Tiered Approach

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.

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.

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:

• 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the guidance and supervision of the UNCDF Executive Secretary, the Head of Impact Measurement Verification and Learning (IMVL) leads in the generation, verification, and use of high-quality impact intelligence to support investment decisions, portfolio performance management, accountability to stakeholders, and organizational learning particularly in fragile, climate-vulnerable, and underserved markets typical of LDCs and SIDS.

Under the Leadership of the UNCDF Executive Secretary, the Head of IMVL coordinates and oversees the work of the Impact Measurement Verification and Learning Unit, established in the UNCDF front office, composed of Strategic Intelligence, Impact Measurement and Evaluation.

The overarching purpose of the IMVL unit is to determine whether and to what extent, the work of UNCDF is achieving positive intended impacts, and to provide data-driven recommendations on strategic and systemic actions that strengthen performance. This includes assessing whether UNCDF programming in digital finance, SME finance and sub-national/municipal support, is achieving development objectives. Insights and lessons from IMVL research, field reconnaissance and evaluations should enable UNCDF to expand pathways for replication, scalability, crowding in public and private investors and improving the conditions enabling market transformation in developing countries.

The Head of IMVL will provide key contributions as part of the senior management team. In addition to taking the lead role in impact management and assessment, the Head of IMVL will be expected to significantly contribute to other strategic areas, including transaction structuring, pipeline development, risk analysis and knowledge sharing.

The Head of IMVL will be based in New York, United States and will be required to travel occasionally.
UNCDF staff may be periodically redeployed to different regional hubs or headquarters as needed, subject to capability, consent, and due process.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

1) Lead Strategic Impact Intelligence, Portfolio Insight, Knowledge Management, Thought Leadership, and IMVL Data Systems and Digital Tools:

Lead development and provision of forward-looking intelligence that informs investment strategy, pipeline development, and portfolio performance.
Lead development of impact intelligence products to support strategy and investment decisions.
Lead analysis of sectoral, geographic, and thematic trends relevant to blended finance and impact investing.
Lead development of impact theories aligned with organizational priorities as defined in the UNCDF Strategic Framework.
Lead development, production and dissemination of portfolio-level impact insights to inform resource allocation and risk management.
Lead institutionalization of learning and contributions to sector-wide knowledge.
Lead development of internal guidance materials and technical notes.
Oversee and ensure development and maintenance of repositories of lessons learned and best practices.
Lead production of thematic briefs and research outputs and ensure support and contributions to publication of case studies.
Promote innovation in impact methodologies.
Ensure reliable infrastructure for collecting, managing, and analyzing impact data and coordinate with Corporate IT on the development and maintenance of impact data platforms.
Lead definition of system requirements for data collection and reporting and ensure data interoperability across programs and investments.
Lead support to visualization tools and dashboards.
Oversee and ensure IMVL data governance standards.

2) Lead the Impact Verification, Measurement and Assurance function

Ensure robust, standardized, and practical measurement of impact across UNCDF investments and programs.
Lead development of impact intelligence products to support strategy and investment decisions.
Analyze sectoral, geographic, and thematic trends relevant to blended finance and impact investing.
Lead development of impact theses aligned with institutional priorities (e.g., climate resilience, financial inclusion, gender equality).
Lead development and production of portfolio-level impact insights to inform resource allocation and risk management.
Lead integration of contextual intelligence (fragility, climate vulnerability, market gaps) into decision frameworks.
Ensure support to due diligence by assessing theory of change coherence, environmental and social safeguards adherence and expected development outcomes.
Safeguard the credibility, integrity, and reliability of reported impact results.
Lead verification of impact data reported by investees and partners.
Oversee and ensure periodic data quality audits, spot checking and validation exercises.
Lead development and consistent organization-wide implementation of impact assurance protocols.
Manage relationships with external verification partners where applicable.
Lead identification of risks related to impact overstatement or data gaps.
Oversee and ensure traceability from reported outcomes to source evidence.

3) Lead Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

Lead development and dissemination of actionable learning through structured evaluation of UNCDF investments and programs.
Oversee the UNCDF evaluation function.
Lead development of evaluation frameworks suited to blended finance models.
Oversee the carrying out of midterm, final and ex post evaluations.
Commission and supervise external evaluators.
Ensure integration of learning loops into program and investment design.
Lead translation of evaluation findings into practical recommendations.

