Investment Analyst (NPSA9) at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Kenya-based LDCIP Investment Specialist, and in close collaboration with other colleagues in the LDCIP Team, the Investment Analyst will contribute to the development of the UNCDF’s investment mandate. The investment mandate includes development of investment initiatives and projects, origination of transactions, evaluation of opportunities, financial modeling and conducting due diligence. The analyst will also have a key role in the providing support in project management, networking, and communication with local stakeholders. He/She will contribute specifically to the overall efforts of UNCDF’s LDCIP Team in Kenya but also more generally to LDCIPs in investments..

Duties and Responsibilities

• Management and development of a pipeline of investment initiatives and opportunities
• Financial Analysis, Due diligence and Capital Deployment
• Matchmaking with local commercial capital and structuring
• Advocacy and knowledge management
• Policy Work and Resource Mobilization

Detailed Description of Job Roles and Responsibilities

Management and development of a pipeline of investment initiatives and opportunities

• Under the supervision of the Kenya-based Investment Specialist and in conjunction with the LDCIP Deputy Director, help curate a portfolio of investment-related initiatives, mostly in conjunction with other agencies of the UN System
• Help develop concept notes, funding proposals, project documents to help such initiatives progress and advance along the portfolio.
• Help sourcing and screening specific revenue-generating projects and investment opportunities across the wider UN system which require additional investment to grow and achieve greater impact.
• If and where needed, contribute to initiate new specific sourcing activities such as requests for proposals, challenge funds, market scans, etc.., by leveraging digital platforms.

Financial Analysis, Due Diligence and Capital Deployment

• Contribute to the deployment of impact capital loans and guarantees to selected prospects.
• Analyze company financial statements and projections (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow analysis) of prospective investees.
• Support in conducting onsite and virtual due diligence of the investment opportunity, including company, industry and country analysis, and prepare the required documentation.
• Draft investment notes and memorandums during the various stages of the investment process. Such documents will reviewed and approved by relevant LDCIP Investment Specialists.

Matchmaking with commercial capital and Structuring

• Collect information about potential financiers and support in populating a central investment matchmaking platform.
• Together with relevant LDCIP Investment Specialists, help prospects access additional commercial funds by matchmaking them with a variety of financiers, such as domestic investors, local commercial banks, international impact investors, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)

Advocacy and knowledge management

• Prepare institutional presentations on the activities of the LDC Investment Platform.
• Develop case studies on UNCDF investment activities for further dissemination.
• Contribute to adopting approaches to ensure that the lessons learned from the transactional work are captured and disseminated. Document and share lessons learned from the transactional work to inform investors, government officials, DFIs, and development partners.
• Support LDCIP in- country team members, in organizing convenings, events, advocacy, communication, planning, and analysis related to strategic financing and investment for the SDGs

Policy work and Resource mobilization

• Support LDCIP policy work by drafting policy papers, reviewing concept notes, conducting ad’hoc research as needed
• Support LDCIP resource mobilization work by drafting or reviewing funding proposals as needed.

Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Communications: 
  • Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
• Partnership management:
  • Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector
  • 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
• Finance
• Financial reporting and analysis: 
  • Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector.
  • Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
  • Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance
• Investment Management: Ability to manage organization’s assets such as equity, bonds, cash, etc. according to the investment guidelines
• Development Finance Expertise: Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.
• 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Public/Business Administration, or a related discipline or Bachelor’s degree in the related field with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years with Master’s degree or 4 years with a Bachelor’s degree of progressive relevant professional in financial services particularly in the areas of financial modeling, credit analysis, and portfolio management.
• Experience working in venture capital and/or banking within an international financial environment, preferably in development finance institution, impact investor or similar, is highly preferable.
• Experience in private credit and/or equity for investments with a social mission in emerging/frontier markets, is highly preferable.
• Experience in project preparation and/or in development of investment opportunities, especially for investment projects with social objective in developing countries.