UN Investment Specialist (Clean Energy) Job Careers – United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
Job Title: Investment Specialist (Clean Energy)
Organization: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About US:
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.
Job Summary: The Investment Specialist (Clean Energy) will support the overall work of the UNCDF Financial Inclusion Practice Area (FIPA) team in designing localized pipeline development mechanisms for investments such as challenge funds, competitive incubation programmes and the development of related investment pipelines with a strong focus on clean energy projects/investments, working under the overall supervision and guidance of UNCDF Clean Energy Programme Manager, P4 based in Bangkok.
More specifically, the Investment Specialist will contribute to the origination, execution and monitoring of energy access and related investments. While recognizing that clean energy will represent the bulk of identified investments, the Investment Specialist will also support UNCDF’s broader investment pipeline covering also other areas, and s/he will coordinate the development of FIPA’s overall investment plan, screening and due diligence agenda. The overall responsibility of the Investment Specialist is to help UNCDF better exploit its investment mandate. The Investment Specialist will additionally play a role to coordinate and monitor the FIPA investment portfolio. The Investment Specialist with Clean Energy Focus will support regional partnerships with donors, investors and the private sector for clean energy access, and towards the sustainability of businesses (selected partners) through creating financing linkages, working closely with FIPA regional and country level teams and LDCIP Team, based in New York.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Operationalizing Localized Competitive Mechanisms for Financing with emphasis on DRC:
- Providing implementing support to the DRC Joint Project team on executing the Competitive Incubation Programme to select partners and provide investment focused technical assistance to selected partners (Years 1-2);
- Commercialization of partners, including investment brokering, private sector partnerships and resource mobilization for the programme (Years 3-4);
- Developing strategies and tactical tools on strengthening the energy supply chain of providers linking with clean energy and financial service provider partners;
- Identifying and selecting local financial institutions to receive technical assistance on clean energy (end-user) financing
- Providing technical assistance to local financial institutions for end user financing and structuring energy investments
- Working closely with UNDP and other direct UNCDF clean energy partners on achieving effective energy-related capacity building activities;
- Providing inputs in developing and/or piloting energy service provider financing models.
- Investments Identification and Analysis for Energy and Other Enterprises:
- Play a lead role in the investment process, from the initial assessment of new opportunities, credit analysis, due diligence, and to contributions to the portfolio management and follow up activities in the clean energy space, as well as other thematic areas in markets (FinTech, Health, Agriculture, etc..) such as Uganda, Ethiopia, and others with a strategic UNCDF presence
- Specifically support the structuring of deals in the clean energy and other spaces and conduct credit score analysis and draft a credit opinion independently. In structuring the transactions, the aim is often to maximize the potential for commercial co-financing and catalyzing additional sources of capital for the same social purpose
- Closely liaise with the LDCIP team and provide input and analyze new debt propositions, preparing screening and credit proposals as well as preparing monitoring papers
- Complete discrete due diligence task such as company, industry and economic analysis
- Assess clean energy companies’ financial accounts (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow analysis)
- Model debt service coverage – assess and build financial models in excel
- Consult with the LDCIP team about the existing legal documentation and prepare the proposal
- In coordination with the LDCIP team, analyze the summary financial, legal and fiscal issues including the capital structure and all necessary contractual arrangements with investors
- Collaborate with UN and local accelerators to identify and multiply pipeline opportunities.
- Investments Approval Preparation:
- Project management, project development, project financing, and project portfolio/pipeline management
- Data collection, technical missions, project appraisal, due diligence, analysis of the business, governance and compliance requirements
- Undertake project preparation and business development services to SMEs working in clean energy and other thematic areas/market segments
- Structuring of investment transactions and the determination of risk mitigation options to be deployed to enable SMEs working in the clean energy to scale their business and to unlock additional capital
- Determine optimal capital structure based on due diligence and deal analysis and where applicable invest seed capital to projects in the pipeline
- Lead in the preparation of appropriate investment package required to meet UNCDF LDCIP standards
- Lead in the presentation of investment opportunities to internal and external stakeholders including negotiation of bank term sheets and other scenarios
- Lead in the preparation of internal and external agreements necessary for the approval and disbursement of funds to projects.
- Preparation of investment pipeline periodic and status reports and other corporate reporting requirements.
