Investment Specialist, IPSA 11, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea [Open to internal and external applicants]

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

Please make note of the Tier(s) in the vacancy title, if any, and make sure that you're able 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, 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. 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.

UNCDF is seeking an Investment Specialist to advance the blended finance portfolio in PNG. UNCDF’s portfolio in Papua New Guinea focuses on rural development, enterprise financing, blue economy growth, and conflict resilient livelihoods. Through the EU funded Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU STREIT) programme, implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNCDF supports improved value chains, financial inclusion and local economic development in East and West Sepik until end of 2026.

UNCDF is seeking an Investment Specialist to advance the blended finance portfolio in PNG. UNCDF’s portfolio in Papua New Guinea focuses on rural development, enterprise financing, blue economy growth, and conflictresilient livelihoods. Through the EU funded Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU STREIT) programme, implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNCDF supports improved value chains, financial inclusion and local economic development in East and West Sepik until end of 2026.

UNCDF also deploys blended finance and technical assistance through another EU funded project, the Sustainable Pacific Blue Circle Fund, active through 2028 in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and PNG, to grow early‑stage enterprises with strong development and environmental impact potential. In parallel, the GFCR funded Good Oceans, Good Business initiative (ongoing through 2029) has established a Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility to accelerate sustainable marine‑based livelihoods in Kimbe Bay and the Louisiade Archipelago. In addition, the project has recently signed a portifolio guarantee agreement with a financial institution in Papua New Guinea to enhance access to credit for reef-positive and women-owned MSMEs, complementing the incubation facility and strengthening the overall blue economy financing. Finally, through the Livelihood Enhancement and Economic Diversification (LEED) programme (until 2027), UNCDF supports conflict‑affected provinces, including Enga, Hela, Western and Southern Highlands provinces, to strengthen livelihoods, reduce violence, and build community resilience.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNCDF also deploys blended finance and technical assistance through another EU funded project, the Sustainable Pacific Blue Circle Fund, active through 2028 in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and PNG, to grow early‑stage enterprises with strong development and environmental impact potential. In parallel, the GFCR funded Good Oceans, Good Business initiative (ongoing through 2029) has established a Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility to accelerate sustainable marine‑based livelihoods in Kimbe Bay and the Louisiade Archipelago. In addition, the project has recently signed a portifolio guarantee agreement with a financial institution in Papua New Guinea to enhance access to credit for reef-positive and women-owned MSMEs, complementing the incubation facility and strengthening the overall blue economy financing. Finally, through the Livelihood Enhancement and Economic Diversification (LEED) programme (until 2027), UNCDF supports conflict‑affected provinces, including Enga, Hela, Western and Southern Highlands provinces, to strengthen livelihoods, reduce violence, and build community resilience

Lead Strategic Research and Market Analysis

• Lead systematic market scoping to inform investment strategies and identify opportunities to support underserved beneficiaries through appropriately designed financial instruments and technical assistance (TA).
• Advise structuring blended finance solutions tailored to specific market and project needs. Advise on structuring blended finance solutions tailored to specific market and project needs and identify investment opportunities across priority sectors
• Map the financing landscape in target countries, identifying key capital providers and financial intermediaries.
• Analyze prevailing financial terms, instruments, and market conditions to inform structuring decisions.
• Identify regulatory and policy barriers affecting investment flows and propose mitigation strategies.
• Monitor trends in blended finance, climate finance, and impact investing relevant to UNCDF’s mandate.

Design of Projects/Financial Mechanisms and Fundraising

• Draft investment strategy documents, operational guidelines, and structural frameworks for investment vehicles or funds.
• Provide input on fund governance, operational models, and overall design to ensure alignment with UNCDF’s strategic objectives.
• Support the design of blended finance solutions tailored to market conditions and specific project needs.
• Design derisking and blended finance approaches that crowd in private capital while ensuring development of additionality.
• Propose innovative structures and support facilities/platforms/pooled mechanisms to address market fragmentation.
• Recommend appropriate de-risking instruments to catalyze private sector investment.
• Offer technical guidance on investment readiness for project developers and enterprises.
• Identify and engage with potential co-investors, development of finance institutions, and private sector partners.
• Contribute to the development of country-specific investment roadmaps, pipelines, and strategic partnerships.
• Contribute to knowledge of products, case studies, and analytical briefs related to investment and blended finance.
• Support strategic planning, reporting, and donor engagement related to UNCDF’s investment portfolio.
• Participate in investment related meetings, working groups, and partner discussions at the country level, as delegated.

