Project Officer (MIF/SGAC for Southeast Asia Region)

Contract

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

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. This last mile is where available resources for development are scarcest; where market failures are most pronounced; and where benefits from national growth tend to leave people excluded.

UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: savings-led financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments — through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance — can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. UNCDF financing models are applied in thematic areas where addressing barriers to finance at the local level can have a transformational effect for poor and excluded people and communities.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty with a focus on reaching the last mile and addressing exclusion and inequalities of access. At the same time, UNCDF deploys its capital finance mandate in line with SDG 16 on the means of implementation, to unlock public and private finance for the poor at the local level. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have a transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs and currently to 28 of 169 targets.

UNCDF’s Local Development Finance Practice aims to be a center of excellence and innovative fund for local government finance and local economic development finance in the world’s 46 LDCs.

As part of UNCDF’s development goals, it promotes and supports transformative investment through local governments and domestic banks in LDCs by piloting and scaling up innovative financing mechanisms and policies in the public and private sectors. The vision is a world in which LDCs will have a robust policy environment, strong institutional capacity, and effective financing vehicles that contribute to diverse, inclusive, and resilient local economies and societies by 2030.

Local Development Finance (LDF) at UNCDF adopts a transformative impact financing approach to promote service delivery, infrastructure investment, and local economic development that retains value within the local territory. This builds local fiscal space and local fixed capital formation. Working with local governments, domestic banks, and local businesses, LDF designs, pilots, and tests out financing mechanisms and business models in both public and private sectors that support locally designed public investments and revenue-generating capital investment projects. The investment financing toolboxes include Fiscal Decentralization, Local Development Funds for public capital investment programming, Structured Project Finance, Municipal Finance, SME Finance, and Public-Private Partnerships.

“Smart Green ASEAN Cities (SGAC) is a programme to support the implementation and achievement of the environmentally sustainable cities in Southeast Asia, which has been a priority for ASEAN. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and funded by the European Union. The programme will support the ASEAN Member States on a city, national, and regional level, to deal with the urban environment and climate change and related governance issues, focusing on smart solutions enabled by digitalization and the use of technologies. The support will also target facilitating policies and access to public and private funds and facilitating cooperation between cities within the ASEAN, as well as among ASEAN and European cities, and the sharing of European experiences.”

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the MIF (Municipal Investment Financing) / SGAC (Smart Green ASEAN Cities) Programme Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer MIF/SGAC Project Officer will:

Project coordination/management (40%)

• Contribute to the day-to-day coordination and the effective, efficient, and transparent implementation of the ASEAN program in selected cities in line with UNCDF project management regulations and close collaboration with the ASEAN Programme Manager and the MIF Finance Advisor (global). • Lead project delivery and achievement of objectives by working with and supporting implementing partners on project-related activities. • Coordinates participate in the elaboration and ensure the timely submission of annual work plans and budgets, quarterly and annual financial and progress reports while maximizing alignment and integration with cities. • Support the effective and transparent transfer of funds from UNCDF to the local governments through the agreed financial circuit; the effective and transparent use of funds; and effective and transparent annual performance assessments in the context of MIF/SGAC. • Contribute to the management of the risk log of the project. • Strengthen the quality of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting, preparation, and monitoring of the annual work plan, organization of and participation in field missions, contribution to the preparation of annual reports. • Ensure appropriate recording and accounting documentation as required by UNCDF and preparation of required financial reports. Make the financial operations of the project transparent and able to stand up to regular audits and evaluations. • Support cities by ensuring a participatory and gender-responsive approach throughout the project planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring processes. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor and Senior Consultant.

