National Project Officer on Insurance and Risk Finance

The collaboration between the insurance industry and the development sector has significantly grown through the years and has evolved into policy and standard-setting partnerships that bring together governments, the development sector, and the private insurance industry and microfinance sectors. Increasingly, these partnerships are moving beyond policy to programming and implementation, with a strong focus on not only delivering insurance and risk financing solutions to countries and communities, but also on long-term transformational change of insurance markets that contribute to sustainable development. Embedding insurance and risk finance into broader risk management frameworks will contribute to VietNam’s resilience-building, especially as it can aid the government in leveraging the expertise from the private sector, particularly the insurance industry.

UNDP’s growing work on insurance and risk financing manifests in our flagship initiative called the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (the Facility) which supports UNDP Country Offices and country partners worldwide. This work covers a range of critical areas where insurance and risk transfer solutions and collaboration with the industry can add significantly to achieving and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) Covering inclusive insurance, sovereign risk financing, insurance investments, natural capital, UNDP will work towards developing and delivering insurance solutions together with countries and communities, as well as collaborating with partners to transform insurance markets through enhancing legislation, regulation and institutional capacity.

Within the framework of the Tripartite Agreement between UNDP, the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) and the German government, UNDP has conducted a diagnostic study on inclusive insurance and risk finance for Viet Nam. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive financing framework to promote inclusive insurance and national disaster risk financing strategies to support the different phases of disaster risk management. It also identifies potential interventions and support required to create an enabling environment and facilitate market development for inclusive insurance and risk finance in Viet Nam and indicates opportunities to integrate risk transfer instruments such as insurance into ex-ante and ex-post risk financing.

To support the development of insurance and risk finance solutions for VietNam, a National Project Officer (NPO) is needed to support the overall management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper workplan and budget for the proposed solutions is in place and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships.

The NPO has four main functions:

• Effective management and implementation of the insurance and risk finance solutions and IDF project in Vietnam.
• Effective formulation and development of projects and resource mobilization  
• Policy advocacy and programme development
• Knowledge Building and Management  
• Other tasks required by the office   

Effective management and implementation of the insurance and risk finance solutions and IDF project in Vietnam.

• Provide proper guidance to the project partners/counterparts for effective planning, management and implementation of projects to ensure timely implementation of activities and achievement of quality results; including timely preparation and approval of the projects’ and work-packages’ annual and quarterly quality work-plans;
• Effectively apply result-based management (RBM) tools in management; application of of the IRFF M&E and reporting framework, including managing targets and monitoring the progress to achieve results, performance indicators/ success criteria, and regular update of baselines, targets and milestones in the Project’s results resources frameworks, and coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercise, mid-year and mid-term reviews, and closure of the Project;
• Timely analyze situations arising during the implementation of the programme/project, financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the project, identification of operational and financial risks, development of solutions, in full compliance with Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) guidelines,
• Perform the functions of project manager in UNDP Management System (Quantum) as defined and participation in recruitment processes for projects;
• Participate in the recruitment of processes, as needed.
• Manage procurement processes, including of consultants, drafting terms of reference and specification for procurement of goods and/or services
• Exercise risk management, including timely implementation of mitigation measures, and updating risk log and integrated work plan (IWP) in the system;
• Facilitate project audits, spot-checks, interim project evaluation and follow-up on the implementation of recommendations;
• Ensure quality documentation of the project’s lessons learnt and best practices; quality publication of technical reports, policy briefs, and results;
• Ensure synergies and coherence between the insurance and risk finance solutions and IDF project and  other related projects and activities to bring about larger benefits and impacts of the UNDP’s Climate and Environment Programme in Viet Nam;
• Regularly brief and timely report to supervisor on any exceptions to facilitate timely actions and informed decisions;
• Prepare regular aggregate reports on activities, outputs and outcomes, including technical progress to donors as required;
• Actively participate and contribute to the UN/ UNDP’s regular reports on outputs and outcomes as well as outcome evaluations, under the framework of the UN Cooperation Framework and Plan.
• Manage and implement initiatives/projects where UNDP is the main implementing/delivering partner.
• Provide thematic leadership, technical guidance, oversight and quality control of programme/project management cycle from annual work planning, budgeting to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting to project teams/partners, ensuring that results are delivered in accordance with work plan, UNDP policies, rules and regulations; and donor’s requirements.
• Monitor and manage programme/project risks, and apply adaptive management including corrective and adaptive measures in programme/project implementation.
• Conduct periodic programme monitoring visits and prepare programme monitoring visit reports as required.

