Engaging private sector in development cooperation is a globally recognized priority, as emphasized in the Addis Ababa Agenda for Action, and as called for in the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Traditional and emerging donors alike, as well as the international financial institutions (IFIs) are increasingly focusing on opportunities to collaborate with private sector investors to create a leverage effect and to ensure long-term sustainability of development assistance.

Likewise, Slovakia is looking to increase private sector involvement in development cooperation as a way of contributing to job creation, domestic resource mobilization and economic growth and poverty reduction in beneficiary countries. Private sector engagement is also addressed in the Slovak Medium-Term Strategy for Development Cooperation.

One of the main responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (MFSR) in development cooperation is to coordinate on national level the cooperation with IFIs. Although Slovakia contributes to these institutions (e.g. EDF, EIB, EBRD, IIB, and others) either compulsorily (based on the EU membership), or voluntarily (supporting the worldwide development), Slovak companies have been engaged in international tenders only marginally due to insufficient awareness and/or skills and experience. This limits their access to development cooperation projects, possibility to build track record and deliver quality work with high added value in the developing countries. These challenges are being addressed by the Private Sector in Development Cooperation Programme, first initiated in 2014 by the MFSR in partnership with the UNDP. Program aimed to increase the involvement of Slovak companies in IFIs and IGOs tenders and their placement on global development markets. This goal has been attained to a certain extent through targeted awareness-raising and capacity building of Slovak private sector entities and individual experts/consultants provided by Rozvojmajstri project between 2015 and 2019, implemented by a consultancy company selected by the UNDP open procurement process.

A number of results were achieved, e.g. pilots on private sector development in beneficiary countries have been tested (through small grants and support to preparation of feasibility studies), Slovak companies have received mentoring, training and networking support to increase their competitiveness in bidding for IFI projects, and a number of them succeeded.

The new phase 2020–2023 of the MFSR–UNDP partnership project Public and Private Finance for Development continues with the focus on supporting the private sector engagement. Currently, the partnership project with MFSR has two main pillars: (i) Public finance management – strengthening capacities in selected partner countries in public finance management; and (ii) engagement of the private sector in development cooperation. This component has two main activities:

  • Rozvojmajstri – a project that aims to build the capacities of Slovak private entities, NGOs or academia to more effectively engage in global development marketplace; it further aims to support creating the environment for increased opportunities for private entities to enter the development market (See: https://rozvojmajstri.com/).
  • Support to private sector engagement through specific tool - Resource Mobilization Facility implemented in cooperation with the UNDP Country Offices (COs). The Resource Mobilization Facility supports the UNDP COs with funding and specific expertise for the preparation of (pre)feasibility studies for larger development investment projects. One of the objectives of the facility is to create and increase the number of opportunities for private sector, while at the same time filling the gap of financing in preparatory stages of the investments in development.

The new phase of the Project aims to bring the private sector mobilization experience and know-how closer to the UNDP and the Donor, thus the Rozvojmajstri component will be implemented in-house by the PS Specialist who will be part of the overall project team. This will bring better understanding, ownership and coordination of all project activities. The PS Specialist will also support the Resource Mobilization Facility (RMF) Implementation. The activities have to ensure continuity with previous Rozvojmajstri project and build on the relations and trust established between the RM and Slovak business community. The following recommendations shall be taken into account when planning and implementing the activities:

  • Balancing ration of consultants and suppliers;
  • Broaden the sectoral portfolio of companies involved into the project;
  • Facilitate offers to join consortia;
  • Proactive identification of available expertise in the Slovak private sector;
  • Engage throughout the process of proposal preparation, bid and follow-up, and explore ways to better acquaint itself with client companies, understanding that, in some cases, limited familiarity may stem from the companies’ reluctance to share information.

The PS Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the Public and Private Finance for Development (PPFD), UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS (IRH). Project Manager provides the overall oversight of the Private Sector Specialist’s work. PS Specialist will be supported with PPFD Project Associates and other Partnership Team in IRH.

