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.

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, UNOs, 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.

Impact Measurement Verification and Learning  (IMVL) Background


Creation of the IMVL unit underscores UNCDF’s commitment to delivering verifiable impact and transparent reporting to its partners through: 

  • Clear evidence of impact and systems to ensure learning; 
  • Robust monitoring and evaluation practices and verifiable results; 
  • Strategic communications and the ability to communicate the catalytic effect of UNCDF’s work. 


With the IMVL unit in place, UNCDF is better equipped to validate and learn from results across the UNCDF portfolio, serving as a lynch pin for credibly assessing impact under the new UNCDF Strategic Framework 2026-2029.  

As part of the Directorate, the Impact Measurement Verification and Learning (IMVL) unit supports the Executive Secretary and all Divisions to strengthen UNCDF's impact credibility, verified results, evaluation function, and institutional learning.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1.    Impact Verification, Benchmarking and Indicator Repository Development    

  • Verify and benchmark UNCDF project-level impacts against quality-assured indicators from the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU).
  • Conduct verification through remote means or site visits to ensure reported results are accurate and defensible. 
  • Contribute to establishing and updating a repository of impact indicators in coordination with PMSU.
  • Ensure these indicators are available for front-office teams during project design and planning.

2.    Provision of Monitoring and Evaluation Support 

  • Strengthen UNCDF’s measurement and evaluation systems by supporting robust monitoring frameworks.
  • Contribute to improving results and impact assessment and reporting across the UNCDF portfolio.

3.    Collaboration, Coordination, Learning and Knowledge Sharing

  • Work closely with PMSU, Operations Assurance, and Corporate Risk units to ensure evaluability during planning and provide feedback on risks related to effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. 
  • Generate validated datasets and learning products that inform future program designs.
  • Support decentralized evaluations (mid-term, final, and ex-post) and ensure lessons learned are integrated into strategic planning.


4.    Digital Tools and Innovation

  • Contribute to the development and use of digital verification systems and remote sensing tools for impact measurement.
  • Support integration of monitoring and verification into UNCDF’s new digital platform for impact reporting.

5.    Facilitate knowledge and capacity building and knowledge sharing

  • Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. 
  • Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1

  • Plans and monitors own work, pay attention to details, deliver 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 the 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:

Business Development and Strategy: Strategic Thinking    

  • Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Direction and Strategy: Systems Thinking     

  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Direction and Strategy: Effective Decision Making     

  • Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential
    wider implications.

Data: Data Analysis

  • Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Business Management: Monitoring and Evaluation   

  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented
    effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between
    planned activities and programme management and results.
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Development: Knowledge Generation

  • Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: Partnerships: SDG Finance

  • SDG Impact Management and Finance Tracking.
     

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education:

  • An Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent ) in International Development, Public Policy, Economics, Environmental Science or related field is required. OR
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience:

  • Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in impact tracking and evaluation, project and programme management, or impact measurement, preferably in international development.

Required skills:

  • Experience of data analysis and organization, drafting analytical reports and data collection
  • Proven track record of similar assignments with international organizations or non-governmental organizations.
  • Proven track record of excellent analytical, facilitation, and communication skills 
  • Experience working with diverse teams and stakeholders

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

  • Familiarity with UN systems
  • Experience of working with non-governmental and governmental partners 
  • Experience of working with academia

Required Language(s):

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is desired.  

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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