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 works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. It helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP is currently operating under its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which is grounded in its continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan envisions bold goals, making a difference to millions of lives, including through tackling multidimensional poverty, energy access, elections participation and development financing.

UNDP has been present in Mozambique since 1976, working for a Mozambican nation that is empowered and more resilient to create and sustain growth in order to improve people’s lives. Since 2022, the UNDP Country Office has been implementing its 2022-2026 Country Programme Document, which is framed around four main pillars where the country office has comparative advantage and plays a leadership role: (1) Human development, multi-dimensional poverty, gender equality and public health management; (2) Inclusive economic recovery and diversification, and sustainable livelihoods; (3) Climate resilience and sustainable use of natural resources; and (d) inclusive and decentralized governance, justice and peace and social cohesion.

Within the UNDP Mozambique Country Office, the Economic and Policy Analysis Unit (EPAU), where this position is placed, focuses on helping advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the country, with a focus on economic development issues. It does this through high quality strategic policy work, including through: (1) evidence-based policy analysis and research on sustainable development matters; (2) the provision of technical assistance and project support to government and other national counterparts in the areas of development policy, economics, and finance; and (3) support to national policy dialogues on sustainable development matters. The work of EPAU directly contributes to the implementation of UNDP’s 2022-2026 Country Programme Document (CPD) for Mozambique through its support to CPD programme strategic priority on “inclusive economic recovery and diversification, and sustainable livelihoods”, as well as to the overall implementation of the 2022-2026 CPD through the provision of strategic advisory support on sustainable development issues. 

Position Purpose

Against this background, the UNDP country office in Mozambique is seeking to recruit a programme specialist at the P3-level to support the office in two main areas of work; (1) manage the implementation and growth of UNDP’s programme portfolio in the areas of SDG support, private sector development and finance, including its work on the informal economy. (2) support the country office’s resource mobilization and partnerships work.

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Mozambique country office Senior Economist, and with a direct reporting line to the Deputy Resident Representative (Programmes) on resource mobilization and partnership matters, the incumbent will be responsible for managing and contributing to grow and develop UNDP’s SDG policy support, Private Sector Development & Finance programme portfolio, seeking synergies with other parts of the UNDP programme in Mozambique and tapping into the expertise available in UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN). This will include managing the implementation of the “Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in ACP Countries” project in Mozambique, for which UNDP has already secured funding from the EU through its Africa Finance Sector Hub (AFSH), and which is to be implemented in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Beyond his/her work for EPAU, the incumbent will support the country office’s resource mobilization and partnerships efforts, with a view of positioning UNDP as a development partner of choice in Mozambique and supporting its thought-leadership work in the country. 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Senior economist in Mozambique, the Private Sector Development & Finance Programme Specialist is responsible for the following: 
Manage and contribute to develop and grow UNDP’s programme portfolio in Mozambique in the areas of Private Sector Development & Finance  
 
  • Under the overall guidance of the Senior Economist, manage EPAU’s programme portfolio and the unit’s work-planning needs.
  • Regularly engage with the UNDP CO Operations manager and his/her team, as well as with the Programme Management Support Unit to ensure smooth operational management on EPAU’s activities and full compliance with corporate requirements.
  • Contribute to the development of projects and other programme interventions in the areas of SDG policy support, private sector development and finance under UNDP’s 2022-2026 Country Programme Document.
  • Seek opportunities for programme development in areas related to SDG policy support, private sector development and finance, including on issues of international trade, private sector development, inclusive and innovative finance, finance for development, extractive industries, economic and development policy

Support the formulation and implementation of UNDP country office strategies related to resources mobilization and partnerships building.

  • Deepen the country office’s understanding of the development and ODA landscape in Mozambique, building UNDP’s presence in the forums where relevant conversations are happening, by facilitating the CO’s participation. 
  • Establish partnerships that bring expertise, resources and relationships to strategically engage with government and development partners. 
  • Build on the UNDP Programme in the country, identify and help organize strategic and high-level events that contribute to position UNDP as a thought leader on key development issues, drawing on both locally and internationally based expertise, within and outside of the UNDP.
  • Assist with resource mobilization efforts of the country office, including those of EPAU in the areas of SDG policy support, private sector development and finance.

Coordinate the implementation of UNDP’s programme interventions in Mozambique on the informal economy

  • Coordinate the implementation in Mozambique of UNDP’s “Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in ACP Countries” project.
  • Support the setup of the project, including the development of the project stakeholder engagement strategy, the set-up of its ecosystem platform, the organization of the project launch and the production of relevant baseline studies. 
  • Ensure that the project complies with all project and corporate requirements, as well as those of external donors to the project, including those from the EU. 
  • Manage relationships and regularly engage with project counterparts in Mozambique, including with government partners, responsible parties, donors, etc.
  • As Mozambique focal point, liaise with the UNDP team in Pretoria responsible for managing the “Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in ACP Countries” project. 
  • Actively explore opportunities for further collaboration within UNDP’s Global Policy Network in areas relevant for the informal economy, as well as with other OACP and EU initiatives, platforms and projects. 
  • Build networks and partnerships for effective implementation of the project.
  • Explore synergies with other UNDP programme interventions in Mozambique and grow and development the UNDP portfolio on the informal economy.

* The Programme Specialist’s work on the “Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization” project will be managed under a matrix-system, with dual reporting lines to the UNDP Senior economist in Mozambique and to the Global Project Manager at the Africa Finance Sector Hub.

Competencies
  • Core Competencies:

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

  • 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 - Partnership Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies. 
Business 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 
Business development - Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Partnership management  - Relationship management : Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Inclusive growth  -Inclusive growth: Inclusive finance
Inclusive growth  -Inclusive growth:Private sector development, including on informal economy issues 
 
Required Skills and Experience

 
Education:
  • Master’s degree or equivalent in Economics, International Development, Finance, Business Administration, Public Policy, or related fields 
  • A Bachelor’s degree in the above referenced fields with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in programme management and development, at least 3 of which at the country level will be required. 
  • Demonstrated project management experience. Specific work experience implementing projects with government or involving strong engagement with government counterparts would be an asset.
  • Demonstrated partnerships experience, contributing to mobilize resources and to positioning efforts for international organizations.
  • Experience in the areas of SDG support, private sector development, finance, developing implementing projects with national counterparts, including national governments and private sector actors would be an asset. 
  • Work experience with the UN, the EU and other international organizations would be an asset.
  • Work experience in LDCs settings would be an asset.
  • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a multicultural environment involving different types of stakeholders is desirable.
  • Strong communication, team building, facilitation and presentation skills is desirable. 
  • Excellent innovation and analytical skills is desirable. 
Languages: 
  • Proficiency in oral and written English and Portuguese languages is required..
  • In the absence of Portuguese, full proficiency in Spanish or Italian might be considered. 
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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