Investment Specialist

Tiered Approach In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby: • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026. • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates Background 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. As a Flagship Catalytic Blended Financing platform of the UN, 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, United Nations Organizations, 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 three priority areas, including: • SME Finance • Sub-National Finance • Digital Finance 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, USA. 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 an Executive Board comprised of UN Member States. Within UNCDF’s thematic are of nature, climate and energy financing, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sustainable Energy 2 program, a 5 year program funded by the Central African Forestry Initiative (CAFI) and Fonds National de REDD+ (FONAREDD DRC), aims to scale up clean energy solutions to reduce deforestation and emissions, through building a diversified investment portfolio across clean fuels, renewable electrification, and sustainable biomass. To continue driving these objectives, UNCDF seeks to hire an Investment Specialist to lead investment-related activities, assess opportunities, liaise with UN-partner agencies under this project, and manage financial instruments that drive reduced deforestation through investments in clean energy technologies and solutions. The Investment Specialist will lead investment transactions appraisal and structuring for both energy private sector companies (direct transactions), as well as on-lending and risk-sharing transactions with financial institutions and intermediaries in the liquid petroleum gas (LPG), electrification, high-tier improved cookstoves, and sustainable charcoal sectors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Duties and Responsibilities The Investment Specialist will work under the direct supervision of UNCDF Regional Investment Specialist (RIS) for Western and Central Africa and the Caribbean. The Investment Specialist may be required to travel for field missions to other regions of DRC such as Kisangani and Lubumbashi. Investment Underwriting & Due Diligence • Lead the identification, sourcing and management of a high-quality transaction pipeline in line with UNCDF’s investment mandate, target sectors and eligibility criteria for DRC. • Conduct preliminary screening of investment opportunities and prepare concise pre-assessment documentation (e.g., PAM) to support internal decision-making and prioritization. • Lead and/or coordinate due diligence on shortlisted counterparties and transactions (financial, operational, legal, integrity and Environmental, Social, and Governance-ESG), ensuring completeness and consistency with UNCDF investment policies and risk appetite. • Develop, validate and refine financial models and credit analyses (cashflow projections, sensitivities, repayment capacity, leverage/Debt-Service Coverage Ratio-DSCR where relevant) to assess viability, risk-adjusted performance and scalability. • Identify key risks (credit, operational, market, legal, ESG) and propose practical mitigation measures, including transaction structuring features, conditions precedent, covenants, reporting and monitoring requirements. • Prepare high-quality investment memos and recommendations for submission to UNCDF internal investment governance bodies (as applicable), and coordinate responses to review comments from Risk, Legal, Finance and Programme teams. Pipeline Sourcing via Calls for Proposals / Expressions of Interest (EOI) • Lead baseline data collection, including analysis of the investment landscape in the DRC for the thematic area, to identify currently available investment services and new stakeholders. • Coordinate outreach and dissemination through relevant channels specific to DRC (industry associations, chambers, incubators/accelerators, DFIs, UN and Government networks) to maximize market coverage and quality of submissions. • Manage the end-to-end selection workflow (screening, scoring, clarification process, committee review, decision documentation) and maintain an up-to-date pipeline tracker. • Produce an EOI/CFP evaluation report with a ranked shortlist and clear justification, identifying key risks, gaps and proposed next steps for each shortlisted applicant. Market Assessment & Engagement of Financial Institutions (FIs) • Conduct market assessments of financial institutions relevant to the project/region to identify viable partners and constraints/opportunities for serving target segments and value chains in the DRC. • Analyze FI products and operating practices (credit processes, collateral requirements, pricing, tenor constraints, portfolio performance, sector exposure), and assess institutional capacity (underwriting, risk management, MIS, ESG systems, reporting). • Develop and maintain an FI mapping/database and a shortlist of priority FI partners in the DRC, with an engagement plan and sequencing for partnership development. • Recommend partnership modalities and fit-for-purpose financial arrangements (on-lending facilities, risk-sharing/guarantees, blended structures, portfolio approaches), aligned with UNCDF fiduciary, risk and impact requirements. • Support FI engagement and partnership development, including contributions to term sheets, partnership memos and relevant due diligence inputs (KYC/AML, integrity, ESG screening, operational capacity). Blended Finance Structuring & Transaction Design • Design and structure catalytic/blended finance solutions using UNCDF instruments (e.g., loans, guarantees, investment grants where applicable), including concessionality logic, risk allocation and alignment with development additionality. • Support negotiations on investment terms and agreements with investees, financial intermediaries and co-financiers, and ensure consistency of terms with UNCDF policies and governance approvals. • Ensure investment structures incorporate practical monitoring, reporting and compliance requirements (financial, ESG and impact), and are implementable by