 

1) Ensure preparation and implementation of Rozvojmajstri Plan focusing on

  • Cooperation with PM and the Donors (Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and other relevant Slovak entities e.g. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation) on private sector engagement  strategical development and scale up.
  • Preparation of the yearly Rozvojmajstri implementation plans that will be in line with partners (MFEA and EXIMBANKA) plans supporting the PS engagement.
  • Cooperates with other UNDP relevant teams of various strategies, plans and/or paper related to private sector engagement. 

 

2) Ensure the sufficient number of Slovak consultants and companies are identified, captured and able to participate on development marketplace (Slovak Private Sector Community, CSO and/or Academia).

  • Conducting market research/identification of the companies and consultants (Rozvojmajstri clients) who are or could be interested and able to effectively operates on development markets;
  • Maintaining the existing relations with Rozvojmajstri clients and establish new ones by engaging with new partners (businesses, umbrella organizations, sector organizations, CSOs, academia, V4 partners, etc.);
  • Cooperating with other entities dealing with Slovak private sector as Chamber of Commerce, EXIMBANKA and others.

 

3) Ensure the services are delivered to Slovak private sector community focusing on:

  • Raising awareness among the Slovak private sector;
  • Updating and upgrading the established tools (e.g. Rozvojmajstri or any relevant web page, Development Readiness Checklist) and/or identify and implement new tools;
  • Facilitating Slovak companies and consultants’ access to information on knowledge resources, partnerships, opportunities and contacts at the IFIs and IGOs, proactively and upon request, cooperate and coordinate with the Private Sector Liaison Officer (EXIMBANKA SR), Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, map and provide information about opportunities for the business sector within the system of the Slovak ODA;
  • Providing the advisory services throughout various international procurement process;
  • Co-organizing outreach events;
  • Codifying the best practices/lessons learned of Slovak private sector involvement based on RM operations.

 

4) Ensure the effective Resource Mobilization Facility implementation focusing on:

  • Supporting the Project Manager and UNDP Country Offices with selection of the projects intended for RMF support;
  • Review the projects submitted by the UNDP COs for RMF support;
  • Support the project revision (ToRs and/or Requests for Proposals) with experts’ review, identify the experts and lead the technical communication with experts;
  • Monitoring relevant Slovak expertise required for activities/projects proposed by UNDP COs;
  • Facilitating potential partnerships to leverage private sector financing, IFIs, and other institutions or agencies, as and when feasible.

 

5) Ensure the effective project communication and visibility focusing on following results:

  • Supporting the project Communication Consultant in preparing drafts of blogs, articles, press releases relates to the private sector engagement component of the project;
  • Preparing the relevant events if relevant;
  • Cooperating in the preparation of visibility products if relevant.

 

Core

Innovation

  • Developing new approaches

Leadership

  • Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

  • Ability to impose performance and satisfaction

Communication

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

 

Technical/Functional

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Identifying and building partnerships
  • Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN’s strategic agenda
  • Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN’s mandate
  • Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
  • Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

  • Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means
  • Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

 

Education:

  • Master’s degree in economics, business administration, international relations, foreign studies, linguistics or equivalent is required.

Experience:

  • At least 3 years of experience with business development is required.
  • Past experience in working with the Slovak private sector is required.
  • Experience of cooperation with either financial institutions, investment funds, international financial organizations or international organizations on national or international level is required.
  • Past experience with communication and relation management, including building the relations with various stakeholders is required.
  • Past experience with organizing events, workshops and trainings, preferably for a private sector target group, implementing the communications strategy, maintaining the website and social media content is an asset.
  • Experience with investment development, finance or financial instruments, tendering, new technologies or experience with advisory to private or public entities in the Slovak Republic or Central and Eastern Europe region in business development, foreign trade, finance or project management is an asset.
  • Having the experience with project management would be the asset but is not a must.

Language Requirements:

  • Proficiency in English and Slovak is required.

 

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year

This vacancy is archived.

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