Investment Readiness Officer: Innovative Finance Lab

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

This UNDP National UN Youth Volunteer assignment falls within the scope of the Innovative and Inclusive Finance Project, a collaborative venture with the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). The initiative's core objective is to facilitate financial accessibility for SMEs, often characterized as the 'missing middle' — too substantial for microfinance but underserved by conventional banks due to their scale and collateral limitations. The UNDP's Innovative Finance Lab is meticulously crafted to explore, discern, and pilot an array of financial structures, strategies, and tools specifically tailored to this segment, ensuring they are robust and scalable.

Considering this, UNDP Ethiopia intends to recruit a full-time UNV Investment Readiness Officer for the Innovative Finance Lab (IFL) under the overall guidance of the IET Team Leader, IET Unit, and direct supervision of the IFL Management Team. This professional will be instrumental in elevating the IFL’s Technical Assistance Facility's (TAF) operations, enhancing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become investment-ready. The Analyst's responsibilities encompass meticulous management of the TAF database, ensuring systematic tracking and reporting of investment readiness activities. This role is critical in facilitating the bridge between financial support structures and SME's readiness to receive, implement, and compete for financing.

In this context, the Officer will also serve as a vital liaison, harmonizing efforts with the Enterprise Financing Facility (EFF) Fund management and fortifying the links with TAF alumni. The Officer is tasked with nurturing these relationships, fostering a robust network of growth and ongoing development. Through proactive engagement and strategic coordination, the Analyst will contribute to the operational excellence of the IFL and play a significant role in supporting the country's broader economic reform initiatives. Their work will help cement the foundation for a more prosperous, inclusive financial sector that supports the nation on its path to becoming a middle-income country. The Investment Readiness Officer will work in close collaboration with the IFL management, Operations, Programme, and projects staff in the CO and other UN agencies staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the United Nations Development Programme’s Inclusive and Economic Transformation (IET) Unit Team Leader and the management and supervision of the IFL Director, the Investment Readiness Officer will:

A. Investment Readiness Processes:

• Support and contribute to the pipeline development and onboarding into the TAF program • Assist in overseeing and managing an efficient, standard, and impactful investment readiness program delivered based on the set standard and outline. • Collaborate in standardizing the assessment of SMEs' financial needs to align them with TAF's suite of resources and services for a customized support experience. • Provide input and suggestions for the continuous improvement of the TAF curriculum, BDS process, and overall operation.

B. Technical Assistance Data Integrity:

• Assist in managing the TAF's data systems to document SME progression accurately and interventions, ensuring data integrity and security. • Support in analyzing TAF data to inform strategic decision-making, and identifying trends that could influence program direction and resource allocation.

C. TAF alignment with the Enterprise Financing Facility

• Support EFF management with a robust pipeline with updated status and data room • Participate in the TAF alumni Investment and financial needs are communicated and assessed by EFF management. • Support TAF cohorts that did not pass EFF fund manager due diligence to be linked with other potential financiers and follow up until financing is secured

D. Administrative Efficiency and Support in TAF delivery: • Assist with the logistical needs of TAF-related events and workshops, coordinating seamlessly with other operational units within the IFL. • Participate in innovating and refining administrative protocols to increase the investment readiness program's productivity and impact.

E. Knowledge Development and Sharing Initiatives:

• Working with the IFLs Knowledge unit to Initiate and lead the development of knowledge-sharing platforms that showcase the successes and learning of the TAF cohorts. • Facilitate training sessions aimed at enhancing the IFL team's capabilities in delivering effective investment readiness support.

• Communication
• Planning and Organizing
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness

& or demonstrated interest working with investment firms and business development service provider. • Experience in handling of web-based management systems preferred. • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). • Ability to evaluate SMEs' financial status and provide actionable guidance towards investment attraction • Assisting or coordinating technical assistance programs, with the ability to track progress and measure impact. • Supporting in managing and utilizing databases to support investment readiness and financial analysis tasks. • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with a variety of stakeholders, from SME owners to financial experts.

The duty station of the UNV will be Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNV youth will be located at (Minaya Corporate building 16th floor next to flamingo restaurant) the Innovative Finance Lab’s Office which is hosted by and at the Capital Market Authority’s office. The UNV may visit the UNDP office (located inside of UN ECA compound) whenever needed and necessary. Addis Ababa is the seat of large diplomatic community, next to New York and Geneva. The city is safe but cautionary measures need to be taken every time. Cost of living is gradually increasing unlike in the past many years. Security wise, it is always advisable and mandatory to follow the UNDSS advice. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.