This vacancy is to widen the candidate pool. Those who previously applied need not re-apply. I. Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP/UNCDF: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP/UNCDF including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP/UNCDF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP/UNCDF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
II. Organizational Context:
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. 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. UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs.
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization focused on reducing poverty and achieving the SDGs in the least developed countries (“LDCs”). To support the realization of UNCDF’s Business Plan and drive the rapid expansion of the organization’s capacity to respond to LDC demand for its services and increase its geographical coverage of and average investment size in LDCs, UNCDF aims to develop a comprehensive business development strategy. This strategy would encompass specific, but interlinked, strategies for partnerships, branding and communications, and resource mobilization, which would capitalize on specific business development opportunities.
The Chief Risk Manager position is based at UNCDF Headquarters in New York and reports directly to the Executive Secretary with a dotted line to the Deputy Executive Secretary and works in coordination with the Head of the Office of Finance and Management Services (OFMS). The role encompasses the leadership and oversight of the Risk Management in UNCDF, including enterprise risk management, investments, internal controls and compliance. This function will ensure risk management practices are embedded across all the organization’s activities in accordance with UNCDF’s ERM principles and guidelines.
2) Strategic Advisory and Partnering:
Advises UNCDF Directorate and Senior Management Team (SMT) in HQ and the Field Offices in defining UNCD’s Risk Appetite and Risk Statement. Performs analysis of risk data and reports to senior management on the risk profile and potential impact on emerging risks in line with the UNCDF Risk Appetite Statements. Provides strategic advice and practical support to the SMT on structuring the corporate risk identification, reporting and potential action plan definition. Ensures a clear view of trends and makes recommendations for dealing with the root causes or corporate risks and issues. Oversees the implementation and communication of corporate risk management initiatives, across the regional offices and field offices including development of guidance, systems and procedures for managing programmatic, operational and business risks. Builds capacity across UNCDF to perform partner capacity assessments and other evaluations as well as perform their own research and due diligence. Identify risks of existing and new initiatives and advise management on mitigation measures. Coordinate with relevant UNDP/UNCDF functions (e.g., Legal, Ethics, Audit and Investigation, ITM as well as relevant review committees), to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach to managing corporate risks, thus enabling positive risk management outcomes. Perform the secretariat function of the Risk Management Group (RMG) and determine the agenda with the Directorate and ensure necessary endorsement procedures by the RMG. 3) Risk management planning and reporting: Oversees the implementation of the Enterprise Risk Management framework in compliance with the organization’s risk appetite framework ensuring ongoing engagement across UNCDF to identify risks, while protecting UNCDF’s ability to deliver on its mandate. Monitor risk registers of UNCDF to ensure the risk treatment and mitigation plans well integrated throughout the life-cycle of the ongoing activities and reported regularly during the quarterly reviews. Develops a strategic vision and promotes a focused Risk Appetite approach - specifically ensuring that enterprise risk management is embedded into Strategic and Operational planning processes and in decision making processes through risk guidelines. Develops and continuously monitors the enterprise risk management implementation plan that includes responsibilities, approach, concrete steps, and performance measures, and maintains the Corporate Risk Register. Provides advice to the UNCDF Regional Offices and to Field Offices on strategic direction of UNCDF Programmes to ensure they are relevant and responsive to changes in the country context. Provides support for maintaining accurate data for timely risk reporting, and formulation of UNCDF policies, guidelines, and practices on risk management. 4) Investment Risk Management: As a member of UNCDF’s Investment Committee, participates in the assessment of Loans, Grants and Guarantees and other financial investment instruments deployed by UNCDF and is responsible for the development and update of UNCDF’s investment committee and investment guidelines to help manage associated risks. Makes risk-related recommendations on the approval of Loans, Grants, Guarantees and other instruments following deliberations by the Investment Committee. Drives the creation of best-in-class risk management practices and procedures for UNCDF’s investment processes including the issuance and management of grants. Develops materials including early warning tools and presents in various senior level committees, including the Investment Committee and the Risk Management Committee Strengthens a credit review capability that flags credit issues and surfaces to senior management. Monitors and advised on all aspects of investment risk including credit, market and operational risk and credit approvals. Conducts thorough ongoing reviews of portfolio holdings and issue periodic reports to the Directorate and SMT. Monitors portfolio concentrations and exposures to various sectors, securities and duration levels in accordance with UNCDF investment guidelines. Performs scenario analyses, including stress testing, sensitivity and worst case to assess portfolio exposure to credit/market factors. Conducts periodic assessments of tracking error on both an historic and predictive basis. Identifies emerging credit risks and works with finance and portfolio management functions to mitigate the risks. Maintains and improves reporting for both investments and UNCDF risk. Provides counsel on portfolio management, product development, and compliance. 5) Knowledge management and learning: Drives and coordinates impactful risk management capacity building and risk awareness raising, including comprehensive and well-coordinated training, communications and awareness raising initiatives - to manage various types of corporate risks such as operational risk and enterprise risk management ultimately aiming for their prevention. Spreads enterprise risk management policies to reinforce a coherent approach throughout the Organization, through benchmarking within UNCDF and across UN agencies and any other relevant organizations. Supports programme teams in the development and implementation of capacity development plans for Sub-Recipient with a risk management perspective including all aspects of grant management. Promotes and disseminates policies, guidance, good practices, and lessons learnt related to risk management in the operation and within the risk network; provide support and input for global risk management guidance, tools, methodologies, and initiatives. Nurtures a global network for risk management collaboration and sharing of the best practice approaches, tools innovative solutions and lessons learned. Follows emerging risk management approaches, stays up-to-date with trends and applies best practice. Supports the preparation and delivery of risk management trainings at all levels and ensures the availability of training materials and technical updates. V. Required Skills and ExperienceCore
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactThink Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsLearn 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:
UNCDF/UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking
Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNCDF objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNCDF.Business Direction & Strategy - Entrepreneurial Thinking
Ability to create clarity around UNCDF value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNCDFs organizational priorities and mandate.Business Direction & Strategy - Negotiation and Influence
Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations.Business Management - Communication
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.Business Management - Risk Management
Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.Business Management - Monitoring
Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.2030 Agenda – Engagement and Effectiveness - Effectiveness
Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis VI. Keywords Risk Management Monitoring of Compliance Capacity-building Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. Disclaimer Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)