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 for including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. In addition, BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. While ensuring that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes, BPPS also assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. Lastly, BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
In order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), 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 UNDP 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 well as part of the GPN. The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via the COs, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work.
Through the SFH UNDP has been increasing its engagement in global financial and economic policy making through the work carried out in different forums (I.e., G7, G20, UN’s FfD process, etc.) as well as other regulatory and market-based networks. Furthermore, as Secretariat of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group, UNDP assists G20 Presidencies in the implementation of their G20 priorities for the Group.
Please visit the SDG Sustainable Finance Hub website for more information.
Duties and Responsibilities
The G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) Sustainable Finance Analyst will be responsible for supporting UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub and Presidency counterpart in providing expertise and coordinating topics and projects related to the execution, uptake and implementation of the sustainable finance agenda of the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG).
Ensue strategic planning and execution:
- Provide timely technical and administrative guidance, as required and determined jointly with supervisor, to the G20 Presidency and Sustainable Finance Working Group Co-chairs on the development, uptake and implementation of the SFWG agenda (including daily coordination between these stakeholders, timeline management, etc.);
- Support the preparation and coordination of G20 SFWG meetings and events.
Ensure outreach and partnerships management:
- Cultivate and manage relationships with all SFWG members as well as other G20 working group members to advance the SFWG work;
- Support the identification of relevant knowledge partners for the SFWG work under South Africa G20 Presidency;
- Engage with target constituencies throughout the year (ex: FSB, BIS, WB, IMF, IFC, OECD, AfDB, Network for Greening the Financial System, finance ministries and central banks, etc.) and support the negotiations of G20 SFWG documents;
- Coordinate the outreach and engagement with UNDP HQ and country offices to inform them on the G20 Sustainable Finance Agenda and assist them, as relevant, in the uptake of the agenda;
- Prepare briefing notes for the G20 Presidency SFWG leads, the SFH Director and designees at the Executive Office of the Administrator.
Provision of subject-matter expertise on relevant topics and projects:
- Develop technical documents, reports and briefs for the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Presidency and Co-chairs
- Develop a stock-take on the activities planned for 2024-2025 by major sustainable finance networks and support processing inputs to the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap tracking exercise in 2025.
Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing:
- Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners;
- Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues;
- Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Sustainable Finance Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the ASFH Sustainable Finance Advisor and Director of ASFH and in close collaboration with the other SFH team members.
Competencies
CORE
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: Negotiation and Influence
- Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations
Business Development: Knowledge Generation
- Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management: Monitoring
- Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
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.
Programme and Policy: SDG Finance
- ESG standards
- Public Sector Finance (Tax and domestic resource mobilization, public financial management and public expenditure)
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness: Strategic Policy Engagement
- Strategic policy advice in the context of the G20
Business Direction and 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
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, International Development, international Management Relations, Public Policies, Development Finance, or other closely related area is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in relationship management for major initiatives or institutions involving multi- stakeholder engagement, inter or intra-governmental negotiations is required;
- Experience in working with sustainable finance issues is required;
- Experience with management and development of new partnerships with demonstrated networks is desirable;
- Experience in working on sustainable finance initiatives, standards and frameworks is desirable;
- Experience in supporting/coordinating partnerships with the Government of South Africa (state, regional or city level) is desirable;
- Experience in supporting/coordinating partnerships with African Union public government or regulatory entities is desirable;
- Proven experience conducting or coordinating research and developing policy briefs or thought pieces, even more if related to sustainable finance, is desirable;
- Experience with the UN system, including UNDP’s network of Country Offices for implementation of activities is desirable;
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English language is required: (excellent presentation, writing, and editing skills).
Disclaimer
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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