Office/Unit/Project Description: 

UNCDF and IDE in Bangladesh 

Since 2016, UNCDF’s programmatic agenda in Bangladesh, has responded to the persisting exclusion of low-income people, especially women, that can limit the potential of individuals and businesses to contribute to and benefit from economic growth. While it started focusing on increasing access and usage of financial services; it has recently evolved to a more comprehensive strategy anchored in the need of building an inclusive digital economy to enable low-income people, especially women, accessing economic opportunities and reduce poverty. UNCDF’s new Inclusive Digital Economy Strategy (2021-2025) leverages the work we have done in the country since 2016 and expands the use of digital solutions to further tackle the main development challenges of the country through the following workstreams:

Policy Workstream:

In joint implementation with UNDP, UN Women and ILO, UNCDF has been developing the Integrated National Financing Framework in Bangladesh supported by Joint SDG Fund, with UNCDF’s activity focus on SDG 7 and Digital Finance Ecosystem. UNCDF’s Inclusive Digital Economy Scorecard (IDES) and Digital Finance Ecosystem (DFS) Assessment have also been conducted towards this project achievements. In addition, UNCDF is looking at working with public sector stakeholders, associations, and policy makers towards institutionalizing digital financial literacy and seek opportunities to create policy environment needed for female garment workers and other vulnerable groups to achieve financial independence.

Digital Payments Infrastructure Workstream: 

UNCDF is now currently exploring ways to support the country to strengthen and catalyze government led interoperability implementation in Bangladesh. This includes working with public and private sector stakeholders and associations to support in developing joint solutions/infrastructure to improve social protection or welfare delivery systems for female garment workers and other vulnerable groups.

Innovation Workstream: 

Through our work on innovation, we are focusing on women owned MSMEs, resilience from the COVID-19 pandemic, remittances and migrants and agritech solutions. Also, we are supporting the growth of innovative digital finance solutions addressing health, well-being, security, safety, finance, and digital, financial, and legal literacy needs for female garment workers (e.g., health insurance, microcredit, digital wallets). We will also work towards supporting digital innovations focused on provide linkages to affordable primary healthcare and quality nutrition.

Skills Workstream: 

The majority of the projects under the innovation workstream have either a digital or a financial capabilities component. In addition to that, in partnership with VISA Inc. UNCDF has been building digital and financial capabilities of small and micro businesses in partnership with e-commerce platforms. Also, UNCDF works with providers to deliver gender-sensitive Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) training at scale to female garment workers and other vulnerable groups and support them to leverage these trainings to increase financial independence.

Additionally, UNCDF through its global Migrant Money programme has engaged partners in the public and private sectors at the global level (multilateral, standards-setting bodies and global money transfer operators), regional level (regional economic communities and monetary unions) and country level (line ministries, regulators and financial institutions) to address constraints at the ecosystem, institution, and product levels. This aims to transform the policy, regulatory and innovation landscapes and thus start meeting the needs of migrants and their families by overcoming all the above obstacles. To build onto this, the Bangladesh country office is implementing a project focusing on migrants and their families, focusing on digital financial literacy, skill referrals, entrepreneurship development, financial innovation and policy enforcement aspects.

In addition to the above mentioned initiatives, the project that the National Green Financing Analyst will mostly focus on is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland and aims to address the vulnerabilities of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Bangladesh to climate-related risks. Focused on green financing, knowledge-sharing, and capacity development, the Access to Green Finance (A2GF) initiative recognizes the crucial role of SMEs in economic growth and their susceptibility to climate-induced disruptions. By bridging existing gaps in policies and financial access, the initiative seeks to empower SMEs, especially women-focused enterprises, to implement climate-smart solutions.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Country Lead Technical Specialist (Access to Finance), the incumbent will perform the below mentioned duties and responsibilities.

a)  Enhance Capacity and Information for Policymakers and Regulators and provide policy influencing support related to green finance

b)  Ensure Stakeholder Engagement and Market Alignment for Green Financing in Bangladesh

c) Support strategic partnerships and resource mobilization

d) Increase UNCDF’s visibility through learning, communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration

Enhancing Capacity and Information for Policymakers and Regulators and provide policy influencing support related to green finance.

