Background

 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 
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.

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.

UNDP launched in March 2019 a Sustainable Finance Hub as 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 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 part of the Global Policy Network (GPN).

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) is one of the five global thematic centers of UNDP mandated to leverage the role of the private sector in development. The Center supports the GPN and BPPS by leading UNDP’s strategic offer to partner and work with the private sector. This offer follows an inclusive business approach and is based on UNDP past and present experience of working with the private sector at Country Offices, Regional Bureaus (RBx) as well as, via existing global programs.

Under its “Impact Investment” thematic area, the Center offers research, advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnership services to diversify sources of financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on attracting private impact capital. The Center has been supporting UNDP Country Offices in Turkey, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eswatini and Mauritius for SDG financing with knowledge products including impact investing ecosystem studies and SDG Investor Maps. Building upon its successful work in this area, IICPSD is redesigning its impact investing portfolio vertically and horizontally by expanding the geographic coverage and the scope of the services including the intelligence activities for the SDG-aligned investment opportunities and innovative financing mechanisms.

The Center also supports companies in tailoring their business models to respond to development needs by identifying and promoting best practices within the framework of South-South Cooperation to achieve the SDGs under the first thematic area of “Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation for the SDGs”. Capitalizing on its partnership with the Government of Turkey, the Center also explores SDG financing, partnership, and capacity building opportunities in the transfer of know-how and facilitate the communication between Turkey and other countries within the framework of South-South Cooperation.
 

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Principal Advisor, SDG Financing and Deputy Director, IICPSD, the Programme Management Specialist will support UNDP IICPSD’s impact investing portfolio, which includes both conventional and Islamic finance dimensions, for its strategic knowledge management objectives and will have a coordinating role, serving as primary focal point for internal and external partners, acting as a project manager and ensuring the high quality of internal and external communications, facilitation and partner outreach. S/He will provide research, content development, partnership building and project management support in the design and implementation of projects and activities. S/he will be responsible for developing toolkits and training activities of the Center providing technical advisory and implementation assistance offered to other UNDP Country Offices (COs) sharing and replicating best practices particularly leveraging experiences from Turkey within the framework of the Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation.

The Programme Management Specialist will also coordinate the work of junior staff, experts, international and national consultants within IICPSD, collaborate closely with other team members within and outside the Sustainable Finance Hub, and maintain a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, IFIs, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1- Knowledge Management, Programme Support and Technical Assistance within the framework of the Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation:
  • Design and replicate best practices for impact investing, both conventional and Islamic finance, and SDG Financing particularly the experiences from Turkey within the framework of the Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation.
  • Coordinate and lead impact investing ecosystem studies and implementation of SDG Investor Maps across developing and the least developed countries.
  • Coordinate development of short, medium- and long-term strategic plans for the impact investing thematic area of IICPSD, whilst considering emerging issues and trends as well as South-South Cooperation.
  • Conduct thorough analysis and research of the role of private sector in impact investing, focusing on good practices and lessons learned.
  • Conduct external and internal analysis for assessing the needs of COs and preparing concept notes and proposals addressing these needs. 
  • Conduct necessary internal procedures related to editing, design, clearance of documents and advocacy materials.
  • Organize and coordinate roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, conferences, workshops, retreats, national and international events.
  • Lead the preparation of annual and ad-hoc project reports and submission and presentation to contributors and other relevant stakeholders, with a special view to capturing lessons learned and best practices for improving the performance for the impact investing portfolio.
  • Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products in close coordination with HQ and Regional Hub teams by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and results.
  • Support on-demand, real time knowledge sharing through webinars, and by connecting internal and external expertise and potential solution providers.
  • Contribute to the systematic capacity building of the impact investing team and relevant partners through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promotion of their application to projects and activities.
  • Actively engage and promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the team and between partners.
  • Provide substantive inputs to presentations, visibility activities, advocacy, and other project or activity related materials, etc.
  • Develop communication materials including press releases, speeches, briefs, blogposts.

Planning, Management, Coordination, Implementation and Monitoring

  • Prepare detailed work plans, schedule and budgets for impact investing technical assistance activities and update it on needs basis.
  • Provide pro-active follow-up and support on the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the impact investing activities.
  • Coordinate technical inputs in support to planned activities in consultation with the CO teams as well as the respective Government entities, partner UN Agencies, and other partners.
  • Coordinate activities with HQ teams, RBx, COs and other regional agencies, and manage technical, logistical, and administrative processes to ensure the achievement of technical assistance outputs.
  • Supervise finance, logistical, administrative arrangements, and technical assistance activity related procurement and HR procedures for impact investing activities.
  • Manage communications and ensure the awareness of stakeholders on the technical assistance activities and progress.
  • Ensure the adherence of technical assistance activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observing the project timelines.
  • Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director or as a proactive necessary contribution to the success of the technical assistance.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

  • Provide strategic support to maintain, nurture and further develop tailored partnerships for outreach and advocacy to position UNDP as a key substantive partner with Turkey, as the main counterparty of UNDP for IICPSD.
  • Act as a liaison on behalf of the Deputy Director, with relevant partners in Turkey including government, CSOs and private sector partners.
  • Support partnership building and resource mobilization efforts, developing proposals and marketing materials and participating in relevant meetings, in line with the IICPSD’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy.
  • Ensure Country Offices have access to thought leaders and experts to support technical assistance for impact investing and innovative approaches to financing the SDGs.
  • Build, nurture and maintain a network of knowledge and implementation partners on impact investing and SDG financing and support the implementation of regional partnership strategies with UN and external partner institutions, including governments, donors, IFIs, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs.
  • Participate in relevant external meetings, including resource mobilization, partnership and advocacy activities with UN partners, permanent missions, and external stakeholders.
     

Performs other duties related to this TOR as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The post will be responsible for managing junior staff and personnel, as well as international and local consultants. 

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

  • Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

  • Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

  • Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility 

  • Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

  • Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

  • Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

  • Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

  • UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management - Operations Management:
  • Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organizations’ business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Partnership management - Relationship management:

  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding

Business Development - Knowledge Facilitation:

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

Business Management - Project Management:

  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership Management - Resource Mobilization:

  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Digital & Innovation - Data Analysis:

  • Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Communications - Brand & Quality Management:

  • Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality 
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master's degree in social sciences, international relations, political science, business administration, international development, economic development, or related field is required 
  • Candidates with Master studies in other fields might be qualified depending on their relevant work experience.
Experience:
  • Minimum five (5) years of extensive working experience in project/programme coordination is required with minimum three (3) years of which must be in impact investing.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and handling of web-based management systems is required. 
  • Proven experience in the Turkish private sector context is desirable.
  • Proven experience in Islamic finance is desirable.
  • Experience in the design of research and advocacy activities and projects on the role of private sector in development particularly in the developing and the least developed country contexts is desirable.
  • Experience and knowledge in utilizing UNDP products and tools such as research and analysis of the impact investing ecosystems and implementation of SDG Investor Maps is desirable.
  • Working experience in an international organization is an asset, particularly familiarity with the UN/UNDP system.
  • Experience in organization of events, conferences etc. is an asset.

Language Requirement:

  • Fluency in oral and written English is required.
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Note:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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