Investment Specialist, NPSA10, Bogotá, Colombia, UNCDF [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) 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.

Country and Project context:

UNCDF is progressively expanding its engagement in Latin America, extending its catalytic finance and blended investment approaches to support inclusive, sustainable growth in line with its Strategic Framework. One of the first flagship initiatives under this geography is the “Conexión Catatumbo” project in Colombia, which applies UNCDF’s catalytic and blended finance approaches to support inclusive local economic development in a fragile context.

The Project “Conexión Catatumbo” is a multi-agency project financed by Colombia Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). Within this project, UNCDF aims to support the transition from illicit coca crops to legal, sustainable cocoa by strengthening the cocoa value chain and unlocking affordable finance for cooperatives and associations, with emphasis on women, youth, and indigenous Bari communities, in the Catatumbo region (Norte de Santander). The strategic approach is to mobilize public and private banks to expand lending under a UNCDF risk-sharing/guarantee mechanism. This project closely aligns with the Colombian Government’s Estrategia Integral de Transformación del Catatumbo, the RenHacemos push in high-risk territories, and other UN agencies (UNODC and UNDP amongst others) technical assistance interventions in the region.

To continue driving these objectives, UNCDF seeks to hire an Investment Specialist to lead investment-related activities, assess opportunities, provide technical assistance to end-beneficiaries, liaise with UN-partner agencies under this project, and manage financial instruments that drive sustainable private sector growth for the cocoa value chain in the Catatumbo region.

As UNCDF portfolio of projects in Latin America and the Caribbean evolves, the Investment Specialist would be expected to provide support to other potential projects that may arise in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Investment Specialist will work under the direct supervision of UNCDF Regional Investment Specialist (RIS) for Western and Central Africa and the Caribbean.

The Investment Specialist will be required to report to the office. Travels within Colombia (Catatumbo) for on-site assessment, due diligence and project monitoring will be required 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 Investment Specialist may be required to travel for field missions, in particular to the Catatumbo region, with a focus on three areas around Tibu, El Tarra and Sardinata, for onsite assessments, due diligence and monitoring. Occasional other national and international travel may be required.

The Investment Specialist will provide end-to-end investment support to the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) under Conexion Catatumbo project and other potential projects in the region as they may arise. The role will focus on (i) liaising with national financial institutions on the design and implementation of credit products to the cocoa value chain, (ii) investment structuring and underwriting support for local financial institutions which could on-lend to associations of producers, cooperatives and MSMEs, (iii) assessing and conducting investment-readiness technical assistance to the investees in the cocoa value chain and (iv) synchronizing with other UN agencies on this project along with Government counterparts.

Key Responsibilities

Investment Underwriting & Due Diligence

• Lead the overall identification and nurturing of a high-quality transactions pipeline.
• Conduct preliminary assessment of the pre-identified investment transactions and prepare pre-assessment memos (PAM) for approval.
• Conduct detailed due diligence on the identified investees, covering financial, operational, legal, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions.
• Validate and refine financial models to assess investment viability, risk-adjusted returns, and potential for scale.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Prepare high-quality investment memo and recommendations for submission to the UNCDF investment committee for approval.

Blended Finance Structuring

• Design and structure blended finance solutions, integrating catalytic capital with potential commercial co-investment.
• Support negotiations on investment terms and agreements with investees and other financing partners.
• Ensure alignment of investment instruments with UNCDF fiduciary and impact requirements.

Assess and Conduct Technical Assistance to the Investees

• Liaise with UN partner agencies to assess the needs of technical assistance for the associations of producers, cooperatives and MSMEs in the focus area.
• Conduct technical assistance to the investees in terms of operational, financial and legal investment-readiness to access credit and report to the local financial entities.
• Support investees in their application process to access and report on credit.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Work closely with project partners (other UN Agencies and Government counterparts) and UNCDF to ensure alignment on investment strategy, pipeline priorities, and project goals.
• Act as the UNCDF focal point for coordination with local financial institutions and end beneficiaries (association of producers, cooperatives, MSMEs) on technical assessments.
• Support documentation and knowledge sharing.

Monitoring, Reporting & Impact Measurement

• Develop and apply monitoring frameworks to track financial performance, ESG compliance, and environmental and social impact.
• Produce progress reports, investment updates, and lessons learned for UNCDF and other stakeholders as requested.
• Support the integration of investment learnings into adaptive programme management.
• Conduct on-site due diligence and verification of results as needed.

Support broader UNCDF operations

• Provide internal advisory services for best practices on increasing private sector engagement and finance flows to promote economic resilience and peace building, forest conservation and restoration, emission reductions, sustainable food systems, job creation, and biodiversity protection.
• Actively advocate for practices that support the objectives of UNCDF, leveraging professional expertise and networks.
• Provide support to new or ongoing projects as UNCDF portfolio evolves in the region.
• Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the project.

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

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

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• 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.
• 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