Catalyzing Local Finance Specialist (P4) UNCDF Nairobi at United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Duties and Responsibilities

Provision of Strategic Positioning and Partnership Development Support:

• Maps NDBs in UNCDF priority countries and assess their institutional and operational to support climate finance and subnational investments. 
• Develops a typology of NDB-UNCDF partnership models, including for co-financing, ring-fenced guarantee facilities, technical assistance packages, and blended structures. 
• Identifies opportunities for joint programming with MDBs, DFIs, and vertical funds (e.g., GCF, AF) to align capital deployment strategies with local investment needs.
• Develops a strategic framework for UNCDF-NDB engagement, including partnership models and value proposition.

Enablement of Climate Finance and Direct Access.

• Provides technical advisory support to NDBs on compliance with fiduciary standards, and environmental, and social safeguards for direct access accreditation.
• Supports the design of climate finance instruments (e.g., green credit lines, performance-based grants) tailored to NDB mandates and capacities.
• Advises on structuring blended finance solutions that leverage UNCDF’s capital deployment capabilities to de-risk NDB portfolios.

Provision of Pipeline Development and Investment Readiness Support.

• Identifies and structures project pipelines aligned with local priorities, including sustainable infrastructure, energy, water, digital, and climate-resilient services.
• Supports municipalities, National Development Banks, and other actors in preparing feasibility studies, financial models, and investment memoranda.
• Provides technical guidance for accessing vertical and thematic funds, including development of concept notes and funding proposals for the GCF, AF, or other facilities.
• Identifies mechanisms for matching grant funding with concessional or commercial capital.

Facilitate Subnational Finance Integration and Knowledge Management.

• Aligns NDB engagement with UNCDF’s subnational finance strategy, including: enhancing subnational access to debt and blended finance; Supporting pooled financing mechanisms and regional cooperation; and strengthening municipal financial management and creditworthiness.
• Facilitates integration of local finance instruments (e.g., PBCRGs, LoCAL) to support upstream pipeline development and to structure transactions that can be ring-fenced into NDB financing windows.
• Develops guidance notes and toolkits for UNCDF country teams and NDB partners.
• Facilitates peer learning and knowledge exchange between NDBs and UNCDF technical teams.
• Contributes to UNCDF’s thought leadership on NDBs, climate finance, and subnational investment.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Finance, Development Finance, or 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 a master’s degree) or 9 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in securing sustainability finance including, but not limited to, global trust funds and facilities specialized in green finance and/or climate finance is required.
• Experience in supporting capacity development of, and pipeline development for, national development banks to access and deploy sustainable finance including for energy, climate, water and agriculture related investments is required.
• Experience working in the private or financial sector to advance sustainability strategies and blended finance solutions is required.
• Demonstrated experience working across the financial ecosystem on enterprise development and innovation for financial inclusion for MSMEs is desired.
• Experience in digital and data platforms to enhance access to sustainable finance for financial intermediaries and/or MSMEs is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in developing strategic alliances, partnerships between private sector, UNOs and Government on development and climate finance is desired.