Programme Associate, PDEP (NPSA7)

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.

 

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 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 three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. In addition, by identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have a transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs. The Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) is a joint programme between UNCDF, UNDP and UNCTAD, in support of the development of inclusive digital economies in the Pacific. This unique partnership builds on UNCDF’s long-term work on digital finance in the Pacific region and UNCTAD’s extensive work in the area of e-commerce and the digital economy and is implemented with administrative support from UNDP. The PDEP includes both country specific activities, initially focusing on Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and region-wide research and capacity building activities. PDEP will be implemented under four workstreams: Enabling Policy and Regulatory Environment, Open digital ecosystem, Inclusive Innovation and Empowered Customers. The Programme aims to achieve the creation of inclusive digital economies by addressing specific market constraints, narrowing the digital divide and eventually impacting Pacific Islanders’ lives especially in rural communities, women, MSME’s and labour mobility workers.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

The Programme Associate (PDEP) will be based in Suva, Fiji and will be reporting directly to the Country Lead for Fiji. The incumbent is primarily expected to provide support to the Country Lead for Fiji in the implementation of the programme work plan for Fiji and support the Regional Technical Specialist -Ecosystems and Incubation in the Regional programme development.

 

Under the supervision of the UNCDF´s Regional Technical Specialist – Ecosystems and Incubations and the Country Lead for Fiji, the job holder will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist the Regional Technical Specialist and Country Lead for Fiji in the coordinating and implementing PDEP’s programming activities detailed in the work plan
• Assist the Regional Technical Specialist and Country Lead for Fiji in developing a pipeline of innovative projects and initiatives using UNCDF’s Technical Assistance facilities and blended finance instruments (e.g. grants, loans and guarantees)
• Assist Country Lead for Fiji in monitoring the progress of projects and initiatives to ensure that their scope, budgets, and timelines are managed, risks are identified, and remedial steps are taken.
  • Participate in project meetings (e.g. steering committees) and maintain regular contact with partners (e.g. field visits) to monitor the progress and quality of the implementation of projects and initiatives supported by the Programme.
• Represent UNCDF in workshops, conferences and other events and meetings in the absence of the Regional Technical Specialist and Country Lead for Fiji and assist in organizing events and meetings with stakeholders.
• Assist in conducting secondary research, meeting reporting requirements, preparing project documents, policy briefs, concept notes, discussion papers, and presentations in areas including but not limited to the digital economy
• Develop knowledge products, blogs, and presentations relating to inclusive digital economies and other related topics
• Undertake other specific tasks related to PDEP as specified by the Regional Technical Specialist and the Country Lead from time to time.

 

Competencies

 

Core Competencies

• 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 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
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs
• Digital Awareness and literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
• 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

Business Development 

• Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Digital & Innovation

• Digital Inclusion: Knowledge of how digital inclusion works, opportunities and challenges for governments and society

Required Skills and Experience

 

Education:

• High School completion is required or
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management or equivalent will be given due consideration
• Applicants with Masters will have an added advantage

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years with High School completion or 4 years with Bachelor’s degree of work experience in private/public sector in financial services, digital economy or policy & regulation
• Experience in project management and working with development partners, such as UN organizations or other multilateral organizations, and donor agencies are considered an advantage
• Experience in coordinating with internal and or external stakeholders on projects
• An established network of contacts in the private/public sector in Fiji will be an added advantage

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English

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