Investment Readiness Officer: Innovative Finance Lab – UNV jobs in Ethiopia

• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: UNV
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-03-19
  

Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System. It 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 continuous spectrum of in-depth 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.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) is widely recognized as the most authoritative, normative framework guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of business operations on human rights. Experts have described it as the single most important innovation in promoting sustainable business practices in the last 25 years – a role that is reinforced by its inclusion as one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).

Context
This UNDP National UN Youth Volunteer assignment falls within the scope of the Innovative and Inclusive Finance Project, a collaborative venture with the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). The initiative’s core objective is to facilitate financial accessibility for SMEs, often characterized as the ‘missing middle’ — too substantial for microfinance but underserved by conventional banks due to their scale and collateral limitations. The UNDP’s Innovative Finance Lab is meticulously crafted to explore, discern, and pilot an array of financial structures, strategies, and tools specifically tailored to this segment, ensuring they are robust and scalable.

Considering this, UNDP Ethiopia intends to recruit a full-time UNV Investment Readiness Officer for the Innovative Finance Lab (IFL) under the overall guidance of the IET Team Leader, IET Unit, and direct supervision of the IFL Management Team. This professional will be instrumental in elevating the IFL’s Technical Assistance Facility’s (TAF) operations, enhancing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become investment-ready. The Analyst’s responsibilities encompass meticulous management of the TAF database, ensuring systematic tracking and reporting of investment readiness activities. This role is critical in facilitating the bridge between financial support structures and SME’s readiness to receive, implement, and compete for financing.

In this context, the Officer will also serve as a vital liaison, harmonizing efforts with the Enterprise Financing Facility (EFF) Fund management and fortifying the links with TAF alumni. The Officer is tasked with nurturing these relationships, fostering a robust network of growth and ongoing development. Through proactive engagement and strategic coordination, the Analyst will contribute to the operational excellence of the IFL and play a significant role in supporting the country’s broader economic reform initiatives. Their work will help cement the foundation for a more prosperous, inclusive financial sector that supports the nation on its path to becoming a middle-income country. The Investment Readiness Officer will work in close collaboration with the IFL management, Operations, Programme, and projects staff in the CO and other UN agencies staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the United Nations Development Programme’s Inclusive and Economic Transformation (IET) Unit Team Leader and the management and supervision of the IFL Director, the Investment Readiness Officer will:

A. Investment Readiness Processes:

• Support and contribute to the pipeline development and onboarding into the TAF program
• Assist in overseeing and managing an efficient, standard, and impactful investment readiness program delivered based on the set standard and outline.
• Collaborate in standardizing the assessment of SMEs’ financial needs to align them with TAF’s suite of resources and services for a customized support experience.
• Provide input and suggestions for the continuous improvement of the TAF curriculum, BDS process, and overall operation.

B. Technical Assistance Data Integrity:

• Assist in managing the TAF’s data systems to document SME progression accurately and interventions, ensuring data integrity and security.
• Support in analyzing TAF data to inform strategic decision-making, and identifying trends that could influence program direction and resource allocation.

C. TAF alignment with the Enterprise Financing Facility

• Support EFF management with a robust pipeline with updated status and data room
• Participate in the TAF alumni Investment and financial needs are communicated and assessed by EFF management.
• Support TAF cohorts that did not pass EFF fund manager due diligence to be linked with other potential financiers and follow up until financing is secured

D. Administrative Efficiency and Support in TAF delivery:
• Assist with the logistical needs of TAF-related events and workshops, coordinating seamlessly with other operational units within the IFL.
• Participate in innovating and refining administrative protocols to increase the investment readiness program’s productivity and impact.

E. Knowledge Development and Sharing Initiatives:

• Working with the IFLs Knowledge unit to Initiate and lead the development of knowledge-sharing platforms that showcase the successes and learning of the TAF cohorts.
• Facilitate training sessions aimed at enhancing the IFL team’s capabilities in delivering effective investment readiness support.

Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 26

Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements
Required experience
No experience required

Area(s) of expertise
Economics and finance, Development programmes

Driving license
–

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Amharic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in the areas of economics, management, business, accounting, finance, and related field.

Competencies and values
– Communication
– Planning and Organizing
– Self-Management
– Technological Awareness

Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The duty station of the UNV will be Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNV youth will be located at (Minaya Corporate building 16th floor next to flamingo restaurant) the Innovative Finance Lab’s Office which is hosted by and at the Capital Market Authority’s office. The UNV may visit the UNDP office (located inside of UN ECA compound) whenever needed and necessary. Addis Ababa is the seat of large diplomatic community, next to New York and Geneva. The city is safe but cautionary measures need to be taken every time. Cost of living is gradually increasing unlike in the past many years. Security wise, it is always advisable and mandatory to follow the UNDSS advice. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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