Regional Innovative Finance Officer (ASIA)

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS IICA2

2023-04-01April 9, 2023Title: Regional Innovative Finance Officer (ASIA)
Duty station: Bangkok, Thailand
ICA Level: LICA-10/IICA-2
Corresponding level: NO-C/P-3
Duration: from 01/05/2023 to 31/12/2023 (possibility of extension)

1. General Background
Based at UN City in Copenhagen, UNHCR's Private Sector Partnership Service (PSP) sits within the Division of External Relations and supports the Agency's global collaboration with the private sector through its network of fundraisers and national associations in almost 30 operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and Gulf region. The growth in income secured from the private sector by UNHCR since 2006 has made PSP the private sector division growing the fastest amongst its peers in the first five years of its creation. The ambition of the new ambitious PSP Global Strategy 2018-2025 has the vision to grow into a service capable of generating $1bn annually.

With traditional funding from both development and humanitarian contexts seeing a downward trend, PSP and UNHCR have made it a strategic priority to pursue innovative financing modalities to channel private sector funding for the benefit of refugees. As a key member of the PPH Section and reporting to the Senior Innovative Finance Officer (Head of Unit) based in Geneva, the Regional Innovative Finance Officer for Asia is a significant element of this scenario and will be responsible for ensuring that new regional financing modalities are mapped, developed and implemented to enable durable and innovative solutions for refugees in Asia.

UNHCR consistently operates with budgets well below the actual needs to realize its protection and solutions mandate. The organization currently has an undiversified resource mobilization framework, in which five government sources provide almost three-quarters of UNHCR funding. In order to diversify funding streams, UNHCR has decided to pursue innovative financing methods as a strategic institutional priority, in order to generate funding, bring UNHCR into alignment with the broader humanitarian community, and reinforce a development approach to forced displacement.

“Innovative finance”, “new financing modalities”, or “alternative financing” are terms used to describe a range of non-traditional “innovative” mechanisms aimed at raising additional capital through activities, such as impact investments, venture philanthropy, micro-contributions, taxes, public-private partnerships and market-based financial transactions.

There are more than enough funds available in the global capital markets and such resources could be leveraged to support refugees if financial products are set up to convince investors, and financial actors at large, that there is a good business case in investing in refugees. For UNHCR, the work on innovative finance will have two objectives: 1) improving UNHCR’s financial and cash flow situation, and 2) catalysing support for refugees and refugee-hosting countries.

The incumbent will be based in Bangkok and sits with the regional Private Partnerships and Philanthropy Section (PPH). Under the supervision of the Senior Innovative Finance Officer (Head of Unit), who has overall oversight of innovative financing projects, the Regional Innovative Financing Officer for Asia will mainly be responsible for driving the co-creation of innovative finance projects with UNHCR Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RB) and Country Offices (COs) colleagues in the region, support the regional fundraising team to expand fundraising from regional donors to innovative finance projects across all donor types (including but not limited to Foundations, Philanthropists, Corporates and other private sector investors, Individual Giving, Donor Governments, International Financial Institutions), building capacity for innovative finance projects with RB and COs colleagues, and supporting the expansion of existing global innovative finance initiatives to relevant Asian COs. This will also be done in close collaboration with PSP Asia, RB, COs in the region and relevant internal units, such as DFAM (Division of Financial and Administrative Management), Legal Affairs Service (LAS), Donor Relations and Resource Mobilization Service (DRRM) and Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), as well as relevant field-based colleagues and technical staff.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Responsibility
• Drive co-creation of new innovative finance projects with RB and COs colleagues from idea stage to implementation, including (but not limited to):
o Examining feasibility of ideas through analysis and research
o Engaging with RB, COs, DFAM, LAS, DRRM, DRS, and other technical and field-based colleagues to co-design each innovative finance mechanism
o Evaluating and/or crystallizing the business case involved in potential
mechanisms
o In collaboration and close consultation with colleagues both in the PSP
regional team and in PSP markets, conducting partnership conversations
with donors and private sector
o Writing business plans
o Conducting financial modelling
o Assist with deal development and execution
• Develop recommendations on whether potential deals are worth pursuing to Senior Innovative Financing Officer and other senior managers/leaders of UNHCR in RB and COs
• Support the expansion of existing global innovative finance initiatives to relevant COs
• In collaboration with PSP colleagues, stay up-to-date with list of Asian donors interested in innovative finance, and cultivate relationships including regular briefings on Innovative Finance projects that match their priorities
• In collaboration with regional PPH team, cultivate understanding and conduct capacity-building with regional UNHCR fundraisers to increase comfort levels and effectiveness in introducing innovative financing projects and funding opportunities to potential donors
• Help with regular ongoing engagement with all key Asian external partners in the UN and NGO community, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and within the government donor community
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Authority