Effective formulation and development of projects for resource mobilization

• Contribute to the development and effective management of Country Programme(s) and initiatives/projects in the area of disaster risk insurance and risk financing focusing on quality control from formulation to the implementation of Country Programme(s) and initiatives/projects.
• Contribute to the design and formulation of the Country Programme Document and Country Programme Action Plan within the thematic area of expertise including subsequent review and update where applicable.
• Prepare thematic fact sheets/papers/reports/policy briefs, etc. to inform targets groups such as government, civil society, private sector, etc.
• Prepare substantive inputs including situation analysis on disaster risk insurance and risk financing in the country into the proposals and project documents for climate change and environmental management related and/or cross-cutting projects.

Policy advocacy and programme development

• Ensure effective provision of policy and technical support services focusing on the achievement of Country Programme results.
• Conduct background analysis and summary of policy and scientific research related to disaster risk insurance and risk financing.
• Work closely with UNDP technical advisors and specialists in Viet Nam and in Regional Bangkok Hub to identify opportunities for project development and mobilize resources and ensure linkage between programmes and projects in Viet Nam and these at regional and global levels;
• Design, develop and formulate initiatives/projects that are aligned with programme priorities in the Country Programme, strengthen existing partnerships and form new partnerships.
• Assess programme interest and priorities of key donors and development partners, support to the development and/or update of CO Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy.
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders, advocate UNDP comparative advantages with corresponding programme, initiatives and projects; and ensure visibility.
• Identify opportunities and areas of risk financing for UNDP support, and mobilize resources from the Governments (national, sub-national and local), bilateral or multilateral donors, development partners, financial institutions and private sector.

Knowledge Building and Management

• Ensure effective facilitation of knowledge building and management, guidance to all stakeholders on programme/project management, operational and technical matters focusing on the achievement of Country Programme(s) and Country Office’s performance.
• Document lessons learned and best practices in Country Programme/project development, management, implementation and/or oversight.
• Provide technical support to the development and preparation of knowledge products on disaster risk insurance and risk financing, etc.
• Conduct regular exchange of information/experience with other programme teams and initiatives/projects to ensure synergies and integration; promote cross-portfolio and cross-programme learning and sharing.
• Access UNDP’s worldwide and regional knowledge, distil best practices and facilitate their dissemination within CO and to counterparts and partners.
• Access global best practices and share them with local and international stakeholders, and ensure their incorporation into the thematic area of disaster risk insurance and risk financing and project design process.
• Participate and contribute to communities of practice, codifying and sharing knowledge.
• Prepare communication and awareness materials, and knowledge products for policy advocacy, knowledge sharing and strategic partnership.

Other tasks required by the office.   

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’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 UNDP

Business Development

• UNDP Representation:  Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies

Business Management

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

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

• SDG Finance: Insurance for development

Partnership management

• Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector

Required Skills and Experience

• University degree (Bachelor or above) in Finance, Development Management, Public Policy or related field, or another field combined with relevant work experience.

• At least 4 years of experience, preferably in the implementation of projects relevant to insurance and risk finance, sustainable finance, or financial inclusion with Bachelor’s degree, 2 years of experience with Master
• Proven track record of 2 years in insurance and finance work through public or private sector is required.
• Experience in working on both inclusive insurance and risk financing markets in VietNam, with additional knowledge of the broader environmental factors is required.
• Experience in working with  key relevant areas and stakeholders, such as insurance legislation, regulation and institutions, industry capacity and engagement, consumer awareness, among others is highly desirable.
• Experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions is highly desirable.
• Experience in networking among the Country Office teams and beyond to other national institutions.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent written and verbal English language skills with a proven record of report writing. UNDP may request examples of past publications from applicants as part of the evaluation process. 

Note: This position is open for Vietnam nationals only