Background

The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project will be implemented in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan building on UNDP’s work and experience with implementing the SDG Accelerator for SMEs methodology. The SDG Accelerator for SMEs methodology is unique in the United Nations family as it directly supports sustainable business development and commercial green growth in SMEs. The SDG Accelerator is a part of UNDP’s service offer UNDP Impact Venture Accelerators (IVA). The IVA is a practical approach to help businesses focus on delivering products/services, business models and business plans which contribute to the SDGs. The IVA is a part of UNDP’s Private Sector Strategy note which, along with other UNDP strategic areas, works towards achieving the goal of promoting over $1 US trillion of public expenditure and private capital investment in the SDGs, as outlined in UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-25.

The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project is one out of three projects under the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme’s (DAPP) new five-year cycle, launched September 2022. The owner of the initiative DAPP is the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DAPP has existed since the early 2000s. DAPP comprises of two programmes, the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Programme and the Human Rights and Inclusion Programme. The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator is project 2 out of three projects under the Youth Employment Programme.

The objective of the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project is to support established entrepreneurs and SMEs, of which a proportion will be youth-led, to accelerate green growth in their businesses and through this, support the local transition to a green and sustainable economy, and enable green jobs for youth.

The Country Offices (CO) in the four DAPP countries will implement the Accelerators at country-level and leverage on their longstanding local networks of relevant stakeholders across sectors (SMEs). Choosing the right sectors and sub-sectors with high potential for job-creation will be key to ensure results and will be based on a sector analysis surveying mapping of growth, job drivers, and much more. The implementation will be done in close collaboration with local management consulting firms in each country (or regionally) who will assist the CO team in implementation and deliver strategic business development consulting on green growth and business instruments to grow business. The strategic business development consulting will consist of e.g. consulting on the development of business plans for new environmentally friendly products and services, through implementation of greener production or operational processes, and/or through the integration of selected standards that can enable some companies to get access to new markets.

The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator project will be implemented in 3 outputs:

                  Output 1: Accelerators:

Established entrepreneurs and SMEs, of which at least 10% will be youth-led enterprises, will be supported with green growth business instruments and advisory through an intensive 5-months business development process called the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator. The youth-led enterprises will follow the same process in the accelerators as the non-youth-led companies. The overall goal of Output 1 is to target companies enabled to grow their business and create green jobs for youth.

Output 2: SME Finance:

Many of the target companies in the Accelerator are expected to need risk capital to realise their green growth business plans. UNDP will function as a connector between the target companies and relevant financial institutions providing capital to SMEs in and outside the region. Here, UNDP will also make use of the SDG Investor Maps, if available, identifying supply and demand of investment appetite in the countries. Through the Accelerator, target companies that need finance will also be offered some coaching aiming to strengthen their ability to pitch green growth business plans to potential investors and capital providers. The overall goal of Output 2 is to ensure that green business solutions of target companies accelerated by increased access to finance.

Output 3: Learning Modality

In the MENA region, young entrepreneurs and businesses using digital platforms and technology and taking advantage of digital payment opportunities are on the rise. Output 3 will work to strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs and SMEs to take advantage of these new digital growth opportunities which will be delivered through a targeted learning modality. The learning modality will comprise different learning assets including Digital learning on:

Sustainable business development and innovation, Impact Management and Measurement (IMM); and e-Commerce.

The overall goal of Output 3 is for youth and companies to be capacitated to accelerate and manage green, sustainable growth.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement the preparation and quality assurance of financing agreements and partnership instruments, ensuring compliance with UNDP Rules and regulations pertaining to resource mobilization.
  • Prepare and submit the yearly procurement plan for the project and follow up on deliverables and payments.
  • Coordinate the process of travel and DSA for the project team and consultants with CO operation team.
  • Prepare for the relevant project events and follow up with the different parties on the event implementation.

Duties and responsibilities within Output 1:

• Take part in weekly check-ins with UNDP NRO and RBAS
  • Take part in fortnightly learning sessions with UNDP NRO, RBAS and other COs focusing on SME progress, methodology/tools application and other items relevant to the project.
  • Support in capturing results from SME progress against results framework.
  • Coordinate youth that are part of youth4sustainability and their involvement in the accelerators and support to SMEs.

Duties and responsibilities within Output 2:

• Support in documenting progress from initiated dialogues between SMEs and investors and for capturing results

Duties and responsibilities within Output 3:

• Participate in design sessions and provide input relevant for local contexts with the team responsible for development of Learning Modality.
  • Support in embedding learning materials into relevant channels, curricula, and outlets of stakeholders to ensure wide uptake and use of the e-learning materials.

Co-create and ideate on how best to use the Regional Youth Project Platform (NextGenYouth Platform) for creating a network, sharing knowledge, uploading assets, connecting youth job seekers to SMEs.

Competencies

Cross-Functional &Technical competencies:

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

6 years of experience with Secondary degree or 3 years of experience with Bachelor’s degree or in anthropology, sociology, humanities and social sciences, development studies and community development, business   administration, economics, or any other relevant field.

Experience:

Minimum 3 years (if with Bachelor's degree or 6 years if with secondary degree) of relevant experience required in development  projects, international organizations and/ or NGOs.

Required Skills:

• Strong skills in coordination, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, logistics and finances.
• Experience in training, youth capacity building and entrepreneurship.
• Good communication skills are a must.
• Ability to work in teams is a must.
• Good use of MS-Office tools is a must.

Required Languages:

Proficiency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

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

•    Hands-on experience with SME’s and entrepreneurship ecosystem is an advantage.
•    Ability for data visualization and analytics is preferable.
•    Knowledge of different authoring tools is preferable.
•    Good knowledge of Project Management tools is an advantage good knowledge of in using ERP systems is an advantage.
•    Familiarity in using UNDP ERP system and UNDP POPP/ PPM is an advantage.
•    Previous working experience in UNDP or UN agency will be an  asset.
•    Proven experience in coordination, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, logistics and finances, 
•    Experience in training, youth capacity building and entrepreneurship projects,
•    Knowledge in project management tools and using ERP systems, 
•    Knowledge of data analytics and different authoring tools, 
•    Prior experience with UN Agencies or UN projects, 
 

Institutional Arrangement:

Reports to Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project Manager.

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.