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The Investment Specialist support UNCDF in designing, deploying, and managing recovery-focused financing instruments under the FRRP, while contributing to regional investment coordination across Arab States. • Design and operationalize recovery and resilience financing instruments, including portfolio credit guarantees, risk-sharing facilities, and concessional financing mechanisms, in line with UNCDF’s development of finance principles. • Ensure instruments maintain minimum concessionally, additionality, financial sustainability, and limited market distortion.
Last checked: 2 hours ago
Closing date: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Country: Jordan
Duty station: Amman, Jordan
Contract type: International PSA- Regular
Grade: Not specified
Open to: Internationals
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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:
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
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.
The Investment Specialist support UNCDF in designing, deploying, and managing recovery-focused financing instruments under the FRRP, while contributing to regional investment coordination across Arab States.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Investment Specialist reports to the Regional Investment Specialist and Regional Team Lead – Arab States.
A. Portfolio Development & Investment Structuring (Primary Focus – Palestine)
• Design and operationalize recovery and resilience financing instruments, including portfolio credit guarantees, risk-sharing facilities, and concessional financing mechanisms, in line with UNCDF’s development of finance principles.
• Conduct financial, institutional, and portfolio assessments of partner banks, MFIs, and financial intermediaries.
• Support the negotiation of participation agreements, term sheets, and risk-sharing parameters with financial institutions.
• Ensure instruments maintain minimum concessionally, additionality, financial sustainability, and limited market distortion.
B. Portfolio Management, Oversight & Risk Monitoring
• Monitor utilization, financial performance, exposure, and claims risk of FRRP-supported instruments.
• Coordinate with UNCDF’s Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD) and Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) to ensure compliance with risk, fiduciary, safeguards, and reporting requirements.
• Prepare inputs for internal investment reviews, management updates, and donor reporting.
• Support adaptive portfolio management in response to evolving market, liquidity, or political conditions.
C. Financial Sector & Market Systems Analysis
• Analyze liquidity conditions, cost of funds, credit constraints, currency risk, and regulatory developments affecting the Palestinian financial sector.
• Translate market intelligence into practical adjustments to instrument design and deployment.
• Provide technical inputs to UNCDF and UNDP on financial-sector implications for recovery and resilience of programming.
D. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
• Engage with local financial institutions, regulators, DFIs, donors, and UN partners to support implementation and co-financing of FRRP instruments.
• Support coordination with parallel donor-funded or DFI-led facilities to ensure complementarity.
• Represent UNCDF in technical discussions related to recovery finance and financial sector stabilization.
E. Technical Advisory & Capacity Support
• Provide technical advisory support to participating financial institutions on portfolio management, risk sharing, and recovery-oriented lending approaches.
• Support the design and delivery of investment-linked technical assistance.
• Contribute to drafting or review of operational manuals, guidelines, and procedures related to FRRP instruments.
F. Regional Coordination & Knowledge Sharing (Secondary Role)
• Contribute Palestine-based lessons learned to UNCDF’s Arab States investment community of practice.
• Support regional knowledge products on recovery finance, guarantees, and fragile context investment.
• Provide limited surge or advisory support to regional initiatives, as requested by the Regional Investment Lead.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
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:
Business Direction & Strategy
Business Direction & Strategy
Business Development
Business Management
Partnership management
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
Required Language(s):
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.
Use of AI by candidates
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