Execution of Investment Transactions:

• Identify and screen investment opportunities aligned with UNCDF’s strategic priorities, GFCR investment principles, and SDG targets.
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence (desk-based and on-site) on selected transactions.
• Analyze financial statements including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows.
• Build and refine financial models to assess investment viability and risk-return profiles.
• Score credit risk and assess the financial health of prospective investees.
• Draft investment appraisal memorandums and internal documentation for approval processes.
• Coordinate with UNCDF’s Investment and Finance Oversight Division to ensure compliance with internal investment policies.
• Support transaction structuring using UNCDF’s financial instruments (e.g., concessional loans, guarantees, capitalization grants and performance-based payments).
• Present investment opportunities to UNCDF’s Investment and Disbursement Impact Committee (IDIC)
• Track and document progress of transactions through the investment cycle including performance monitoring and learning; identify early risks and mitigation; collect and analyse financial and development data.

Provision of Technical Assistance and Facilitate Capacity Building

• Provide ongoing technical assistance for the financial instruments deployed.
• Design and implement capacity-building initiatives tailored to enhance operational capacities and financial management of the investees to strengthen local deal origination.
• Assist investees in developing viable business plans and financial strategies.
• Advise government counterparts and partners on investment-related constraints, as appropriate, and contribute to dialogue on enabling environments for private investment.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building by sharing best practices and lessons learned with local financial institutions and stakeholders.

Contribute to the Project Management of Investment-Linked initiatives

• Provide technical inputs for the preparation and implementation of annual work plans (AWPs), budgets, and activity schedules.
• Coordinate day-to-day investment initiatives for operations, partner engagement, and delivery of technical assistance that supports investment readiness or transaction preparation.
• Technically lead the drafting of high-quality donor reports (narrative and financial) and ensure compliance with UNCDF and donor requirements.
• Lead the investment transactions of M&E processes, ensuring indicators capture the investment results (e.g., pipeline progress, capital mobilisation, enterprise capacity).
• Provide technical advisory to ensure smooth implementation of the transactions so that they achieve the expected results, and they are brought to an orderly closure

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, and have a 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 tasks/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 the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight

Business Development: Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management: Communication

• 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 channels

Business Management: Working with Evidence and Data

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

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

Partnerships management: Private Sector engagement

• Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and managerelationships with the private sector

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, Economics, Accounting, or related fields is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree)in the areas stated 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 masters’ Degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in either the financial sector or the private sector or a mix, preferably with investment and/or business management expertise.

Required Skills:

• At least 5 years’ investment experience and knowledge of the financial markets, the needs of financial institutions and the credit instruments for the blue economy
• Experience working in banking within an international financial environment, preferably in the development of finance institutions, impact investors, or similar.
• Experience in at least one, but preferably several, of the following areas: impact-oriented SMEs, Project finance, Micro Finance Institutions, Guarantee instruments within the space of development finance
• Experience in project preparation and/or in development of investment opportunities, especially investment projects with social and environmental objectives in developing countries.
• Competency with financial modeling and analysis in Microsoft excel.
• Computer literacy, including proficient use of research and applied software

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Experience in credit and/or investments with a development impact in emerging/frontier markets
• Experience in nature-related or climate-aligned investments
• Experience in evaluating environmental impacts alongside commercial viability
• Proven experience in understanding the investment needs of enterprises and the mix of debt/equity required at different growth stages—from incubation to scaling up to commercial viability.
• Experience and strong knowledge of financial markets and financing for sustainable development, with the ability to apply it to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Experience in producing concise, executive level reports (PowerPoint) and presentations, training modules and materials.
• At least 2 years of experience in working for/in the UN System or similar international development finance institution;

Languages:

• Fluency in English is 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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

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