Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts.

Background

Office/Unit/Programme Description 

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 catalyse 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. 

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 to mobilize investments flows from other sources, 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 six priority areas, including: Sub-national and local infrastructure financing, Women focused/owned enterprise financing, Nature, climate and energy financing, Sustainable food systems financing and Inclusive digital finance.

Following a recent restructuring, 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 the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

Within UNCDF’s thematic are of nature and climate, the Pro-Congo project is a joint initiative by UNEP and UNCDF in partnership with the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) aimed at mobilizing private sector investment towards sustainable enterprises in the Congo Basin across four countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RoC), Gabon, and Cameroon. The initiative seeks to contribute to catalyzing long-term transformation in the Congo Basin by integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors. By providing technical assistance and access to capital for MSMEs, the project supports businesses that utilize sustainable practices contributing to forest conservation, biodiversity protection, job creation, emission reductions, and sustainable economic growth. 

Progammes and projects financed by UNCDF shall comply with the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES) which underpin UNCDF’s commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in supported programmes and projects leading to sustainable development. The UNCDF Social and Environmental Standards (SES) includes five Programming Principles and eight Project-Level Standards (https://www.undp.org/publications/undp-social-and-environmental-standards). The SES social and environmental management system requirements include Programing Quality Assurance and Risk Management and Project-Level Screening, Assessment and Management of Social and Environmental Risks and Impacts which includes: Screening and Categorization, which is supported by the UNDP Social and Environment Screening Procedure (SESP), Assessment and Management, Stakeholder Engagement and Response Mechanism, Access to Information, Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance. The SES are underpinned by an Accountability Mechanism with two key components: a Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM) and a Compliance Review process. The SES provides the approach for project-level social and environmental screening to identify potential social and environmental risks and determine the project’s social and environmental risk category and define the form of project-level social and environmental assessment and management required to address potential risks and impacts. 

To facilitate the achievement of these objectives, UNCDF seeks to hire a Environmental and Social Safeguards and Risk Compliance (ESSRC) Specialist to ensure that the project comply with environmental and social safeguards while managing associated risks and ensuring alignment with organizational as well as donor standards. The ESSRC specialist will also contribute to UNCDF corporate activities as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Pro-Congo Project Manager, the ESSRC specialist will conduct the following tasks:

a)           Ensure Risk Management Framework and Environmental & Social Safeguards Implementation

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive risk management framework aligned with the Pro-Congo Risk Framework, UNCDF Environmental and Social Safeguards (E&S) guidelines, UNCDF Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) guidelines, and requirements from CAFI, in collaboration with UNEP counterpart.
• Conduct environmental, social, operational, financial, institutional, and reputational risk assessments and baseline analyses for all companies/transactions in the project pipeline.
• Design a governance mechanism for risk review and reporting, including a Risk Committee with dedicated Risk and Security Officer(s).
• Periodically update and monitoring the projects risk ratings.
• Develop tailored Environmental and Social Action Plans (ESAP) for companies/transactions to ensure compliance with CAFI and applicable UNCDF requirements.
• Support the monitoring, review, compliance, and oversight of companies to ensure adherence to the ESAP, including conducting on site visits as required, coordinating closely with project partners and investees to enhance data reliability and validity.

b)           Ensure Compliance Oversight and Fiduciary Transparency

• Ensure project compliance with fiduciary standards, donor, partner, and UNCDF compliance guidelines, environmental and social safeguards, and other regulatory requirements.
• Review and update compliance policies and procedures continuously for effectiveness.
• Coordinate and support third party independent verification of results of the project.
• Ensure effective follow-up and implementation of recommendations from independent verifications of results.

c)           Provision of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

• Provide specialized training and support to staff, partners, and enterprises on social and environmental safeguards and risk management and compliance.
• Lead the design and delivery of technical assistance to address informational and risk gaps as outlined in the ESAP.

d)           Reporting, Learning and Knowledge Sharing 

• Prepare reports as needed on risks and safeguard compliance issues, progress status of the ESAP for companies/trasanctions, and propose appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned for continuous improvement.

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 ESSRC Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Pro-Congo Project Manager who reports to UNCDF’s Senior Portfolio Manager for Nature and Climate based in Kigali, Rwanda. The ESSRC Specialist will be required to report to the office in Kinshasa, DRC. The ESSRC Specialist will have multi-country responsibilities and be required to travel for on-site SE due diligence and monitoring within Central Africa (DRC, RoC, Gabon and Cameroon) approximately every six (6) months.

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 

Thematic Area Name   Definition

Business Direction & Strategy - Business Acumen

• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Business Direction & Strategy - Systems 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 Management - Monitoring and 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.

Business Management  - Project Management 

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness Effectiveness

• Social and Environmental Standards.

2030 Agenda: Planet – Nature

• Environmental Governance: Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. CBD and UNCCD).

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Engineering, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change or other related field. 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.

Minimum years of relevant work experience 

• Minimum 5 Years (with master’s degree)  or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree)  of relevant work experience in assessing and managing project environmental and social impacts and risks and in design and implementation of environmental and social safeguards systems.

Required skills 

• At least 5 years of experience in design and implementation of environmental and social safeguards systems,and/or  environmental and social impact assessments.
• Experience from working with private sector actors in developing countries.

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 with implementing ISO 14064 methodology.
• International experience working in developing countries in Africa. 
• Previous involvement in baseline surveys, mid-term reviews, and impact evaluations.
• Experience in capacity building and training of staff and partners in M&E concepts and tools.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in French and English is required.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages will be considered an asset.

Travel and Reimbursement:

The ESSRC specialist is expected to render services from the office in Kinshasa, DRC. Frequent travel within Central Africa (DRC, RoC, Gabon and Cameroon) for on-site SE due diligence and monitoring visits will be required approximately once every six (6) months 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.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

a)           Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

b)           A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

c)           Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

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.

Scam alert

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