The Country Lead Technical Specialist (Access to Finance) will work with a cross-section of partners to develop and strengthen initiatives through a variety of efforts, including but not limited to: supportive regulatory reform (when the context allows it), research and sector assessment, quality and range of new and existing financial products and services, usage of and access to such products and services by the underserved, consumer protection and digital and financial literacy. With support from UNCDF’s regional team in Asia, based in Bangkok he/she will develop and manage the portfolio of access to finance activities and will be responsible for achieving associated outputs, and outcomes under the different projects in the country.
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers ‘last mile’ finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.
UNCDF leverages digital finance in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the vision of promoting inclusive digital economies. On that basis, the Inclusive Digital Economies Division of UNCDF adopted the strategy of ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’, which is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The goal of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use digital services, which improve their quality of life and accelerate our progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). To achieve this, UNCDF provides capital and technical support through Inclusive Digital Economy programmes to ensure that more individuals, in particular those most excluded from the mainstream financial system (i.e. women, migrants, small holder families) and small businesses gain access to services to increase access to finance and expand economic opportunities. The ability of UNCDF to provide risk capital directly to the private sector is helping bring new products and services to under-served and hard to reach markets and spurring innovations. Through flexible grant and loan instruments UNCDF supports a wide range of products and services in various sectors ranging from finance to agriculture, education, health and transportation. This entails working with the public and the private sector to ensure that the services match in particular the needs of key segments such as youth, women, migrants, refugees, and micro-small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
UNCDF has been present in Bangladesh since 1982. Over the past three decades, UNCDF has supported Bangladesh by focusing grant financing initially on local agriculture, and then strengthening decentralization and local service delivery. Today, UNCDF offers catalytic finance models that unlock public and private resources in “last mile” environments, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.
Summary of key functions:
- Lead IDE’s programme management and coherence in the country especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital finance innovation
- Develop the necessary pipeline, especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital innovation, in close consultation and coordination with the government, donors, partners and UNCT.
- Provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management, especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital innovation.
Lead IDE’s programme management and coherence in the country focusing on achievement of the following results especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital innovation:
- Manage and coordinate the implementation of projects in accordance with the objectives, work plan and timely budget, efficiently and effectively in accordance with the project document and work plan;
- Ensure that the various documents (multi-year, annual, quarterly, operational work plans, journals, reports) required for the proper functioning of the project are prepared on time according to the required quality standards and updated.
- Coordinate project activities with relevant government activities and initiatives, UNCDF strategy, CPD and UNSDCF;
- Maintain close working relationships with all relevant stakeholders and partners to ensure adequate information flow and cooperation among the project’s participating institutions, in particular, with the Project Committee members;
- Manage and monitor day-to-day budgetary and financial operations to facilitate project audits to ensure accurate and reliable financial reporting;
- Manage financial resources on the basis of value for money and cost effectiveness principles;
- Ensure compliance with administrative and financial procedures in the implementation of the programme
- Ensure the grants and loans with private sector partners are well managed and produce the results as per the respective agreements;
- Explore the possibility of deploying blended finance solutions to increase financing opportunities for the most vulnerable groups;
- Provide technical advice to partners (providers, regulators, funders), including sharing of information and updates on innovations;
- Review and respond to quarterly reports, ensuring partners are reporting accurately, monitor progress and reporting under agreements and contracts, verify milestones and targets for disbursements;
Develop the necessary pipeline, especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital finance innovation, in close consultation and coordination with the government, donors, partners and UNCT focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Grow UNCDF presence in Bangladesh by developing partnership with funders and raise funds to fully implement UNCDF digital strategy in the country;
- Represent UNCDF in various meetings with donors and national parties (UN Country Team, Program Management Team, Steering Committee, Investment Committee…)
- Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, and other documents.
- Explore and develop partnerships with potential donors (both traditional and newly established) seeking to encourage their commitment to UNCDF;
- Explore new funding mechanisms through traditional donors, the UN, donor special programs, and private sector and foundations;
- Analyze specific funding trends and patterns which can assist in predicting donor interest in UNCDF programmes;
- Explore strategic partnerships that do not involve funding but rather collaboration in other forms (joint advocacy, social mobilization, etc.) around goals and objectives central to UNCDF’s mandate;
- Lead in writing concept notes and proposals on a wide range of thematic areas (crisis preparedness, women economic empowerment, agriculture etc.) to increase the programmatic portfolio in country.
- Collaborate with the Regional Office team on positioning and advocating for goals and objectives central to UNCDF’s mandate, raising the visibility and promoting results from country programs and other relevant programming modalities relevant in the region;
- Manage networks of partners in the region, and create mechanisms for interaction among partners to further UNCDF’s mandate;
Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results especially focusing on migrants, green finance and digital finance innovation:
- Maintain the quality assurance and the validation of the relevant data (indicators, targets, results) in the established information management system for measuring the qualitative and quantitative impact, and report on the progress;
- In addition to regular reporting to UNCDF Regional Office, regularly contribute to donors’ reporting and briefings;
- Facilitate and document human interest stories of beneficiaries and develop various communication materials linked to the socio-economic recovery;
- Identify and formulate lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader CO knowledge management efforts;
- Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: YES
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
People Management Competencies:
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
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 Management – Result-based Management
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Business Management – Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as 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 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 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.
2030 Agenda: Partnerships – SDG Finance
- Financial Inclusion: Ability to identify entry points and design interventions that target individuals and businesses to have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs in a responsible and sustainable way.
2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Inclusive Growth
- Economic Diversification: Ability to identify and structure strategies that contribute to the efforts of enhancing positive economic growth and development.
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, business or public administration or related fields is required.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in progressively more responsible positions in inclusive finance, financial services or technology field; out of which at least two (2) years’ experience must be in financial inclusion, digital finance, blended finance, impact investment or related areas.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in managerial roles in Bangladesh is required, working with government agencies on advocacy and policy reforms is preferred.
- Experience in migration and/or SME /green/climate finance is a requirement.
- A minimum of 5 years working experience in resource mobilization and record of success in reporting to and managing donor grants and reporting mechanisms is required.
- At least 5 years of experience in successfully managing large projects, particularly around private sector development, deploying grants, loans, blended finance modalities and technical assistance and corresponding budgets will be an added advantage.
- At least 5 years of experience in working with SMEs and facilitating financing for them as well as managing funds (challenge funds, seed funds etc) is an advantage.
- At least 2-year experience in implementing development projects and use of advanced project management concepts and tools is an advantage, in particular in the UN system.
Language:
- Fluency in English and Bangla (national language) is required – with effective written and oral communication skills.
NOTE: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest Performance Evaluations (if applicable).