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 United Nations 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 three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyse 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. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs. UNCDF strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of Regional Manager for IDE Asia, the incumbent will be responsible for the following activities:
1. Provide digital finance trainings and strengthen financial capability for key stakeholders in the region:
  • Conduct financial capability needs assessments of key stakeholders from both private sector (MSMEs, fintechs, FSPs, federations/associations etc) as well as public sector (regulators, officials etc.)
  • Develop training curricula and conduct trainings to key stakeholders from private and public sectors on digital finance and financial inclusion both in person and online applying adult learning principles
  • Build the financial capacity of key stakeholders so that they can meaningfully contribute to the digital transformation of the countries in the region

​​​​2. Measure progress in advancing financial capability and digital inclusion in the region:

  • Assess the outcomes of the trainings conducted to the participants and adapt trainings content as needed to maximize their impact and advance digital inclusion
  • Develop tools, frameworks and reports to measure the progress of financial capability and digital inclusion in the region and present the findings to key stakeholders
  • Undertake deep-dive assessments on the status of financial capability and digital inclusion in specific countries upon request
  • Support private and public sector key stakeholders in the implementation of financial capability strategies and plans
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​3. Build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization around financial capability and digital inclusion in the region:
  • Seek opportunities for strengthening ongoing or creating new partnerships focused on advancing financial capability and digital inclusion in the region
  • Act as primary resource person for IDE in the region around financial capability and provide expert advice as required
  • Build effective and efficient partnerships with development partners to expand financial capability and digital inclusion in the region
  • Lead the drafting of concept notes, proposals, technical pitches, presentations and other fundraising documents focusing on expanding financial capability and digital inclusion in the region

​​​​​​​4. Provide technical leadership in building advocacy and strong knowledge sharing networks around financial capability and digital inclusion with key stakeholders:

  • Create a community of practice to advance financial capability in the region ensuring that learnings and best practices are widely disseminated
  • Participate to conferences and other events to raise awareness about the importance of strengthening financial capability to achieve inclusive digital economies
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders and digital practitioners in the region for research and development of innovative, cutting-edge strategies and approaches to strengthen financial capability and digital inclusion in the region
  • Lead the development of knowledge products focused on financial capability and digital inclusion to contribute towards enhanced positioning of UNCDF as a leader in this field

Institutional Arrangement

  • The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Asia Regional Digital Hub Manager.
  • The incumbent may be asked to attend other meetings on a need basis.
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 Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking: 
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNCDF’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
  • 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 UNCDF

Business Direction & Strategy - Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Direction & Strategy - Entrepreneurial Thinking: Ability to create clarity around UNCDF value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNCDF’s organizational priorities and mandate

Business Management - Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management - Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management - 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 UNCDF strategy and policies

Business Management - 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.
  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Academic Education:

  • Master’s degree in Management, Finance, Economics or other related fields. 

  • Bachelor's degree with additional two years of relevant professional experience in lieu of Master’s degree will be given due consideration.

Minimum Years of relevant Experience:
  • Minimum 10 years of professional experience in financial literacy and capability mandatory, in Asia a plus.
  • Minimum 7 years of experience in training others and providing technical assistance and building digital or financial capabilities is mandatory, in Asia a plus.

Desired Additional skills and competencies: 

  • Minimum 5 years of experience in digital financial inclusion, including mobile money and other technologies is preferred, in Asia a plus.
  • Knowledge of Adult Principles Learning is preferred.
  • Experience working with the United Nations and other international organizations is preferred.
Required Languages: 
  • Fluency in English is required.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

  1. 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.
  2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
  3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Annexes:

  1. UNCDF Official Website: www.uncdf.org
  2. UNCDF Global Strategy: Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era
  3. IDES: https://ides.uncdf.org/homepage
At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.