Financing Strategy and Private Finance Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

As outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define our contribution to human development: expanding prosperity for all, strengthening effective governance, safeguarding a healthy planet and building crisis resilience. These objectives are enabled by three accelerators that drive transformative impact across our portfolio: digital and AI innovation, gender equality and sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, UNDP supports countries to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives and to advance sustainable development at scale.

UNDP, through its Sustainable Finance Hub (https://sdgfinance.undp.org/), supports partners in promoting financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  As an accelerator of the UNDP Strategic Plan, sustainable finance strengthens countries’ ability to mobilize, align and deploy finance at scale for national priorities. UNDP supports international and country level policy reform as a catalyst for system-wide change, stronger policy environments, better-functioning markets and more coherent financing strategies for sustainable development. SFH work is delivered through three interconnected portfolios: 1) Public Finance for the SDGs; 2) Private Finance for the SDGs; and 3) Global & Country Financing Policy Frameworks.

Integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) were first introduced by UN Member States in the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda and were reaffirmed in 2025 as the most frequently referenced initiative of the Sevilla Commitment. INFFs are a a country-led approach to strengthen public and private financing for sustainable development. They bring together policymakers and stakeholders across the public and private sectors to shape financing strategies for national development plans, NDCs, NBSAPs, gender equality and social inclusion. 

More than 85 countries are using the INFF approach, with 30 having operationalised a financing strategy embedded in the national planning system to date and more expected to do so over 2026 and 2027. Ministries of Finance are using the process to build new capacities, strengthen systems for governing financing policy and deploying new instruments and innovations to boost investment in sustainable development.

Unlocking the potential of the private sector and financial markets to drive sustainable development outcomes is a key priority expressed by governments in their INFFs. Many countries have started delivering reforms, mobilizing transactions in SDG-aligned private investment pipelines, deploying blended instruments, developing the architecture for sustainable bond issuance, reconfiguring incentives for sustainable investment or strengthening sustainability standards in private and financial markets. Looking ahead there is high potential to support countries to take these to scale, moving beyond pilots and building partnerships that can deliver reform across private financing policy.

As demand for support grows the INFF Team is recruiting a Financing Strategy and Private Finance Specialist to lead technical support on financing strategy design and implementation with a focus on private investment and financial markets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Advisor, INFF Facility in the Sustainable Finance Hub, and working closely with the other team members, the Financing Strategy and Private Finance Specialist will be re