VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Organization: UNDP
Position: Policy Specialist (Infrastructure and SDG Financing) – 1 Position, Level SB 5/ Peg 1
Location : Kathmandu, NEPAL
Application Deadline : 29-Apr-20 (Midnight New York, USA)
Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract : Other
Post Level : Other
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : One year with possibility of extension
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Background
Accelerating Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Nepal is a joint project of National Planning Commission (NPC) and UNDP which is implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) from Jan 2020 to Dec 2023. The project is supported by UNDP Nepal, UN Environment, European Union and Austrian Development Agency. The project aims to support Nepal in achieving the SDGs by creating enabling environment and capacity development to mitigate SDGs financing gap as well as through accelerated implementation. To achieve this, the project works with federal, provincial and local governments as well as private sector and CSOs, for SDG based planning, budgeting and investment with focus on poverty-environment-climate/disaster and Gender equality & Social inclusion concerns. The objective of the project will be achieved through two inter-linked outcomes: 1) Planning, budgeting, monitoring & reporting systems at all levels of government are SDG responsive and functional; and 2) Resilient and innovative financing available for SDG implementation.
The Policy Specialist (Infrastructure and SDG financing) will work under the guidance and supervision of the National Project Director, National Project Coordinator, relevant division of NPC and reports to National Project Manager.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary
• Substantive technical support and advisory services to NPC on SDG financing;
• Contribution to technical assistance, policy development and program support related to public, private, cooperative and civil society contribution in SDGs financing;
• Substantive contribution to the application and development of innovative SDGs financing instruments, tools and resources;
• Knowledge management, development and facilitation of public and private platform/ networking on SDGs financing at the national and provincial level.
The key responsibilities of the assignment are:
1) Substantive technical support and advisory services to the National Planning Commission on SDG financing:
• In line with SDG financing priorities, navigate entry points and pivotal considerations for integrating effective governance and innovating financing approaches and strategies for achieving the SDGs;
• Be an active member of the project team, influencing the national priorities and bring the best practices and feasible approaches on SDG financing mechanism relevant to Nepal’s economy;
• Contribute to the national scaling up of the existing finance for SDG service offer and approach;
• Collaborate substantively with public and private sectors at the national and provincial to achieve outcomes of the project and prepare plans to support and promote synergies;
• Provide and/or facilitate support to the project in relevant intervention design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and results reporting in line with RBM guidelines, and support quality assurance, risk management and due diligence processes;
• Contribute to the accelerating SDG implementation including focus on poverty, environment and climate objectives and gender and social inclusion mainstreaming.
2) Contribution to technical assistance, policy development and programme support related to public, private, Cooperative and Civil society contribution in SDGs financing:
• Contributes to the design and implementation of the AISN project plan for delivering the public, private, cooperative and civil society engagement in SDG financing;
• Facilitates technical activities development, program support and collaboration functions related with public, cooperative, civil society and private sector innovative SDG finance work;
• Provides integrated solutions and works across sectoral teams to provide inputs and technical guidance on SDG Financing support;
• Support in the identification of opportunities and emerging risks from implementing of new and innovative financing interventions to support the SDGs in line with the SDGs costing and financing strategies.;
• Substantive and results-focused area of work development and regular reporting of results achieved and the integration of the results in the project.
3) Substantive contribution to the application and development of innovative SDGs financing instruments, tools and resources:
• Provide technical expertise in identifying new tools, adapting good practices and methodologies and producing knowledge management products that linked with SDG and innovative financing approaches;
• Provide technical expertise on the content development for knowledge products through the analysis of data, case evidence, and research findings;
• Contribute to the identification and scoping of technical issues within the project team to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools, such as policy positions/practice notes/concept papers and other research-based products to influence/advance public and private sector dialogue;
• Identifies and collaborates with relevant line ministries, non-government, and private sector (including M/SMEs) at all level to roll out green and responsible business investment initiatives, by providing insights on most practical value;
• Contribute to the design, adoption and delivery of training to facilitate innovation learning, foster and encourage policy innovation and continuous improvement to enhance policy advice and programme delivery.
4) Knowledge management, development and facilitation of public, cooperative and private platform/networking on SDGs financing at the national and provincial level:
• Contribute in the shaping, producing, and disseminating SDG financing development briefs and papers to help articulate NPC positioning on key issues in this area, including through policy dialogues, conferences and use of information technologies;
• Support in design and facilitation of public and private/cooperative/NGO sector SDG dialogue platform to feed information, knowledge and leverage additional resources to help achieve SDGs;
• Advise NPC on the design, implementation and packaging of SDG finance and private/cooperative sector development that can demonstrate and scale new business models;
• Contribute to shaping NPC influencing strategy in the SDG and innovative financing arena through continuous analysis, documentation, codification of regional results/lessons learned;
• Support the capacity development of key public and private/cooperatives sectors official in application of tools and practices;
• Contribute to advocacy efforts key public and private sector for SDG finance and private/cooperatives sector priorities in the country by linking NPC costing and financing strategies;
• Contribute in the leveraging of a new resource mobilization approach and priorities as per the project and private sector work in the country, especially prioritizing collaborations with foundations and high-impact businesses;
• Elicit collaboration across all relevant stakeholders deemed necessary at all tiers of governance on issues related with finance and private sector partnership;
• Any other task as deemed necessary to fulfil the objective of the project.
5) Ensure strengthening Gender and Social Inclusion work through project interventions:
• Provide advice and direction on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender & social inclusion initiatives in the programme plan and implementation strategy;
• Facilitate in creating an environment to address GESI issues;
• Ensure gender and inclusion issues are substantially incorporated in policy notes and briefs where ever possible;
• Liaise with CO Gender Specialist as per the need for effective implementation of the GESI strategy and other guiding tools.
Impact of Results:
Effectively functioning of project implementation gearing toward leveraging additional SDGs financing options with results orientation and quality reporting in a timely manner.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Good inter-personal skills;
• Clear and upfront communication skills;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Display cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Collaborates effectively in a team environment;
• Organized and good with following-up on pending issues; meets deadlines;
• Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
• Focused on delivering results by taking calculated-risks and problem-solving approach;
• Fair and transparent decision making; regularly shares information with team members;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.
Functional Competencies:
• Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued learning and development on personal level as well as for supervisees;
• Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
• Demonstrates strong numerical and analytical skills;
• Has experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation tools;
• Experience in developing business plans for financial institutions including energy enterprises;
• Experience in coordination, technical assistance and advisory support top government and private institutions;
• Experienced in delivering training and other needed capacity/ institutional building support to a wide range of stakeholders including financial institutions;
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and administrative skills;
• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Master’s degree, preferably in international development studies, finance, international affairs, business administration, development economics, or other relevant field.
Experience:
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in public (national or multilateral, including UN) or private sectors (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing level of responsibility, including experience on development administration, Planning and Sustainable Development;
• Proven track record of working in infrastructure sector, innovative financing and engagement with private sectors;
• Proven track record and leadership experience related to development policy, sustainable growth, private sector development and large-scale partnerships with the private sector (including financial institutions);
• Demonstrated familiarity with integrated or SDG programming and ability to work across a broad range of thematic areas related to social and economic infrastructure financing issue;
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders, etc);
• Prior experience working in capacity development, knowledge management, communication, monitoring and evaluation will be an asset.
Language requirements:
• Fluency in oral and written English and Nepali is essential.
Other requirements:
• Well versed in computer applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Good report writing skill is highly preferable.
Last date to apply: 29th April 2020
