Job Description

Technical guidance (70%)

• Develop/review and implement BIOFIN South Africa private and financial sector finance solutions, in coordination with national finance solution working groups and key experts at the global level, as well as the national level (with the BIOFIN National Project Coordinator at DFFE and BIOFIN Programme Management Specialist to support the implementation of the BIOFIN finance solutions). This may include a set of measures or activities addressing legal, institutional, entrepreneurial, financial, awareness, and capacity matters to put the BIOFIN results into action;
• Provide technical leadership and support towards mainstreaming green finance into the private and financial sector. the working groups and experts implementing the BIOFIN South Africa finance solutions, including reviewing reports for quality assurance, conducting necessary meetings, workshops, and field visits to support progress and guarantee the quality of work;
• Contribute to the national dialogue on policies and measures that can improve the sustainable management and protection of South Africa's natural resources.

Strategic partnerships, promotion, and awareness (20%):

• Work with the BIOFIN National Project Coordinator and Project Management Specialist to create strategic alliances with other partners on biodiversity finance notably the private and financial sector as well as key public sector entities such as National Treasury, DFFE, SARB etc.
• Facilitate collaboration between partners and key stakeholders in the development/review of new finance solutions;
• Provide opportunities for enhancing private sector collaboration on finance plans and hence coordinating where applicable task teams comprising of pubic, private and private stakeholders;
• Development of partnerships with the Private Sector, Financial institutions in biodiversity financing based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors' priorities;
• Establish and maintain links with other national and international programmes, projects and priorities (e.g. NBSAP, GEF programmes, and integration of national priorities such as the White paper on Sustainable Use).

Facilitating knowledge building and management (10%):

• Creating high level advocacy on pertinent development policies instruments across the representatives of top echelon of the country's stakeholders;
• Advocating for UNDP with Financial Institutions and Private Sector counterparts;
• Develop and share knowledge on biodiversity financing for sustainable development;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of training for BIOFIN project stakeholders on biodiversity financing issues.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.Institutional ArrangementThe Biodiversity Finance Analyst will report to the BIOFIN Project Management Specialist and will work in close collaboration with, the whole Country Office team.CompetenciesCore Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Functional/Technical competenciesBusiness Direction and Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP's mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Direction and Strategy

• Effective decision making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business Direction and Strategy

• Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Business Management

• Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Management: Communication

• 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.

Finance: Finance business partnering

• Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided.
• Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals.

Required Skills and ExperienceEducation:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Business Administration (MBA), Economics, Development Finance, Environmental Economics, Environmental Finance, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in sustainable finance, capital markets, banking (corporate finance), public finance, conservation finance or environmental finance.

Required skills:

• Practical experience with private and financial sector operations in South Africa;
• Proven ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations;
• Proven ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.

Desired skills:

• Experience in green and blue finance, particularly especially biodiversity finance;
• Exposure to operations of the financial sector i.e. banking, capital markets etc;
• Experience in dealing with international and national experts and institutions;
• Evident exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity;
• Previous experience or involvement in the BIOFIN Initiative; a self-starter with strong internal motivation, able to set up systems and procedures in a 'start up' environment;
• A high degree of financial sector operations awareness/experience;
• Demonstrated ability to network and strike collaborative linkages.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, with excellent writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills is required.

Professional Certificates:

• Any professional certifications in green finance, banking, ESG, Environmental finance, corporate finance, capital markets etc. is desired.

Equal opportunityAs 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 authorityUNDP 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 candidatesUNDP 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.Scam alertUNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

United Nations Development Programme