Background and Organizational Context
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.
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.
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. 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:
- Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
- Women owned enterprise financing
- Nature and climate financingย
- Energy and decarbonization finance
- Sustainable food systems financing
- Inclusive digital finance
Following 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.
Position Purpose
The Head of Digital Strategy and Enterprise Solutions is responsible for the strategic leadership, operation, and continuous evolution of UNCDFโs corporate digital platforms and systems. Working under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer, this role provides overall direction for the design and maintenance of the organizationโs enterprise architecture, ensuring alignment with corporate digital strategies and objectives. The incumbent leads the development, deployment, and maintenance of scalable digital platforms, including cloud-based enterprise technologies, such as including Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), contributing to enhanced organizational effectiveness, operational efficiency, and innovation.
The incumbent leads global cross-functional teams to deliver enterprise solutions from incubation through implementation and sustainment, ensuring technical coherence, solution portfolio performance, and realization of business benefits. The role also promotes the adoption of common digital platforms and frameworks across the organization, advancing UNCDFโs modernization agenda and fostering a culture of collaboration, agility, and digital excellence, with a strong focus on ensuring data consistency, accuracy, and integration across systems to support informed decision-making and operational optimization.
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.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Lead the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of UNCDFโs enterprise architecture.
ย ย ย ย
1. Strategic Leadership and Enterprise Architecture Governance- Provide strategic and technical leadership in the design, implementation, and continuous evolution of UNCDFโs enterprise architecture in alignment with organizational goals and digital strategies, including Quantum, Quantum+, and other applications and systems.
- Define and maintain enterprise architecture principles, standards, and governance frameworks, and ensure coherence across business, data, applications, systems, and technology layers.
- Develop and maintain a roadmap of digital platformsโcovering both new developments and enhancements of existing systems. Oversee its implementation, ensure timely delivery, and effectively communicate to UNCDF management. ย
2. Digital Platform Development and Operations
- Lead the implementation, integration, and enhancement of cloud-based corporate digital platforms, including the unified CRM system, data platforms, and artificial intelligence solutions.
- Ensure the platforms are scalable, secure, interoperable, and support organization-wide adoption.
- Oversee day-to-day operations and continuous improvement of digital systems to ensure performance, usability, and business alignment.
3. Business and Technology Alignment
- Collaborate with UNCDF senior leadership, programme teams, and functional units to identify and translate business needs into digital solutions and enterprise systems.
- Act as UNCDFโs primary liaison with UNDP on all digital platforms, including Quantum and Quantum+.
- Facilitate cross-functional engagement to ensure platforms address user needs, enhance collaboration, and support institutional effectiveness.
4. Programme and Portfolio Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of enterprise solution deliveryโfrom business case development and architectural design to testing, implementation, sustainment, and benefits realization.
- Manage a portfolio of digital projects, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, resource optimization, and delivery of measurable value.
5. Team Leadership and Capacity Development
- Build internal digital capability of UNCDF through training, knowledge sharing, and continuous development of best practices and standards.
- Ensure consistency, accuracy, and reliability of data across enterprise systems by establishing data quality standards and overseeing routine data validation and cleaning exercises.
6. Architecture Governance and Change Management
- Define and institutionalize the organizational change management (OCM) methodology to support digital transformation initiatives and ensure its consistent application and compliance across all corporate platform deployments.
- Ensure compliance with enterprise architecture principles and integration across systems.
- Promote consistent data architecture and standards across platforms, ensuring data accuracy, reducing duplication, and enabling seamless data exchange and reporting across systems.
- Oversee and coordinate periodic data validation and cleaning exercises in collaboration with business owners.
- Lead change management efforts to support adoption of digital platforms, in collaboration with business owners across IID, IFOD, OOD, and the Directorate.
7. Innovation, Standards, and Best Practices
- Monitor and evaluate emerging digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced analytics), and oversee their development, testing, and integration into UNCDFโs digital platforms in alignment with UNCDFโs mission and operations.
- Lead the initiation and management of pilot programs and proof-of-concept studies for emerging digital technologies, working closely with business units to assess their feasibility, real-world applicability, and potential impact before full-scale implementation.
- Promote enterprise-wide adoption of digital innovation, shared development frameworks, and reusable components to enhance sustainability and impact.
8. Risk Management and Compliance
- Ensure digital platforms comply with UN security, UNDP personal data protection and privacy policy, and ethical standards.
- Proactively manage risks related to technology, data, and operations, embedding mitigation measures into architecture and delivery plans.
- Oversee the development and management of centralized data platformsโincluding data warehouses, pipelines, and API integrationsโenabling secure and scalable data exchange between systems.
2.) Lead the Import, Integration, and Global Rollout of UNDPโs CRM Solution with Enhanced UNCDF Functionalities
- Deploy Quantum+ UNITY/risk Tools to UNCDF Instance
- Overlay UNCDF functionalities to new solution
- Evaluate potential upgrade and migration of HACT solution from UNDP
- Evaluate inclusion of and Impact for UNCDF use
- Identify digital solutions that create opportunities to enhance efficiency and drive cost savings across the organization
3) Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
- Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
- Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.
- Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
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: Supervision and performance management of staff positions ( P3, G6 ) and IPSA holders.
Competencies Core Competencies:ย
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 Managementย
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicatedย site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking ย ย ย ย
- 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
Business Direction & Strategy: Entrepreneurial Thinkingย ย ย ย
- Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDPโs organizational priorities and mandate.
Business Development: Collective Intelligence Designย ย ย ย
- Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.
Business Management: Portfolio Management ย ย ย ย
- Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
Business Management: Partnership Managementย ย ย ย
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management: Risk Managementย ย ย ย
- Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risk
2030 Agenda: Partnerships: SDG Finance ย ย ย ย
- SDG Impact Management and Finance Tracking
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced University Degree (Masterโs Degree or equivalent) in Software Engineering, Project Management, or other relevant field 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:
- A minimum of 7 years (with a masterโs degree) or 9 years (with a bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible experience in enterprise digital platforms, IT strategy, or digital transformation within international development, public sector, or similarly complex organizational contexts is required,
- Proven track record of leading large-scale cloud-based technology implementations (e.g., PaaS, SaaS), including CRM and ERP systems, from strategy through global deployment and adoption is required.ย
- Demonstrated experience in enterprise architecture design and governance, solution portfolio management, and digital innovation is required.ย
- Extensive experience managing cross-functional and cross-cultural teams, including remote and matrixed structures is desirable.
- Prior experience working with or within UN agencies, multilateral development organizations, or public-sector institutions is highly desirable.
- Proven track record of In-depth understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks, digital governance models, and platform integration strategies is desired.ย
- Expertise in cloud-native technologies, digital service delivery models, and secure data and identity management practices is desired.
- Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce), data platforms, workflow automation tools, and analytics technologies is an asset.ย
- Proven track record of strong knowledge of change management and digital adoption practices in global and decentralized organizational environments is desired.ย
- Demonstrated awareness of the digital transformation needs of development finance institutions or organizations operating in least developed countries (LDCs) is a plus.
- Prior experience in strategic leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to align digital initiatives with institutional objectives is desired.ย
- Experience in program and portfolio management capabilities, with a focus on benefits realization, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement is desired.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of another UN language is desired.ย
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
ย
- SDG Impact Management and Finance Tracking
- Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risk
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
- Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
- Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.
- Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDPโs organizational priorities and mandate.
- 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
- Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
- Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact