Development Finance Analyst (NPSA8)

The Government of Nigeria has committed to the attainment of the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While good strides have been made in developing the relevant institutional frameworks such as the Nigeria Integrated Sustainable Development Goals (iSDGs) and the re-alignment of the National Statistical System (NSS) to effectively guide the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria, progress on the SDGs is varied.

A key challenge hampering SDG progress is Nigeria's lack of diversified sources of finance for development, due to its heavy dependence on oil and gas exports as a source of government revenue. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, development financing challenges were monumental, requiring an additional $10 billion a year to achieve the SDGs. The pandemic, with its subsequent economic challenges and the underlying difficulties in achieving the SDGs, has raised these financial requirements to even higher levels. The global economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also made securing additional SDG financing from domestic and international sources even more challenging.

In partnership with the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported the government of Nigeria to develop the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). Through this partnership, UNDP has commenced implementation of the policy recommendations in responding to these challenges by operationalizing the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) for financing development through the design of concrete action plans aimed at effectively mobilizing and utilizing public and private finance, as well as domestic and international finance. UNDP is working to support the government in enhancing domestic revenues by strengthening tax administrative systems to increase domestic public revenue mobilization.

On the private finance side, in order to mobilize and align capital to the SDGs, UNDP provides investors and businesses with the data and insights needed to direct capital to where it is most needed. Through the SDG Investor Map, private sector investors and businesses are equipped with market intelligence to directly contribute towards the attainment of the SDGs by scaling local solutions to create impact.

Additionally, through impact facilitation, UNDP Nigeria conducts policy roundtables to enhance the enabling environment for SDG investments, engage with key stakeholders including Impact Investment Foundation to arrange investor forums and bridge the demand and supply gap by connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with capital allocators to scale high impact solutions.

1. Strategic Partnership

• Support in the country office in their engagement on SDGs and SDG Financing with the Government, private sector, UN country team, IFIs, and development partners;
• Develop partnerships and lead engagements with the private sector to drive the mobilization of private capital towards SDG-aligned development needs;
• Organize multi-stakeholder consultative forums, including public-private dialogues to foster collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders;
• Identify potential synergies between UNDP Nigeria, the UNDP Regional Hub and UNDP Country Offices implementing similar Initiatives; 
• Support UNDP in building strategic alliances and partnerships with governments, private sector, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on SDG financing. 

1. Knowledge Management:

• Facilitate the development and update of market intelligence on the SDG impact investors platform;
• Facilitate the development of pipeline investment-ready social enterprises as part of UNDP’s private sector development initiative to increase access to finance for SMEs;
• Lead the deployment of UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards to enterprises and investors, including through the National Advisory Board for Impact Investment (NABII);
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and promote best practices through collaborations with other UN agencies, regional offices and external partners;
• Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for UNDP’s development finance programmes.

1. Outreach Engagement

• Collaborate on the organization of events, including high-level investor convenings, investment summits, policy dialogues, facilitation events and programme launches;
• Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters;
• Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on development finance, and private sector participation;
• Follow technical discussions in other forum and represent UNDP in relevant meetings;
• Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.

1. Multi-Stakeholder Engagement 

• Provide policy advisory support to the government and the private sector in scaling up financing for the SDGs;
• Strengthen collaboration with other UN agencies and external partners to scale innovative financing for the SDGs;
• Increase capacity of states to mobilize private investments for the SDGs;
• Work closely with sub-national governments in designing their SDG aligned state development plans;
•  Provide technical assistance in the implementation of Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). 

1.   Coordination 

• Coordinate the implementation of UNDP’s SDG Impact Investment initiative to drive private sector participation in financing the SDGs in Nigeria;
• Analyze the local impact investment ecosystem and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s private sector development work in-country;
• Support the implementation of UNDP’s Insurance and Risk Financing initiative in Nigeria, including diagnostics and risk finance solutions to vulnerable groups;
• Provide technical support to the government to identify innovative financing mechanisms to mobilize financing for the SDG;
• Provide technical support to federal and state investment promotion agencies to review business support strategies to increase access to finance for SMEs and incentivize private investments;
• Support the Head of SPIEG unit in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on SDG finance, and other related topics;
• Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on development finance initiatives;
• Develop and maintain service offers that support the government to develop the technical elements of the INFF building blocks, including working with SDG impact, insurance and risk financing facility and other teams to deploy services.

The Development Finance Analyst will be based in the Strategic Policy and Inclusive Economic Growth (SPIEG) unit and work under the direct supervision of the Head of the unit (Economics Advisor).

• 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: 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: Portfolio Management        

• Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking     

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

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: Negotiation and Influence  

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates 'win-win' situations

Business Development: Integration within the UN   

• Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work;
• Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (Bachelor's degree) of relevant work experience, including in sustainable development finance, policy analysis, private sector development, strategic planning, and resource mobilization;
• Excellent knowledge of current development finance landscape in Nigeria, including international and domestic public and private finance flows;
• Experience in leading consultations with government officials and facilitating discussions among a wide group of stakeholders is required;
• Experience working with government on reforms to public and/or private finance policy is desirable;
• Experience working on Integrated National Financing Frameworks and Impact Investments is a strong plus;
• Strong record in engaging with the private sector and development partners on issues relating to SDG finance;
• Excellent writing skills, as demonstrated by previous research/analytical reports/policy notes on relevant topics;
• Experience working in and with developing countries in Africa, especially Nigeria;
• Experience working with UNDP or UN Development System on matters related to development finance policies will be an advantage; 
• Excellent computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package;

Language Requirement

• Fluency in oral and written English is essential.