Sustainable Finance Hub, Special Assistant

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 policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), 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) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. In addition, BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. While ensuring that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes, BPPS also assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  Lastly, BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

 In order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Finance Sector Hub, 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. The Hub 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 Special Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the SFH Director and in close collaboration with the Chief of Programme Coordination and Programme Specialist to:

1. Provide front-office support to the SFH Director and Chief of Programme Coordination  
2. Coordinate, review, analyze, and assure quality of documents for UNDP on Sustainable Finance
3. Coordinate, prepare and follow-through engagements (including missions) of the SFH Director and Chief of Programme Coordination
4. Provide coordination support for the SFH portfolio management
5. Lead specific communications efforts

S/he collaborates with teams throughout UNDP, including all the HQ bureaus, Regional Bureaus, Regional Hubs, Country Offices and Global Policy Centers to support the representational, advocacy, partnership, and communications commitments of the Director and Chief of Programme Coordination. S/he supports relevant bureau-specific, UNDP, and UN management mechanisms and for tracking and ensuring follow-up on senior management directives, commitments, and agreements with internal and external stakeholders. 

Provide front-office support to the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination

• Manage the daily schedule, mission planning and calendar of engagements for the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination, in collaboration with the Executive Associate.
• Coordinate and manage forward planning of the quarterly and long-term calendar of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination ensuring strategic prioritization of engagements.
• Draft correspondence, notes-to-the-file, and coordinate/contribute to other routine documentation required by the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination.
• Facilitate implementation of the requests, directives and commitments of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination, in coordination with relevant managers and teams within the bureau; and
• Maintain regular contact with the Directorates of BPPS and BERA, and external stakeholders such the private sector, UN System partners, IGOs, NGOs, IFIs, donors, and others.

Coordinate, review, analyze, and assure quality of documents for UNDP on Sustainable Finance

• Coordinate and review speeches, briefs, background papers, etc. for substantive accuracy, completeness, strategic messaging, in liaison with other units throughout BPPS and BERA and UNDP as needed.
• Provide clear and timely guidance to staff to facilitate preparation of briefs and speeches on Sustainable Finance.
• Draft and contribute to speeches and briefs for UNDP on Sustainable Finance as necessary.
• Review and analyze relevant documents and submissions for the approval or clearance of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination to ensure alignment with corporate guidance and standards as well as to ensure quality and comprehensiveness of input.
• Channel feedback/comments/questions from the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination to teams and vice versa.
• Perform research on topics as assigned, analyze information and synthesize into a clear summary to facilitate decision-making by the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination.

Coordinate, prepare and follow-through engagements (including missions) of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination

• Coordinate substantive preparations, including agenda, accompaniment, and supporting materials for all engagements of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination.
• Attend meetings with the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination, as needed.
• Prepare all meeting reports and correspondence in a timely manner, including back-to-office reports; and
• Facilitate and track follow-up actions with relevant focal points within UNDP, in line with commitments made by the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination.

Provide coordination support for the SFH portfolio management

• Coordinate preparation of SFH submissions and background documentation for BPPS/UNDP/UN management mechanisms including the BPPS and BERA senior management, the EG, OPG and the Executive Board.
• Participate as Secretary for SFH meetings, record decisions, coordinate development of the agenda, gather and analyze information to support decision-making, and communicate relevant decisions to staff.
• Support the organization of SFH regular staff meetings and special events.
• Advise the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination on a range of issues relating to management and the overall “state of the hub”, including emerging concerns of staff.
• Coordinate special projects and assignments on behalf of the Sustainable Finance Hub Director and Chief of Programme Coordination, frequently involving SFH team leaders as well as a broader constituency.

 Lead specific communications efforts

• Support the implementation of the SFH communications strategy.
• Devise tools and systems to coordinate communications efforts with Sustainable Finance Hub team members, Country Offices and other colleagues on Sustainable finance.
• Manage and implement a weekly communications calendar to facilitate coordination on communications efforts.
• Organize regular communications coordination meetings among SFH teams.
• Curate content and set up systems for easy access to shared communications materials on Sustainable Finance.
• Support effective internal communications with SFH staff.
• Monitor the effectiveness of SFH communications (through Google analytics, Twitter data, media monitoring reports, user surveys, etc.).

Education

Master’s Degree in International Development, Economics/Management, Business Administration, Development Studies or related field is required.

 Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in development work, out of which at least 3 years are related to SDG financing or private sector programs and partnerships is required.
• Experience in writing briefings, speeches, reports, periodic reporting, reviewing and editing documents is required.
• Experience in supporting various teams and bureaus is required.
• Experience in coordination is required.
• Experience in leading communications efforts is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience of initiative, client-orientation, risk taking, and working in complex and time-pressured contexts is an asset.
• Experience working and living in developing countries is an asset.
• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Expected Demonstration of 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

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management

• Results-based Management - Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

• SDG Finance - Knowledge and understanding of global partnership for effective development cooperation, inclusive markets/businesses and value chain development, Innovative Finance, philanthropy, public private partnerships