General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.
UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.

UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the UNCDF Regional Operations Assurance Specialist (Nairobi) and overall guidance of the Procurement Specialist, the Regional Procurement Associate provides leadership in execution of procurement services for the region ensuring their effectiveness, transparency and integrity.

The Regional Procurement Associate promotes a client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Unit. The Procurement Associate works in close collaboration with other members of the Operational Effectiveness and Assurance Unit at HQ and in Regional Hubs to support the programme and project teams in UNCDF with procurement requests and resolving complex procurement-related issues and information delivery.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across
interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UNDP/UNCDF rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• Implement effective internal control, proper functioning of a client-oriented procurement.
• Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the Procurement Specialist.
• Provision of researched information for formulation and implementation of contract strategy and strategic procurement in UNCDF including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management and management of e-procurement.

2. Organizes procurement processes for UNCDF projects and programmes

• Coordinate the preparation of procurement plans for the projects/programmes based in the region and monitors implementation. Manage procurement processes including preparation and conduct of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations.
• Preparation of Purchase orders and contracts in and outside Quantum, preparation of recurring purchase orders for contracting of services, and vendors’ creation in Quantum.
• Serves as a Buyer in Quantum and performs all Buyer functions in accordance with the UNCDF ICF.
• Review of, and when necessary, carry out procurement processes for projects/programmes.
• Manage UNCDF procurements carried out through the Global Policy Network (GPN) ExpRes Roster.
• Prepare and make submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP) on behalf of UNCDF projects/programmes.
• Implementation of the internal control system which ensures that purchase orders are duly prepared and dispatched and timely corrective action is taken on POs with budget check and other errors.
• Preparation and presentation of researched information and data analysis on procurement in UNCDF to inform management decision making.
• Implement strategies to make procurement at UNCDF more efficient and effective and look for new opportunities such as establishing long term agreements (LTAs) to harmonize procurement across the organization and between projects/programmes.
• Coordinate with the Corporate Finance Services unit on the preparation of cost-recovery bills in Quantum.
• Organization of joint procurement processes for projects/programmes in the region and. with other UN Agencies in line with the UN reform where applicable.
• Backstops other Procurement Associates at HQ or Regional Hubs as necessary

3. Ensures implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools

• Development and update of the rosters of suppliers, implementation of supplier selection and evaluation.
• Use and application of e-tendering module in accordance with UNDP/UNCDF procurement policies.

4. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in UNCDF

• Support the unit in conducting procurement trainings for UNCDF personnel.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Procurement.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

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

Procurement: Sourcing    

• Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services.

Procurement: Contract Management    

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Procurement: Procurement Management    

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.

Procurement: Stakeholder Management    

•  Ability to work with incomplete information and balance competing interests to create value for all stakeholders.

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management    

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfill and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management: Risk Management    

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management: Communication    

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

• Fluency in English and the national language of the duty station is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages, particularly French, is desirable

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements