Investment Specialist

United Nations Capital Development Fund

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Investment Specialist

negotiable / YEAR Expired 2 months ago

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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.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 45 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 designs and implements partnerships and transactions with public and private sector actors across the development finance architecture to catalyze capital at scale to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNCDF is increasingly working as the SDG investment platform for the UN development system, combining its unique financing and investment expertise with the sector specific knowledge and programming of other UN entities to deliver innovative financing solutions, achieve transformational impact and accelerate delivery of the SDGs.

UNCDF’s LDC Investment Platform (LDCIP) serves as the organization’s centre of excellence for investment transactions, including loans and guarantees. LDCIP seeks to create the conditions for increased capital flows to support SDG-positive investments in sustainable businesses in financially underserved areas.

UNCDF BRIDGE[1] Facility is a catalytic financing mechanism offering loans and guarantees specifically designed to fill the missing middle gap for SMEs, local infrastructure projects, and financial service providers. The BRIDGE Facility can provide financing that enables projects to be viable for commercial lenders, resulting in the opportunity to scale. The BRIDGE Facility is among the few instruments that provide concessional revolving capital bridging the development finance gap, helping build track record and targeting companies in frontier markets & LDCs.

Based in Dakar, Senegal the selected Investment Specialist will lead the investment process for selected BRIDGE transactions including but not limited to screening/pre-assessment, due-diligence (including credit appraisal), preparation and negotiation of transaction documentation and term sheet, approval from credit committee, implementation, loan monitoring and termination of investments. The position will primarily focus on transactions in the West Africa region. The candidate may also be requested to support transactions elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa from time to time.

[1] The BRIDGE Facility Brochure: Investment@UNCDF – UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNCDF LDCIP Investment Specialist based in Cotonou and in close collaboration with other colleagues in the LDCIP team, the Investment Specialist will contribute to capital deployment and delivery of investment transactions in the form of loans and guarantees, with particular focus on specialized BRIDGE windows serving other UN agencies e.g. UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, IFAD among others.

The Investment Specialist will be responsible for leading and executing the following tasks and deliverables:

1.Screening/Pre-assessment of potential investees

Conduct initial interviews of prospects for investments originated and sourced from UN Agencies or UNCDF by gathering introductory information to determine whether the prospects meet the investment criteria for BRIDGE. The objective of such screening/pre-assessment work is to perform an initial appraisal of the prospect and select prospects for further due diligence by completion of a set of tools and deliverables.

2.Conduct due diligence of potential investees and presentation to credit committee for approval

Upon completion of screening/pre-assesment and initial selection of potential investees, he/she will carry out a full evaluation of the prospect (i.e., underwriting) and define prospective terms and conditions for the provision of investment finance. This will also include a completion of a set of tools and deliverables; and also a referral (or not) of the prospect to UNCDF Invesment and Disbursment Impact Committee (IDIC) for approval.

3.Capital deployment, loan & guarantee monitoring, termination and evaluation

The Investment Specialist will be responsible for building a portfolio of investable financial service providers and/or SMEs/MSMEs via deployment of concessional loans and/or guarantees to selected and approved investees by IDIC. Furthermore, the Investment Specialist will be expected to work closely with UNCDF LDCIP Portfolio Management (PM) team in HQ to provide regular updates and reports on the financial & impact performance of individual investees. During the tenor of the investment, the Investment Specialist will conduct regular monitoring visits to the investees in order to collect information and data while ensuring that the investee complies with its financial obligation towards UNCDF. At maturity of the provided facilities, the Investment Specialist will work with the PM team in HQ to communicate with the borrower or guaranteed party to inform and close-out/terminate the loan or guarantee.

4. Matchmaking with additional private sector capital

In view of increasing leverage ratio[2] by using the seed funding provided by Donor to attract additional private sector capital, the Investment Specialist during the investment process will be responsible for identifying opportunities to either co-finance or match-make investees with interested risk-tolerant investors as a mean to attract additional private sector capital.

5.Provision and needs assessments of Investment Technical Assistance (TA)

The Investment Specialist works with selected investees to support them with basic business advisory services meant to improve the investment readiness and bankability of the companies. This could include helping investees in building business plans, financial projections, pitch decks for future investors, etc. Furthermore, the Investment Specialist will work closely with UNCDF LDCIP TA Facility Manager to identify prospects who received financing from BRIDGE and may need or benefit from further pre-investment TA (“investment readiness”) or post-investment TA (“core business advisory support”) inclusive of any need for impact and ESG management support.

The job description gives a general outline of the main tasks and responsibilities and is not exhaustive.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to the UNCDF LDCIP Investment Specialist based in Cotonou, Benin and as needed to other LDCIP colleagues in the regional office/HQ based, country and across the region.

This position is office-based in Dakar, Senegal.

[2] Blended Finance, Leveraging Concessionality – Convergence Resources | Convergence

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

N/A

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
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.
People 2030 : Partnerships	SDG Finance	Impact Investment, incl. SDG Impact Finance
People 2030 : Partnerships	SDG Integration	SDG Monitoring and Reporting, responsive investment, and impact measurement.
Finance	Development Finance	Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.
Project & Programme Management	Time-bound goal with internal & external collaborators	Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
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.
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.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements	An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent ) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, and/or Business Administration. OR A first level university degree in related fields, with an additional two (2) additional years of relevant experience will be given due consideration , in lieu of a the advanced university degree. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a plus.
Min. years of relevant work experience	A minimum of seven (7) years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in Banking/Financial services, development finance, private sector impact investing or a mix, preferably with direct investment and/or business management expertise.
Required skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Computer and IT skills in Microsoft applications (e.g. MS Project Management tool) Experience in SME investing, project preparation and/or in development of investment opportunities, especially for investment projects with social objective in developing countries.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Experience from fund management, preferably a fund with both financial and impact targets. Additional/Substantive work-experience in any one or more of the below-mentioned investment/operational work-areas are considered highly preferable. Previous relevant experience in Sub-Saharan Africa context Strong relevant work experience in either Banking/Financial services, development finance, private sector impact investing or a mix, preferably with direct investment and/or business management expertise is strongly desired. Experience in SME finance (preferably in agri-business as priority and other sectors like financial inclusion, clean energy, etc.), venture capital and/or commercial/retail banking within an international financial environment, preferably in development finance institution, impact investment or similar is strongly desired Experience in sourcing and screening of investees, conduct due-diligence, financial analysis, debt transactions, capital deployment, match-making concessional or commercial capital, structuring (including identifying promising investees seeking investment TA) and loan monitoring, is strongly desired
Required Language(s)	A strong command of French is required A good command of English would be an asset
Professional Certificates	Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a plus

Please attach a copy of the diploma(s) mentioned in your application.

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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This job has expired.