The Joint SDG Fund supports countries as they accelerate their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It operates through joint programmes (JPs) that provide the mechanism for transformative solutions implemented by governments and national stakeholders and supported by the UN Country Team led by Resident Coordinators (RCs). Strategic direction for the Fund is provided by the Strategic Advisory Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General as the chair of UN Sustainable Development Group. The Fund is managed by the Operational Steering Committee, comprised of representatives of UN entities, and with the support from the Secretariat of the Fund. The UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) hosts the Fund and provides for the alignment with the broader UN Development System reforms. The Administrative Agent of the Fund, in charge of financial management, is the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O). Official documents (e.g. Terms of Reference and Operational Guidance) of the Fund and information on funding can be found on the Gateway portal.

To advance the dual mandate of supercharging the UN Development System reform to be fit for purpose and, in turn, supporting the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Fund incentivizes coherent and coordinated join UN action, anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks at country level under the leadership of Resident Coordinator (RC). Serving as the catalytic funding to piece together emerging policy priorities and financing strategies, the Fund aims to galvanize the UN Country Teams around integrated policies and identify the fiscal space to overcome the political and financial hurdles to scale and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

This position will be responsible for:

1. Partners Networking and Fund raising.
2. Philanthropy, blended instruments, public finance

Working under the supervision of the Head of the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, the Partnerships Analyst will;

• Advise and support the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat to diversify its resource base and attract private donations and/or engage in innovative partnership with the philanthropic and private sector.
• Contribute to the development and nurturing of strategic partnerships primarily in the New York area, but not restricted to, with financial institutions, including banks, fintechs, insurance companies, foundations, asset managers and wealth management institutions (including private banks, family offices), pension funds and academic endowment managers, to fundraise for the Joint SDG Fund. To forge relationships with other organizations in the Private Sector, being Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in both regional and global levels.
• Advise and support the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat in establishing and managing relationships with individuals and institutions (public and private).
• Provide quality assurance on partnership, communications and other materials developed by the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat Fund for partnership and operations purposes.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat.

Institutional Arrangement

The Partnerships Analyst will report to the Head, Joint SDG Fund Secretariat.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Business Direction and 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 situation.
• Partnership 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.
• Partnership Management -Private sector resource mobilization:
  • Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.
• Partnership Management -Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding:
  • Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

• Business Management – Risk Management:
  • Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
• Business Management -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.
• 2030 Agenda; Partnerships –   SDG Finance:
  • Innovative Finance

• A minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the field of International Cooperation, SDGs and/or work in developing countries.
• Knowledge of sustainable finance topics (public/private) and experience with multilateral, bilateral, and philanthropic partners including in private equity, and/or venture capital firm, recognized foundation, family office, global non-governmental philanthropic or investment organization, development finance institution or financial advisory team in a bank is required.

• Experience and Knowledge of private sector fundraising techniques.

Desired additional skills and competencies 

• Demonstrated experience in developing strategic partnerships, work effectively with donors and mobilize resources.
• Familiarity with the United Nations system.
• At least 2 years’ experience in the design and/or operationalization of financial instruments (i.e., debt, equity, guarantees, blended finance schemes, etc.)
• Evidence of strong writing skills and the ability to synthesize information.

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.