Office/Unit/Project Description
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
UNCDF builds partnerships with other UN organizations, as well as private and public sector actors, to achieve greater impact in development; specifically, by unlocking additional resources and strengthening financing mechanisms and systems contributing to transformation pathways, focusing on such development themes as green economy, digitalization, urbanization, inclusive economies, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
To deliver the actions necessary to fulfil the targets outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework, UNCDF has established a nature-based financing service line – the Nature Asset Team (NAT). In collaboration with UN agencies, national and international governments, private sector institutions and other key partners, NAT works to strengthen institutional capacities, catalyze resource flows, and improve access to technical expertise, thereby creating the context for sustained investment in nature assets and long-term distribution of co-benefits.
The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) Food Security Accelerator is a financial mechanism aimed at building food security, nutrition and resilience of food systems in African countries, as well as shifting economic ownership of adaptation solutions to African financial institutions. The AAI Accelerator aims to achieve this dual mandate by supporting African investment funds and ventures that directly or indirectly drive impact across the global stability, climate and food security nexus. UNCDF is uniquely positioned to drive investment flows from private institutional investors, development finance institutions (DFIs) and impact investors toward addressing these interconnected challenges and markets.
By providing technical assistance, financial advisory and co-investment opportunities to de-risk and support adaptation ventures, the AAI Food Security Accelerator will work to scale-up African investment funds and thereby increase their access to global or domestic capital markets, further expanding the resulting portfolio of businesses they can invest in. Thus, the Vehicle will be critical in securing Food Security and Nutrition (FNS) for a vast number of African communities, thereby reinforcing peace, stability, and resilience across the continent.
The AAI Food Security Accelerator is designed to deliver the following key objectives:
Within this context, UNCDF is seeking to hire a Project Adviser to support the implementation and day-to-day management of the AAI Food Security Accelerator. The Project Adviser will oversee all dimensions of the rollout and execution of the accelerator in close alignment with UNCDF’s partners and the wider Nature Assets Team.
UNCDF is seeking the services of a Project Adviser to provide dedicated support and oversight for the implementation of the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) Food Security Accelerator. Such support will at a high-level entail preparation of a draft implementation plan of action, consultations on the set up of the accelerator’s Steering Committee as well as the operationalization of the strategic and technical processes required to successfully deliver on UNCDF’s mandate as the accelerator’s Investment Agent.
Specifically, the scope of the work will cover three components:
1. Launch and coordinate the implementation of the AAI Food Security Accelerator:-
2. Oversee relationship with Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) in AAI’s role as the Programme Lead, maintaining close collaboration with AAI as it executes on its mandate to:-
3. Oversee relationship with the responsible party partner SSA ensuring the execution of the following:-
With the above-mentioned scope of work, the PSA holder will have the following additional responsibilities.
A. Coordination of Accelerator & Steering Committee support
B. Programme operations support
C. Reporting
D. Strategic engagement & partnership management
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-functional and Technical Competencies:
Business Management: Project Management
Business Management: Partnerships Management
Business Management: Communications
Business Management: Operations Management
External Relations & Advocacy: Event planning and execution
External Relations & Advocacy: Strategic engagement
Required experiences and skills:
Desired experiences and skills:
Language Requirements
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