Background
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:
โข ย ย ย ย Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
โข ย ย ย ย Women owned enterprise financing
โข ย ย ย ย Nature and climate financingย
โข ย ย ย ย Energy and decarbonization finance
โข ย ย ย ย Sustainable food systems financing
โข ย ย ย ย 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.ย
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.
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1. Strategic Leadership and Enterprise Architecture Governance
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.ย ย ย ย
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 Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (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 organization3) Provide Advisory Services and Knowledge Building and Management.
Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned in digital transformation initiatives and systems.ย Establish and strengthen collaboration networks to promote shared digital solutions and architectural standards across UNCDF.ย Coordinate and provide integrated technical support for the development and enhancement of digital systems and platforms that address operational and strategic needs, in collaboration with business units.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 P3, G6 IPSA holders.ย
Competencies Core Competencies:ย ย ย
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3
Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsLearn Continuously: LEVEL 3
Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesAdapt with Agility: LEVEL 3
Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsAct with Determination: LEVEL 3
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3
Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaborationEnable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityPeople Managementย
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicatedย site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinkingย ย ย ย
Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutionsย Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDPDigital & Innovation: Facilitation of digital innovation
Ability to facilitate groups and individuals through a digital innovation processBusiness Direction & Strategy: Negotiation and Influenceย ย ย ย
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 situationsDigital & Innovation: Data analysisย ย ย ย
Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision makingBusiness Management: Project Managementย ย ย ย
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goalsBusiness Management: Change Managementย ย ย ย
Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational changeBusiness Management: Communicationย ย ย ย
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 channelsRequired 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.Knowledge:
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.Skills:
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.ยEqual 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
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