Market Development Specialist (Innovative Finance) , (P-3), Office of Innovation (Giga), Geneva, Switzerland, #127122 (Temporary Appointment 364 days)

The Specialist will turn a policy idea into a market design that countries can use. Results include a clear issuance and redemption framework, pricing and reserve models, and a first cohort of buyers aligned with country pilots. The work will support governments to target incentives to underserved schools and make payments against verified service. The role will also leave UNICEF with a complete, auditable package for a future external vehicle, if approved, while improving near‑term outcomes for children by expanding reliable school connectivity.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Connectivity

Digital Impact Division (DID) is at the heart of reshaping how UNICEF delivers lasting results for children. We are committed to harnessing the full potential of emerging digital technologies to advance UNICEF’s mission.

DID works in close collaboration with regional Digital Impact teams and colleagues across headquarters divisions, regions, and country offices to leverage technologies and capabilities that accelerate progress on UNICEF’s goals, strengthen community resilience, and expand access to essential digital services and information.

Our mission is to enhance UNICEF’s global digital impact by promoting equitable access to information and services, empowering communities to create lasting, positive change for children, and foster a more inclusive, interconnected, and sustainable world for every child, everywhere.

Launched in 2019 as a joint initiative between UNICEF and ITU, Giga aims to connect every school to the internet. Half of the world’s population lacks regular access. Millions of children finish school without digital skills. The Covid‑19 pandemic widened this divide. Giga addresses this by mapping schools, modeling investment needs, and helping governments finance and contract connectivity.

Giga uses schools as anchors for their communities. If the school connects, nearby services can connect. This improves sustainability by creating paying demand. Based in Switzerland, with an open‑source technology center in Barcelona, Giga pairs evidence and partnerships to expand access.Giga supports the creation of a global Connectivity Credits Marketplace. The marketplace (when built) would align incentives among governments, providers, and investors by issuing credits for verified service at public facilities. This marketplace would collaborate with UNICEF and others in executing connectivity projects for children. Early country pilots use existing national incentives (like universal access funds) and are being incubated by UNICEF. The global marketplace will add liquidity and standardization, as well as a structured framework for partners to engage.

Giga supports the creation of a global Connectivity Credits Marketplace. The marketplace (when built) would align incentives among governments, providers, and investors by issuing credits for verified service at public facilities. This marketplace would collaborate with UNICEF and others in executing connectivity projects for children. Early country pilots use existing national incentives (like universal access funds) and are being incubated by UNICEF. The global marketplace will add liquidity and standardization, as well as a structured framework for partners to engage.

How can you make a difference? 

The Market Development Specialist (Innovative Finance) will analyze, design, and validate how finance can flow through a tokenized credits market for connectivity. The role will structure issuance and redemption, valuation, and buyer engagement, and will model how credits interact with public incentives and private capital. While a UNICEF post, the role will also prepare options for a future global market vehicle, ensuring that designs, documentation, and controls are ready for future business models. The Specialist reports to the Programme Manager (Connectivity Credits Lead).

Outline the Connectivity Credits marketplace

• Produce market analysis on tokenized service credits for connectivity.
• Identify likely buyers, settlement rails, and compliance needs across priority countries.
• Define issuance, redemption, retirement, and registry rules for credits tied to verified gigabytes.

Financial modeling

• Build pricing and valuation models for credits, including baselines, service tiers, and discount schedules.
• Develop cash‑flow and reserve models for redemption pools and market‑making.
• Prepare buyer business cases for multilateral institutions and other large participants.

Stakeholder engagement and thought leadership

• Draft white papers on financial mechanisms, issuance standards, and impact models for Connectivity Credits.
• Convene public and private stakeholders to test market rules and align on data, verification, and reporting.
• Support partner dialogues on country adoption and regulatory fit.

Technical support

• Work with product and data teams on oracle inputs, metering thresholds, and credit lifecycle events.
• Translate models into market operations for partnerships and country teams, including auction formats and redemption flow.

Risk management and innovation

• Map legal, market, FX, and operational risks, and propose mitigations, including KYC, AML, and sanctions screening for counterparties.
• Design guardrails for reserves, liquidity, and dispute processes aligned with UNICEF policies and country law.
• Track developments in tokenized assets relevant to service credits.

Foundational readiness and design

• Prepare a documentation set that would enable a future external partners to operate the marketplace. Decentralised or other governance options
• Propose structural / business flow options based on similar marketplaces.

Reporting and documentation

• Produce decision memos, market notes, and quarterly progress updates.
• Maintain clear records of methods, models, counterparties, and learning for reuse across countries.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in business development, economy, computer science or related degree is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in finance, market structuring, or commodity or environmental credit markets is required.
• Experience in telecom or digital infrastructure, with focus on bandwidth, last‑mile economics, or universal access, is an asset.
• Hands‑on work with tokenized assets or digital registries tied to real‑world services is an asset.
• Experience financing connectivity with development banks or public funds is an asset.
• Proven ability to design and value unconventional or new market instruments.
• Field experience in emerging markets and familiarity with regulatory processes.
• Strong financial modeling, risk assessment, and market analysis.
• Clear written and verbal communication with senior public and private stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and document methods.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.