counterparties. • Develop partnerships and support the development of UNCDF's investment portfolio in the DRC, including with other entities supporting the energy sector in the DRC (e.g., SE4ALL, Fonds Mwinda, IFC, etc.). Coordination with Technical Teams (Non-TA Delivery Role) • Coordinate closely with UNCDF and partner technical teams to ensure coherence between investment deployment and technical workstreams led by those technical teams. • Translate due diligence findings into clear technical workstream needs (as inputs to technical teams) and reflect agreed actions in transaction conditions, covenants, reporting and monitoring plans. • Participate in joint planning/review sessions with technical teams and partners to ensure proper sequencing between technical activities and investment milestones, while maintaining separation of roles (technical teams lead TA; the Investment Specialist leads investment sourcing/structuring/governance). Monitoring, Reporting & Impact Measurement • Support the development and application of monitoring frameworks to track portfolio performance, compliance with investment terms, ESG requirements and impact indicators. • Review and analyze investee/FI reporting, flag early warning signals, and prepare concise monitoring updates and portfolio insights for UNCDF management and relevant stakeholders. • Support onsite due diligence, verification and monitoring missions as required, documenting findings and recommended actions. • Monitor and control investment transactions in the thematic area and report results to the investment impact portfolio specialist and the deforestation monitoring and evaluation specialist. • Capitalize on successes and achievements and contribute to UNCDF's institutional communications by providing articles and reports on investment activities in the DRC, in coordination with the communications specialist. Support broader UNCDF operations and facilitation of knowledge building and management. • Contribute to internal advisory support and knowledge sharing on catalytic finance, private sector engagement and mobilization of finance flows aligned with UNCDF objectives specific for the DRC (e.g., resilience and peacebuilding, climate/forests, sustainable food systems, jobs and biodiversity). • Support resource mobilization and partner engagement activities through inputs to concept notes, presentations and investment narratives, as requested. • Provide surge support to other programmes/initiatives as UNCDF’s portfolio evolves in the DRC, within the scope of expertise and availability. • Participate in forums and working groups related to the thematic area of investment. • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. Competencies Core Competencies 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 Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy System 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 system Business Direction & Strategy Negotiation and Influence Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations. Business development Human-centered design Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices. Business Management Communication 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. Business Management Partnerships Management 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. Finance Development finance expertise Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc. Finance Due diligence management Ability to conduct a comprehensive appraisal of an organization or opportunity to be undertaken by a prospective investor or partner, especially to establish its assets and liabilities, as well as evaluate the potential opportunity and its related risks; knowledge of respective methodology and tools. Required Skills and Experience Education: • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or relevant related field is required, OR • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s 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 master’s degree) or 9 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in development finance and energy finance (including oil and gas or renewable energy), in DRC. Required skills • Experience in emerging market financing and investments in DRC. • Experience in providing portfolio de-risking to lending institutions. • Experience in underwriting grants, debt, or guarantees. Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section • Experience with UNCDF/UNDP rules and procedures. • Experience working with Global Funds, IFIs, UNCDF and/or another UN entity. • Experience working on development finance, energy finance (including oil and gas or renewable energy). • Experience in emerging market financing and investments seeking to reduce drivers of conflicts, fragility and environmental degradation. • Experience in MSME lending, including credit appraisal and evaluation, financial analysis, financial modeling and forecasting, and loan portfolio management. • Experience working with the policy and regulatory environment for emerging market financing and investments in the DRC, including engagement with institutions such as relevant major banks and the Ministry of Finance. Required Language(s) Fluency in French and English is required. Professional Certificates Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) diploma, ACCA, CPA, PMP, or similar, is a distinct advantage. Travel and Reimbursement The Investment Specialist will be required to report to the office. Travels within the DRC for on-site assessment, due diligence and project monitoring will be required and will be paid for by UNCDF, in accordance with UNCDF travel policies. A separate TOR with clear deliverables, budget and timelines will be prepared and agreed prior to each field mission. i. Frequent travel annually for onsite assessments, due diligence and monitoring ii. Occasional other international travel may be required 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. 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. Right to select multiple candidates UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. 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. 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