• Design roadmaps and annual work plans of activities related to access to green financing for SMEs.
• Design and coordinate key activities related to green financing for SMEs in partnership and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Lead the policy influencing support for green financing in Bangladesh by actively engaging with policymakers, regulators, and relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct internal research and review on policy research on green financing and lead the policy influencing activities  .
• Analyze existing gaps and challenges in the green financing landscape, providing detailed insights into the barriers faced by SMEs.
• Organize and conduct training sessions, workshops, and meetings for policymakers and regulators to enhance their understanding of green financing policies and their implementation, fostering interactive knowledge exchange.
• Analyze data to identify trends, success factors, and challenges, presenting comprehensive reports with actionable recommendations for policy enforcement.
• Organize study visits and international cross-learning opportunities for regulators and policymakers.
• Facilitate in-depth exchanges of best practices and lessons learned, establishing long-term partnerships with academic institutes, climate-focused government agencies, and sustainable finance networks.

Ensure Stakeholder Engagement and Market Alignment for Green Financing in Bangladesh

• Engage with policy makers, regulators, private sector, and key ecosystem players to communicate research findings and recommendations around green financing.
• Develop and implement comprehensive dissemination strategies, including workshops and round-table discussions, ensuring active participation from stakeholders.
• Spearhead the design and implementation of a cutting-edge regulatory-technology solution, streamlining climate-linked financial monitoring systems for robust market oversight.
• Mobilize investments in green financing for SMEs in Bangladesh, strengthening partnerships with perspective investors like the Build Fund.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to mobilize investments, leveraging advocacy for policy recommendations and creating a supportive financial ecosystem.
• Utilize data and lessons learned from engaging with SMEs, Financial Institutions, and Impact Investors (IIs)to raise awareness.
• Implement targeted awareness campaigns using various channels, ensuring the effective communication of findings and recommendations to policymakers, regulators, and the broader public.

Support strategic partnerships and resource mobilization

• Foster a collaborative working relationship, actively participating in strategic discussions and decision-making processes particularly related to green financing for SMEs.
• Support in conducting regular assessments to ensure the alignment of project activities with overall objectives, providing proactive solutions to challenges and adapting strategies as needed, particularly related to green financing for SMEs.
• Develop detailed reports incorporating qualitative and quantitative data, providing stakeholders with a clear understanding of the project’s impact and future recommendations. Regularly communicate updates to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Assist in analyzing information on donors, preparing briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identifying new opportunities for UNCDF in Bangladesh.
• Support in drafting concept notes, PPTs and proposals as well support in representation with funders as needed.

Increase UNCDF’s visibility through learning, communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration

• Ensure UNCDF’s-IDE learnings in Bangladesh and results related to green financing for SMEs are included in reports and disseminated in a way that helps UNCDF in effectively implementing IDE Strategy in the country.
• Plan, coordinate and organize meetings, workshops, webinars and knowledge sharing sessions with potential partners and stakeholders on a regular basis to ensure that project results, particularly related to green financing for SMEs are showcased.
• Support the results and learning agenda at the country and regional level.

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 National Green Financing Analyst will be supervised by the Country Lead Technical Specialist (Digital Finance), and will work closely with project team members, consultants, partners, and other colleagues within the Country Office.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core Competencies

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

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.

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Project Management: Ability to plan, organise, prioritise, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Partnerships 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. 

Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organization business process to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanism

Effectiveness: Project Quality Assurance

Required Skills and Experience

Education 

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in finance, economics, environmental studies, or related field is required, or
• 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.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience at the national or international level in the development finance domain, related to sustainable finance, digital financial services, such as providing management advisory services including projects/programmes management;
• At least 2 years of professional experience in working with policy makers or project implementation in climate financing/green financing/sustainable finance;
• At least 2 years of experience of stakeholder engagement, preferably with private sectors and entities related to financial inclusion applying market systems approaches.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Strong understanding/experience of climate resilience considerations and sustainable finance;
• Experience in working with SMEs;
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills/experience;
• Experience in organizing capacity-building initiatives and international learning opportunities;
• Familiarity with regulatory-technology solutions and financial monitoring systems;
• Experience in access to finance especially around climate financing and blended finance;
• Proven track record in mobilizing investments and advocating policy recommendations.

Language(s):

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla is required.

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.

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