• Engage and coordinate with RB and COs colleagues in Asia, as well as DFAM, LAS, DRRM, DRS, and other technical and field-based UNHCR staff on the evaluation, design, development, and implementation of innovative finance mechanisms
• Engage with PPH, DRRM and in alignment with regional PPH team UNHCR National Partners (NAPs) and other fundraising focal points, other technical colleagues (e.g., Due Diligence & Legal) and field-based UNHCR staff on the development of proposals and other fundraising activities for Innovative Finance projects
• In collaboration with PSP colleagues, engage Asia-based existing and potential new external partners into collaboration on innovative financing
• Advise Senior Innovative Financing Officer and UNHCR management and make recommendations on innovative financing mechanisms and fundraising strategy for Asia
• Coordinate all Innovative Finance activities in Asia

3. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

• Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development, Finance, Law or related field. A Master’s degree is desirable, but relevant professional experience may substitute.

b. Work Experience

• At least 6 years of demonstrated progressive professional experience (5 years with Graduate degree equivalent of a Masters and 4 years with Doctorate equivalent of a PhD) in business case/investment deal development (e.g., from investment firm, PE firm, management consulting,investment banking, development bank, or other similar institutions) and demonstrated experience in development and/or humanitarian topics
• Desirable:
o work experience in Asia
o work experience in the private sector and/or financial knowledge
o work experience with humanitarian or development work based in developing country contexts
o work experience in fragile/developing country contexts or in field locations

c. Key competencies

4. Required competencies

• Excellent business analysis/business case development ability, including demonstrated experience doing business case development in development, humanitarian, or social enterprise settings
• Excellent financial modelling skills, including being able to independently construct an income and cash flow model and run financial sensitivities
• Knowledge of major trends in the humanitarian/development and private sector on the topics of innovative finance, sustainable financing mechanisms, and mixed private sector & donor-driven programming, as well as familiarity with key stakeholders on these topics in the Asian market
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management, in particular, in managing complex, multi-stakeholder, and fast-moving projects which are cross-disciplinary and require a certain degree of expert knowledge
• Proven ability in understanding how to reconcile the needs of the organization with those of a private sector partner, including working with technical units in humanitarian/development organizations and working with private sector
• Superior ability in understanding and presenting complex/technical issues to external donors, presenting the organisation and innovative finance mechanisms in an appealing and concise manner, and understanding how to reconcile the needs of the organisation with those of the donor
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including formal and informal influencing skills and ability to connect with a wide variety of actors, including private sector, investors, development and humanitarian actors, technical experts, and field-based staff
• Knowledge of public-private partnerships in Asia
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office, SharePoint, PeopleSoft, BI tools, etc.) and awareness of digital technologies
• Ability to manage a stressful work environment
• Ability to establish and meet or exceed targets and keep in track with objectives.
• Results-oriented mentality with a commitment to continuous learning
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Competence in another UN language and/or an Asian language desirable.
• A certain amount of regional and international travel will be required.

Desirable competencies

• Knowledge of humanitarian assistance, international development and UN environment preferred
• Understanding of the complexities of working with an international organization with multiple geographical operational sites
• Experience in donor programme management and donor relations including engagement with government donors, foundations, corporations, or other private partnerships

5. Location and Conditions

The successful candidate will be based in Bangkok, Thailand.

This position is initially up to the end of the year with possibility of extension subject to budget availability and overall performance of the incumbent. It is a full-time role (40 hours per week).

This vacancy is open for applicants residing in Thailand as well as for those residents of other countries. The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may be different based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff and engagement under a UNHCR affiliates scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

Desired Languages

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

BA (Required)

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance