Investments and Debt Finance Specialist, Africa (Open to Internal & 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) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
As outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define our contribution to human development: expanding prosperity for all, strengthening effective governance, safeguarding a healthy planet and building crisis resilience. These objectives are enabled by three accelerators that drive transformative impact across our portfolio: digital and AI innovation, gender equality and sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, UNDP supports countries to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives and to advance sustainable development at scale.
UNDP, through its Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) (https://sdgfinance.undp.org/), supports partners in promoting financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an accelerator of the UNDP Strategic Plan, sustainable finance strengthens countries’ ability to mobilize, align and deploy finance at scale for national priorities. UNDP supports international and country level policy reform as a catalyst for system-wide change, stronger policy environments, better-functioning markets and more coherent financing strategies for sustainable development. SFH work is delivered through three interconnected portfolios: 1) Public Finance for the SDGs; 2) Private Finance for the SDGs; and 3) Global & Country Financing Policy Frameworks.

The European Commission (EC), together with EU Member States, development agencies, EU financial institutions and UN organizations, have embarked on coordinating their offer of EU expertise and resources for low- and middle-income countries in the area of sustainable finance, inspired by EU experience, through the EC Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub, of which UNDP is an implementing partner, focusing on supporting countries on sustainable finance taxonomy development, disclosure frameworks and thematic/green bond framework development.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Debt and Investments and with a cross-reporting line to the Regional Advisor, SDG Finance – Africa, the Investment and Debt Finance Specialist will primarily be responsible for the delivery of activities under the EU Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub implemented by UNDP. The role is hosted within the SFH Private Finance Portfolio, under the Investments and Debt unit.

Working closely with colleagues across the SFH portfolios and the Global Policy Network in Africa, the Specialist will provide technical and analytical support to partner governments, financial institutions, and issuers on sustainable finance instruments, with a focus on green and sustainability bond issuance. This includes pre- and post-issuance support, knowledge generation on fixed-income markets and other debt instruments, identification and assessment of green investment opportunities, and design of monitoring and reporting frameworks for environmental and climate impacts. The role will also contribute to building in-house capacity and institutional knowledge on debt and investment finance, ensuring effective translation of these skills into the design and implementation of innovative financing instruments at the country level, in line with the objectives of the Global Green Bond Initiative and the EU Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub both being linked to Global Gateway.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Investments and Debt Finance Specialist will play a central role in advancing UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) agenda in Africa, while also contributing to global workstreams. Based in UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub for Africa, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functions and duties:

1.Provision of thematic debt instruments and country support

• Advise and support the development and implementation of UNDP’s thematic debt offering and lead the design and piloting of innovative development bond frameworks in selected countries across the Africa region, in close coordination with SFH portfolios, UNDP Country Offices and SFH Regional Advisors;
• Provide tailored technical advice to governments and partners to address country-specific financing needs with a particular focus on green bonds with the European Commission under the EU Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub.

2. Strategic alignment with European commission initiatives

• Ensure key focus and coherence with the European Commission’s Global Green Bond Initiative;
• Contribute to joint EC-UNDP workplans and reporting, promoting alignment with EU sustainable finance frameworks and global standards;
• Provide technical inputs as an implementing partner of EC Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub, in coordination with SFH portfolios;
• Prepare donor reports, and contribute to monitoring frameworks, ensuring consistency with regional priorities and global strategies, and UNDP/SFH systems.

3. Ensure partnerships and scaling of sustainable finance solutions

• Contribute to UNDP’s broader financing and investment agenda by leveraging networks, fostering partnerships, and identifying opportunities to scale sustainable finance solutions at global and country-levels with a focus on blended finance structures;
• Provision of methodological guidance and flagship initiatives;
• Contribute to the development of methodological tools and guidance related to thematic bonds and debt instruments;
• Provide support to SFH Portfolios, enhancing their application and impact in - countries in Africa.

4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas.

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in address in development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Investment and Debt Finance Specialist will carryout relevant duties under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Debt and Investments and with a cross-reporting line to the Regional Advisor, SDG Finance – Africa, the Investment and Debt Finance Senior Specialist.

Competencies

CORE

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: 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

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: 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: Monitoring & Evaluation

• Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively;
• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results;
• Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools;
• Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Partnership Management: Relationship management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Programme and Policy: SDG Finance

• SDG-aligned Fiscal and Debt Instruments

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Development Finance or closely 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 master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in sustainable finance, thematic bond issuance or related areas, is required.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing thematic bond frameworks, including impact measurement, evaluation, and reporting.

Desired Skills

• Proven track record in structuring thematic debt, including green and blue bonds, with issuers in Africa or other developing country contexts;
• Proven track record of conducting market analyses and preliminary studies for green bond and/or other investment opportunities;
• Experience in advising on sovereign, sub-sovereign, and/or corporate bond development, including structuring, partnerships, and use of proceeds (experience in Africa is an advantage);
• Experience working with sovereign, sub-sovereign, and corporate bond issuers;
• Strong experience in working with complex projects and datasets, with the ability to synthesize information, support partnership building, present to senior/Board-level stakeholders, and mobilize resources;
• Experience in blended finance or other financial instruments for green/sustainable investments;
• Familiarity with EU and international best practices for green bond issuance.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and French are required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Professional Certificates

• Supplementary financial certifications (i.e. CFA, CAIA, CPA) is highly desirable.

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

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