Background
ย Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:ย 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 โleave no one behindโ 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.
ย 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.ย
General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to โbring 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. ย
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 UNCDFโs 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, 2022โ2031.ย
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,ย
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.ย
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. ย 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.ย
UNCDFโs work is focused on six priority areas, including:ย
Sub-national and local infrastructure financingย Women owned enterprise financingย Nature and climate financing ย Energy and decarbonization financeย Sustainable food systems financingย Inclusive digital financeยFollowing a recent restructuring, UNCDFโs 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.ย
UNCDFโs Inclusive Digital Economies in Asia:
Since 2012, UNCDF has been supporting digital finance in Asia with significant success, with digital finance currently the largest part of its inclusive finance portfolio. This includes digital innovations linked to on an off-grid energy, agriculture, employment, health, and transport. Through its current โLeaving no one behind in the digital eraโ strategy, UNCDF is supporting, the emergence of Inclusive Digital Economies in Asia as well as globally. The strategy recognizes that reaching the full potential of Digital Financial Inclusion (DFS) in support of the SDGs aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies for the following reasons:
The value of DFS is not obvious, especially to poor and vulnerable populations, as it is not closely linked to their ability to respond to their specific constraints and needs around agriculture, education, health, energy, and other key aspects of their daily lives. New innovative services should be developed to address these unmet needs. Innovation will not come from traditional providers but mainly from a range of new players (entrepreneurs, start-ups in various sectors, and digital platforms). The โLeaving no one behind in the digital eraโ strategy, to move from digital finance to digital economies builds upon and constitutes a logical integration of UNCDF interventions in financial inclusion and digital, developed over many years. For further info please refer to www.uncdf.org.UNCDF in Afghanistan
UNCDF, in collaboration with UNDP, has been supporting the deployment of financial instruments and approaches in the Afghan banking and financial system to avoid its collapse since 2022. One of the activities aims to support digitization of aid disbursements.
Up to 2023, this project successfully completed pilots with International non-governmental organizations (INGOs), tested 6 different digital payment solutions from 6 different financial services providers. Building on the success of this collaboration, UNDP and UNCDF are launching a new collaboration to achieve the following results:
ย Duties and Responsibilities ย The Digital Finance Project Manager will be reporting to the UNCDF Regional Investment Officer for Asia and Pacific and will be based in Afghanistan. S/he will be responsible for activities, outputs and outcomes of UNCDF in Afghanistan.
Under the supervision of the UNCDFยดs Regional Investment Officer for Asia and the Pacific, the Project Manager will be the key person on the ground to structure the UNCDF engagement in the country and will undertake the following tasks:
Project Management and Implementation:
Coordinate the implementation of UNCDF activities in the country, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and strategies. Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation. Monitor progress against project objectives, identifying and addressing any deviations or obstacles. Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including UNDP, INGOs, and financial institutions, to ensure buy-in and support for project activities. Oversee the delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives to local partners. Ensure compliance with donor requirements and UNCDF policies and procedures. Identify potential risks and challenges that may impact project implementation and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and UNCDF policies and procedures.Resources Mobilization:
Identify opportunities for innovative projects and initiatives that align with UNCDF's mandate and priorities. Conduct feasibility studies and risk assessments to evaluate the viability and potential impact of proposed projects. Develop comprehensive concept notes, proposals, including detailed budgets and financing plans. Leverage UNCDF's Technical Assistance facilities and blended finance instruments to attract funding and investment for projects. Engage with donors, investors, and other stakeholders to mobilize financial resources and support for project implementation. Explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships and impact investing, to maximize project impact and sustainability. Prepare and submit timely and accurate reports on project progress, including financial, operational, and impact metrics.Partnership and Relationship Management
Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with UN Agencies, INGOs, Financial Institutions, and other key stakeholders. Identify and capitalize on opportunities for collaboration and partnership to advance UNCDF's goals and objectives. Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between partners to address common challenges and achieve shared objectives. Provide technical and advisory support to financial service providers, including commercial banks, insurance companies, payment institutions, fintechs, and mobile money operators, to strengthen their capacity and expand access to financial services. Assist to UNCDF forums, including workshops, conferences, and events, to showcase project achievements, share best practices, and build relationships with stakeholders. Communicate project achievements, challenges, and lessons learned to internal and external stakeholders through various channels, such as written reports, presentations, and meetings. Contribute to knowledge management and communication efforts by writing blog posts, focus notes, case studies, and other knowledge products. Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning exchanges among project partners and stakeholders to promote innovation and best practices.Personnel Management
Supervise volunteers, interns, other team members and consultants as needed to support project activities. Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to project team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment. Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members to support their professional development. Foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the project team, encouraging knowledge sharing and skills development.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies ย Core competencies:ย Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย 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 Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:Business Direction & Strategyย ย ย ย
Effective Decision Making. Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. Negotiation & Influence. 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 situations ย Systems 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 systemBusiness Managementย ย ย ย
Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goalsDigital ย ย ย ย
Digital Inclusion. Knowledge of how digital inclusion work, opportunities and challenges for governments and societyPartnership Managementย ย ย ย
Private Sector Engagement. Ability to identify, conduct outreach and manage relationships with the private sectorย Required Skills and Experience
ย Education: Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Development Studies, Management is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree Experience: Minimum 7 years (with Masterโs degree) or 9 years (with Bachelorโs degree) in financial services or digital economy related areas, such as with commercial banks, development banks, payments service providers, eCommerce, FinTech, insurance or any other type of financial institution. Solid experience in financial services and/or digital economy sector (e.g. Digital Finance, FinTech, InsurTech, eCommerce, Telco, etc) in Afghanistan; Demonstrate experience with relevant technologies, platforms, and tools used in financial services and the digital economy, including but not limited to digital banking systems, payment gateways, mobile applications, NFC, SMS and USSD etc. Computer and IT skills in Microsoft applications Expertise in Digital Payments, Financial Inclusion and Access to finance is considered an advantage. Experience working with development partners, such as UN organizations or other multilateral organizations (e.g. WorldBank, IFC, ADB) or donor agencies is considered an advantage. Experience in coordinating with internal and external stakeholders on projects. Deep understanding of the Afghan market landscape, including consumer behaviours, market trends, competitive landscape, and potential challenges, is essential ensuring the candidate can effectively navigate the market and identify opportunities for growth and innovation. Strong understanding of the regulatory environment governing financial services and digital economy activities in Afghanistan. This includes laws related to banking, digital payments, data protection, and telecommunications.
Required languages:ย
Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto and English is required
Travel:
The incumbent may be expected to travel to other provinces of Afghanistan outside Kabul. Disclaimerย Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)ย
ย Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.ย
ย UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
ย Applicant information about UNDP rosters
ย Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
ย Non-discrimination
ย 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.ย ย
ย 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.ย
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