4) Lead Governance, Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

Ensure accurate, credible reporting to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
Lead preparation of impact reports for senior leadership, donors, and investors.
Lead support to reporting against development and Strategic Framework commitments.
Ensure alignment between reported results and verified evidence.
Lead IMVL contributions to UNCDF annual reports, impact disclosures, and strategic reviews.
Lead development of briefing materials on impact results for the UNCDF Executive Secretary, Managing Director, and Executive Board.
Ensure productive relationships with internal and external partners contributing to impact outcomes
Coordinate with investment teams to integrate impact into decision-making, including participation in the UNCDF Investment and Disbursement Impact Committee, to ensure that the approval of new projects/programs meet expected standards for impact measurement and evaluation.
Liaise with investees to strengthen their measurement capacity.
Engage donors, development partners, and co-investors on impact matters.
Represent the organization in technical working groups.

5) Provide Effective IMVL Team Leadership & Coordination

Lead a small team of staff and consultants delivering high-quality analytical and technical outputs.
Develop and manage the IMVL annual work plans, ensuring that all planned deliverables are meeting time and quality expectations
Supervise and mentor IMVL team, assigning workloads and ensuring efficient task management.
Set performance expectations and development plans.
Build team capacity in evaluation methods and data analytics.
Maintain a collaborative, results-oriented team culture.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision, development and performance management of IMVL staff members and personnel as well as technical experts.

Competencies

Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.

Achieve Results:	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction & Strategy	System 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 Management	Portfolio Management	Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
Business Management	Working with Evidence and Data	Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
2030 Agenda: Partnerships	SDG Finance	Blended Finance for the SDGs
2030 Agenda: Partnerships	SDG Finance	SDG Impact Management and Finance Tracking
Data	Data Analysis	Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making
Digital	Developmental Evaluation	Learning and adaptation focused: ability to promote and facilitate ongoing reflection and adaptation; aimed at informing learning and portfolio related decision making. Being comfortable with unknown unknowns, uncertainty and understanding the traits and value of working with emergence. Being able to give direction rather than destination: monitor and learn about how we understand the present and our direction towards something better (general intent) – not measuring progress and milestones towards a specific predefined goal Being able to carry out evaluation thinking in complex systems and adapting evaluation strategies to changing realities. Being inclusive, collaborative and co-creative: being able to design and implement evaluation frameworks with the variety of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved. Being flexible and able to use a mix of methods, having a high tolerance for ambiguity and can draw on a variety of qualitative and quantitative evidence, is open to unorthodox types of evidence. Ability to set up structures, conditions, rituals to create a culture for curiosity, reflection and learning and promote evaluation results and insights from a learning perspective. Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, International Development or related fields is required. Or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years (with a master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in international finance and development experience including at a senior level is required.
At least 5 of experience in impact investing, blended finance, private equity or sustainable finance required.
Experience partnering with the private sector to deliver measurable development outcomes required.
Experience in designing and implementing impact management frameworks, strategic selectivity approaches, and portfolio management tools within development finance institutions required.
Proven experience with financial modelling and transaction structuring, including loans and guarantees preferred.
Proven experience and knowledge of underwriting, due diligence and structuring processes for bankable projects in developing countries are desirable.
Experience working with UN organizations, and multi-lateral / bilateral financial institutions desirable.
Prior experience with multilateral development banks (MDB) is desirable, particularly in the design of private sector operations and engagement with MDB trust funds and concessional financing windows.
Demonstrated experience engaging senior-level strategic donors is desired.
Experience representing organizations at high-level international fora on sustainability issues (e.g., G20, OECD) will be considered an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.
Fluency in other official UN languages is an asset.

Note: Please note that staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations, in accordance with Staff Regulation 1.2(c). In this context, this position may be considered for possible relocation to another location, which is yet to be determined. If so decided, the selected candidate will be required to move to the new location at the relocation date (if already appointed in New York); or be assigned directly at the new location, depending on the timing of the relocation and the needs of the organization.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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Head, Impact Measurement, Verification, and Learning (IMVL), P5, New York, United States, UNCDF [Open to internal and external applicants]