Investment Specialist, NPSA10, Accra, Ghana, UNCDF [Open to internal and external applicants], Accra, Ghana

## Investment Specialist, NPSA10, Accra, Ghana, UNCDF [Open to internal and external applicants], Accra, Ghana - Organization:UNDP - United Nations Development Programme 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. 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: 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. InGhana, UNCDF is managing a portfolio of projects focused on youth empowerment, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) finance and climate finance for a total portfolio of 10M USD. Under this framework UNCDF team is supporting a wide range of service providers from public and private sector to design and pilot new business models to increase access and usage of digital services for the most vulnerable segments (youth, women, MSMEs in particular). UNCDF will be specifically in charge of supporting the ecosystem and Small and Growing Companies (SGCs) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in accessing finance through different interventions, such as (but not limited to): - Support service providers that can better equip these Small and Growing Companies (SGCs) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in using digital solutions to better access financial services - Support key policy makers to provide enabling environment for the financial services and investments that target the Small and Growing Companies (SGCs) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) By helping companies grow their businesses, achieve commercial sustainability, strengthen their balance sheets, and build credit history, UNCDF aims to unlock further private capital to companies that serve last mile communities, to scale up what works and to foster local economic development. UNCDF is seeking a candidate to lead the technical implementation of investment readiness and pipeline development activities, supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), financial institutions, and ecosystem partners to become investment-ready and access appropriate financing solutions. Duties and Responsibilities The Investment Specialist will work under the direct supervision of UNCDF Programme Management Specialist in Ghana and guided by the UNCDF Regional Investment Specialist.Under the supervision of the UNCDF Programme Management Specialist based in Accra and in close collaboration with other colleagues in-country as well as the Regional Office (Dakar, Senegal), the Investment Specialist will contribute to capital deployment and delivery of investment transactions, with particular focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) finance. The Investment Specialist will be responsible for leading and executing the following tasks and deliverables:1. Pipeline Development & Partner Identification - Develop and adapt pipeline-sourcing approaches for the Ghanaian market and maintain a documented pipeline of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), financial institutions and ecosystem partners, with updates provided at least monthly against agreed work-plan targets. - Identify and build a pipeline of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), financial institutions, and ecosystem partners with potential for financing. - Conduct initial screening and segmentation of partners based on investment readiness levels and financing needs. - Support the design and implementation of calls for applications (RFAs) and pipeline sourcing strategies. - Conduct detailed due diligence on the identified investees, covering financial, operational, legal, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. 2. Investment Readiness & Technical Assistance - Assess gaps in financial management, governance, business models, and digital capabilities affecting investment readiness. - Design and coordinate tailored technical assistance (TA) interventions to improve bankability of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)and partner institutions. - Provide hands-on advisory support on financial structuring