Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.  The UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition (the “UNDP Rome Centre”) is the key platform for the strategic engagement between UNDP and the Italian Government. It focuses on the critical policy areas of climate finance, youth engagement in climate action, and energy for development. These objectives are pursued through the effective implementation of its three main programmes:

PISTA (Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance) is a climate finance mobilization facility based at the UNDP Rome Centre. Its overarching objective is to narrow the gap between the climate finance available and what is needed in developing economies, thus supporting their decarbonization efforts and transition to climate-resilient economies. PISTA provides technical assistance grants to prepare large, impactful climate change mitigation and adaptation Projects in developing economies and make them bankable and ready for investment. PISTA further connects such projects with interested financiers and aims to unlock blended finance from national and international financing instruments.Youth4Climate promotes youth engagement in climate action, contributing to SDG13.

Youth4Climate supports the implementation of youth-led and youth-inclusive solutions to environmental and climate challenges, both financially and through capacity development. It also gives young people around the world who are committed to fighting climate change a platform to engage with policymakers and global leaders.

Energy For Growth in Africa aims to promote access to sustainable energy in developing countries, contributing to SDG7. The goal of the initiative is to assist partner countries in unlocking finance to scale up the diffusion of clean energy solutions, increase access to energy and boost the energy transition. The initiative aims to foster the mobilization of public and private capital toward projects aligned with the national energy strategies of the programme countries as well as the international policy agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It does so by connecting UNDP's capacity and connections in emerging economies and developing countries with the public-private ecosystem of Italy and other G7 countries, in the crucial sector of energy.

The Finance Specialist will support all the energy finance related activities of the Rome Centre, with a particular focus on mobilizing international investments for the energy project pipeline. The successful candidate will report to the Energy Finance Lead at the Rome Centre and work closely with the Rome-based energy team as well as with the focal points in the Energy for Growth programme countries.

Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Structuring and Investment Mobilization:

• Develop structured financing solutions for clean energy projects (e.g., blended finance, guarantees, local currency facilities).
• Engage DFIs, international banks, and climate finance facilities to mobilize resources.
• Draft financing proposals and develop risk mitigation strategies to enable capital flow into high-impact projects.
• Coordinate co-financing opportunities with donor-supported instruments and guarantee mechanisms.

Partnerships with financial institutions:

• Develop relationships with MDBs and DFIs such as AfDB, EIB, CDP, as well as other international investors deploying resources in Africa.
• Evaluate new partnership opportunities and build new relationships aligned with the Centre’s strategy.
• Implement structured engagement tailored to different financier types.

Project Origination and Knowledge Sharing:

• Provide financial expertise to shape a bankable project pipeline from UNDP Country Offices.
• Evaluate financial models, cost structures, and return profiles for strategic alignment.
• Support the building of financial expertise across the energy finance team.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing initiatives within the team and with UNDP country offices.

Market Intelligence and Advisory:

• Track investment trends, investor appetite, and financial innovation across the African energy landscape.
• Advise leadership on strategic capital deployment and financing strategies.

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

Institutional Arrangement:

• Under the supervision of the Energy Finance Team Lead, the Finance Specialist will develop structured financing solutions for clean energy projects, engage on these with potential investors and develop partnerships with international financial institutions (MDBs, DFIs, private funds, climate finance sources, etc.). One of the key tasks will be to coordinate co-financing amongst different investors and donors.
• The Finance Specialist will support focal points in UNDP country offices with financial expertise so as to shape the project pipeline originated in the field, ensuring the successful mobilization of investment from the partner financial institutions.
• In close collaboration with the rest of the team they will co-develop and continuously improve the energy project support infrastructure of the Rome Centre.
   

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:

2030 Agenda: Planet - Nature:

• Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Socio-environmental impacts of natural resource extraction

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.

Business Management - Project Management:

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

Partnership Management - Private Sector Engagement:

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

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.

2030 Agenda: Partnerships - SDG Finance:

• Innovative finance

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
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent)  in finance, Business Administration, Economics, Sustainable Development, or related field 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:

• Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of international working experience in the fields of banking, economics, development finance, investment management or investment coordination.

Required skills:

• Experience conducting financial analysis.
• Experience contributing to investment decisions.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, with experience drafting reports and investment materials.
• Experience working in a developing country context.

Desired skills:

• Experience in structuring / deploying innovative financial instruments such as guarantees/risk sharing facilities, local currency facilities, structured equity, and other instruments is an asset.  
• Experience working with multilateral or international financial institutions (e.g:. Bank Group, African Development Bank, IDB, European Investment Bank, or bilateral DFIs) is an asset.
• Experience in working on complex transactions in Africa is an asset.
• Experience in loan syndications is an asset.
• Project management experience is an asset.

Required Language(s):

• High level proficiency in spoken and written 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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.