• Working closely with INFF Facility technical coordination unit partners including UN DESA, UNICEF and the OECD to ensure coordinated provision of support and technical inputs to the country level.
• Coordinating work planning, monitoring and reporting through the INFF Facility.

Facilitating country exchange, delivering training and capacity development:

• Facilitating INFF Exchanges between countries to share experiences and lessons, organizing regional and global workshops and events.
• Developing and delivering training and capacity building activities on INFFs and SFH services, both internally and externally, at the country, regional and global levels.
• Coordinating the development of future financing services within the frame of the INFF.

Managing the annual INFF survey and publications:

• Managing the annual INFF survey to capture comprehensive information on how countries are using INFFs, the progress made and emerging results.
• Developing summary analysis at the global, regional and country levels including reports, briefings and presentations.
• Working with INFF communications lead to develop knowledge products and case studies.
• Identifying and sharing innovations within INFF processes.
• Providing substantive inputs into global INFF communications.

Coordinating strategic engagement with partners:

• Leading operational collaboration with external partners supporting INFF implementation.
• Managing and developing relationships with other external partners to the INFF Facility.

For more information on UNDP SDG Finance Sector Hub and INFF Activities, please visit  https://sdgfinance.undp.org/ and inff.org

Institutional Arrangement

The SDG Finance Policy Specialist will work under the supervision of the SDG Finance Advisor and INFF Team Lead in the Sustainable Finance Hub.  

Competencies

Core Competencies

• 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 & Competencies

• Business Direction & Strategy - Negotiation and Influence
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations
• Business Development - Knowledge Generation
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
• Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking
  • 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 look like for UNDP
• 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
• 2030 Agenda: Partnerships - SDG Finance
  • Public Sector Finance (Tax and domestic resource mobilization, public financial management and public expenditure) 

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

• Experience working with government on reforms to public and/or private financing policy is desirable.
• Prior experience conducting large surveys, managing and analysing data desirable. 
• Experience working on Integrated National Financing Frameworks is desirable.
• Previous work experience with UNDP / UN in similar functions is an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

 Education:

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, social sciences or related discipline is required.
• Bachelor degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience can be taken in lieu of Master’s degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in public finance policy (tax and/or budgeting), sustainable development, finance policy analysis, capacity building and/or advisory services is required.

Language:

• Proficiency in the English language: excellent verbal, written and editing skills are required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset. 

Required Skills:

• Experience in leading consultations with senior government officials and facilitating discussions among a wide group of stakeholders is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting government agencies or development partners in the area of development finance and public institutional governance and capacity building is required.
• Experience producing reports, policy notes, and policy analysis is required.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.