Outreach, Partnership and programme mobilization (50%):

• Support in design, planning, and implementation of green and smart city solutions in selected cities. • Coordinate in formulating profiles for 8-10 selected cities. • Support in capacity development needs assessment (CDNA) and reviewing ASEAN member states’ existing master plans, guidelines, and frameworks, regional and national policy dialogues on ASEAN green and smart cities. • Coordinating annual programme steering committee meetings, regular stakeholder meetings (including UNCDF, FMDV, ASEAN, and EU). • Support the programme consultant in conducting the research and coordination with project and cities stakeholders. • Coordinate policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies. • Coordinate in conducting the survey; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyses, and interprets responses, identify problems/issues, and prepare conclusions. • Ensure the various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. delivered on time. • Develop and maintain strategic partnerships and engagement with key donors and stakeholders. • Contribute to collaborative working relationships with other local stakeholders such as NGOs and CSOs at the local level by building linkages and networks. • Support negotiations on co-operation with UN, selected cities, Government, technical partners, bilateral donors, and other financing institutions in order to identify and mobilize resources for the project. • Support co-operation with UN, Government, bilateral development agencies, and other technical partners to identify and develop synergies with relevant in-country projects and technical partnerships for MIF/SGAC with a focus on policy and capacity development for climate change mainstreaming.

Knowledge management and communication (10%)

• Support in learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc as needed in the programme. • Contribute to the knowledge and communication efforts of MIF/SGAC in assigned cities based on lessons learned and results achieved (ex. stories from the field, photos/videos, webpage, and social media presence, as appropriate); • Ensure the project is well documented through photos, videos, and field stories. • Ensure the timely publication and dissemination of reports and other project outputs at the national and local level and with the project team. • Ensure that experiences, lessons learned, and good practices are disseminated at the local/national level using a range of means of communication, including press, radio, TV, multimedia, and social media appropriate. • Coordinate closely with LDFPA HQ colleagues involved in knowledge management and communication to ensure a common message across countries and regions.

Results/Expected outputs:

As an active UNCDF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNCDF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including by pursuing the following key results of the Project and related activity results: o MIF/SGAC in assigned cities are effectively, efficiently, and transparently implemented in line with UNCDF project management regulations. o Government partners at national and sub-national levels and communities benefit from the quality and timely provision of technical assistance and capacity-building support; o MIF/SGAC experience in assigned cities is well documented, best practices identified and lessons learned and disseminated through various communication channels. o MIF/SGAC in assigned cities is strengthened as a result of in-country technical and financial partnerships.

This post requires regular travel to in-country Indonesia.

• Professionalism; • Innovation and commitment to continuous learning; • Client-orientation; • Integrity: Conducts fair and transparent decision making; Demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNCDF in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; • Teamwork and respect for diversity; • Planning and organizing; • Communication; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement: which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNCDF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

implementing/coordinating development projects in the fields of Municipal Finance and/or environmental sustainability, of which a minimum of two years at the international level is required. • Knowledge and understanding of the Government System in one or more ASEAN member states. • Understanding of the expected impacts of global climate change to urban areas, particularly on LDCs, as well on best practices and innovative and climate-smart urban solutions. • Experience in working with local and national governments and all key stakeholders to develop knowledge exchange or partnership platforms on urban and environmental issues. • Ability in communication and networking, negotiations, and writing. • Work experience in Indonesia with a good understanding of local and national government roles in the topics of the project. • Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable; • Experience with ATLAS and UNCDF/UNDP Procurement Processes is desired, but not a requirement.

The position will be based in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where basic living needs, including accommodation, banking facilities, medical facilities and telecommunications/internet services are readily available. All staple foods can be found in the markets, e.g.: rice, meat, vegetables, fruit, cooking oil, salt, etc.

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

-National UN Volunteer Specialist receives approximately IDR 8,237,403.08 as Monthly Living Allowance. -Provided with assignment travel cost and entry lumpsum if applicable. -Enrolled in health, life, disability insurance. -Applicable dependents (primary family unit, up to 3) are eligible for health insurance. -Entitled to annual leave, 2.5 days per month. -Provided with exit lumpsum to support transition at the end of assignment.

For more information about UNV Conditions of Service and Entitlements, please refer to the following:

-https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-your-country -https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/unvpf/UNVcos2021%20Complete%20hi-res-final_compressed_30.08.2021.pdf