The Country Coordinator will coordinate The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; (2) local development finance, which capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

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 team 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).

In 2021, UNCDF started to tailor its new strategy to the Pacific context with three complementary programme initiatives that are part of a bigger portfolio approach to implement UNCDF’s strategy “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” in the Pacific region. These programmes are; The Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) , the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP) , DFS for Resilience programme (DFS4Resilience) . Furthermore, as a UN agency with a unique investment mandate, UNCDF is expanding its interventions that incorporate blended finance (grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance) in various thematics ranging from digital economy, climate change, and green/blue economy.

UNCDF’s work in Cook Islands. He/she will be responsible for activities, outputs and outcomes under UNCDF’s programmes and the blended finance portfolio in Cook Islands.

This involves working closely with UNCDF partners, from the government (such as relevant Ministries and regulatory authorities), the private sector (including but not limited to commercial banks, mobile network operators, fintechs, insurance companies, remittance service providers etc), as well as development partners, such as other UN Agencies, donor organizations and NGO’s.

The Country Coordinator will be reporting to the UNCDF Country Coordinator for Samoa and will be based in Cook Islands.  He/She will be responsible for activities, outputs and outcomes under the above-mentioned programmes and the blended finance portfolio in Cook Islands.

Briefly describe the required activities (scope, location, subjects, etc.) and other information that will help prospective Contractors understand the nature of the work

Under the supervision of the UNCDF Country Coordinator for Samoa, the Country Coordinator will be the key person on the ground to structure the UNCDF engagement in the country and will undertake the following tasks:

• Coordinate the implementation of UNCDF’s programme activities in the country which includes the management of project implementation according to country strategy, annual work plan, quality assurance and ensuring achievement of outputs.
• Support the development of a pipeline of innovative projects and initiatives using UNCDF’s Technical Assistance facilities and blended finance instruments (e.g. grants, loans and guarantees);
• Supervise and manage volunteers/interns/consultants, who may be onboarded depending on project requirements.
• Evaluate performance and provide guidance and mentorship for personnel working on programme implementation.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and support in resource mobilization for the strategy in the region;
• Support relevant ministries and other entities from the Governments, regulators to improve the countries policy and regulations;
• Support in partner relationship management with financial service providers like commercial banks, insurance service providers, fintechs, mobile money operators, remittance service providers etc. through financial and technical support from UNCDF;
• Represent UNCDF in all country level workshops, conferences and other events where UNCDF is invited;
• Facilitate country visits of regional technical specialists and other colleagues by liaising with partners in organizing meetings;
• Support timely reporting from partners that have received support as may be required;
• Contribute to knowledge management and communication by writing blog posts, focus notes etc.

Results/Expected Outputs

• Robust relationships with Government departments, financial services stakeholders, donors and other development partners.
• A portfolio and pipeline of high quality and innovative projects and other initiatives to support the development of Cook Island’s digital finance, digital economy and SDG financing;
• Increased visibility and recognition by UNCDF’s stakeholders in Cook Islands for its expertise and capacity to deliver development outcomes for an inclusive digital economy.
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.