Technical Assistance and Knowledge Sharing:
- Develop and deploy capacity building and trainings, workshops for SMEs working in clean energy, financial institutions and relevant public-sector agencies;
- Organize trainings to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders working in clean energy in the public and private sectors;
- Provide inputs and support to ensure application of the processes and tools to facilitate the transfer of knowledge among stakeholders;
- Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice within and outside UNCDF.
- Donor Coordination & Engagement on Investment Pipeline Development:
- Coordinate UNCDF FIPA’s investment portfolio across Africa with special attention to the Uganda and DRC, with an attention to models showing new technologies, including digital, as well as innovative business models.
- Support UNCDF in building partnerships with main funders and stakeholders in target countries, including but not limited to accelerators, development finance institutions, as well as impact investors, foundations as well as corporate donors, in connection with Uganda, DRC and beyond.
- Maintain regular communications with donors and support donors’ engagement
- Build strategic partnerships with key private, industry and civil society representatives to jointly advance market development agenda, including but not limited to Ministries of Energy; global industry alliances such as GSMA, CGAP
- Provide assistance where required to the above-mentioned partners and their consultants operating within the DRC in the clean cooking space.
- Support implementation of communications activities related to joint programme, including through social media, newsletters, blogs etc.
- Develop appropriate and effective communication materials (audio, video, graphic) to showcase the joint programme activities and results achieved
- Coordinate with UNCDF’s LDC IP team on the alignment with corporate priorities, including links to the BUILD fund and other vehicles as may be required.
- Support to Clean Energy Project Management & Investment Pipeline Coordination:
- Support the Clean Energy Programme Manager & Clean Energy Programme Specialist P-3, in preparing annual planning and budgets, ensure performance targets are met, especially in relation to FIPA investment portfolio;
- Maintain regular contact with partners to monitor, support the implementation of the supported investments and provide regular reporting on investment portfolio to the Head Office in New York;
- Regularly monitor the progress of the project and ensure timely submission to the Clean Energy Programme Manager of performance/progress reporting requirements such as board/donor reporting requirements.
- Lead quality control and oversight of investment-related activities (including overseeing consultants and the development of knowledge products and monitoring tools) within UNCDF in Africa
- Regularly update tools and guidelines for clean energy and other investment and competitive selection processes (i.e challenge fund guidelines) to stay on track with market trends and UNCDF strategic focuses
- Manage or support other team members in implementing market development activities that aim to improve the capacity of the overall sector, beyond UNCDF’s direct investees. Market development activities include customer insights research, market awareness campaigns, and capacity building of national associations.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Investment Specialist (Clean Energy) job placement should an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, finance, business administration, public administration or related fields.
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) diploma, or similar is highly preferred.
- Five years of relevant experience within an international financial environment, preferably in development finance institution, impact investor , investment advisory firm/bank or similar.
- Experience working in venture capital and/or investment banking, and more specifically with private credit experience from investments with a social mission in the clean energy space in emerging/frontier markets.
- Proven experience from project preparation and development of investment opportunities in the clean energy space, especially for projects in emerging/frontier markets.
- Experience in working with SME accelerators is preferred;
- Experience working with SMEs, with emphasis on financial accounts;
- Active interest in investing in developing countries and understanding of clean energy market environments
- Prior work experience in Africa and/or Asia is highly preferred;
- Experience in enterprise discovery work, managing challenge funds or incubation programmes, market system development is preferred;
- Experience with monitoring and results measurement approaches using a market system approach is preferred.;
- Experience using an investment portfolio tracking platform;
- Proven track record in mobilizing and managing donor partners;
- Strong communications and writing skills as well as experience in e-platforms (e.g. social media) is a must;
- High level financial modelling and analysis ability in Microsoft excel is preferred;
- Familiarity with UNDP/UNCDF rules and procedures is preferred,
- Language: English and French language fluency (written & verbal) is required
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work;
- Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow;
- People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;
- Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform;
- Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Technical/ Functional Competencies:
- Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in to digital & financial inclusion, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures.
- Knowledge Management: Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
- Relationship Management: Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, Inter-Agency Coordination and forge productive working relationships.
- Results Based Programming: Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates who so desire to join the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in the aforementioned capacity should endeavor to Apply Online by Clicking on the link below. Please further review job requirements and if competent Click Apply Now.
Deadline: 10th July 2019
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda