Overview
The Digital Finance Specialist will operationalize and scale UNCDF's Digital Finance Strategy by translating the strategic blueprint into measurable investment transactions. The role requires bridging the gap between private sector investment logic and UNCDF's mandate of impact and risk absorption.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the application of the Diagnostic Filter to identify systemic failure points.
- Provide tactical guidance to region-based teams for analysis depth.
- Certify pipeline proposals adhere to Constraint-Based Readiness Tiers.
- Guide teams in translating diagnostic findings into actionable Investment Conditionality.
- Define strategic parameters for advisory services on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) design.
- Identify entry points for UNCDF capital instruments to catalyze DPI adoption.
- Coordinate advisory support to Sub-national entities on adopting Digital Public Goods (DPG).
- Ensure consistency across portfolios to improve creditworthiness and fiscal transparency of local governments.
- Ensure regulatory and governance advisory is purpose-aligned with DPI operational needs.
- Synthesize global market intelligence from Fintech, AI, and Venture Capital ecosystems.
- Integrate commercial perspectives into policy advisory frameworks.
- Develop and deliver capacity-building initiatives for regional and country teams.
- Develop an integrated knowledge management framework.
- Facilitate cross-regional learning and produce strategic knowledge products.
- Lead the strategic alignment of capital deployment across the organization.
- Act as the technical bridge to ensure UNCDF’s risk-tolerant capital drives systemic change.
- Establish global standards and provide advisory support for structuring Performance-Based Grants (PBGs).
- Provide expert financial-technical advisory on structuring concessional loans and portfolio guarantees.
- Ensure consistency in terms and conditions of loans and guarantees transactions.
- Define risk mitigation mechanisms for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) assets.
- Guide and support the design and negotiation of complex blended finance structures.
- Serve as the focal point for attracting Venture Capital and Impact Investors.
- Ensure Digital Finance components within projects of other capabilities meet Investment Conditionality standards.
- Coordinate the creation of digital traceable data.
- Provide strategic and technical support to regional investment leads, especially for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.
- Ensure all regional proposals undergo rigorous financial modeling and risk assessment.
Required Experience
- Minimum 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in investment management, digital finance, capital mobilization and development is required.
- Demonstrated experience in fund management, investment structuring, and portfolio risk management.
- Direct experience in the Fintech sector, digital innovation, or in structuring investments for digital financial services, AI, or Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
- Proven track record in mobilizing private, multilateral, or concessional capital for financial inclusion or development initiatives.
- Direct experience in the development and/or implementation of an organizational-level strategy for digital finance.
- Expert knowledge of Blended Finance and financial instruments used to de-risk private capital.
- Advanced financial modeling skills for investment de-risking and determining investment-readiness.
- Deep understanding of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem.
- Proven ability to conduct financial due diligence and structure complex transactions.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Microfinance and/or Fintech sector dynamics in emerging markets.
- Experience with USD 20M+ multi-country funds is a significant asset.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Microfinance and/or Fintech sector dynamics in emerging markets in Africa and Latin America preferred.
- Experience within UNCDF is a significant asset.
- Experience in leading organizational change and strategy implementation is desired.
- Fluency and/or previous work experience in emerging markets (Africa and/or Latin America) is desired.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Commercial Engineering, Development Finance, or a related field is required.
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
