Digital Finance Specialist (IPSA-11) – Home Based
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is
recruiting a Digital Finance Specialist (IPSA-11) to support
its global Digital Finance portfolio under the Inclusive Growth practice area.
This is a full-time, one-year International
Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA) role and is home-based.
Application Deadline: 25 February 2026
This opportunity is open to Tier 1 and Tier 2 applicants
under UNDP/UNCDF contract categories.
About UNCDF
Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI),
UNCDF functions as an autonomous UN organization focused on mobilizing capital
for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). As a flagship blended finance
platform within the UN system, UNCDF deploys grants, loans, and
guarantees to crowd in private and public investment aligned with the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Under its 2026–2029 Strategic Framework, UNCDF
positions Digital Finance (DF) as a foundational enabler of
inclusive growth, MSME productivity, job creation, and resilience—particularly
for women and youth in high-risk and early-stage markets.
Role Overview: Driving Digital Finance Strategy at Scale
The Digital Finance Specialist will operationalize UNCDF’s
Digital Finance Strategy through the Capital Pathways Model,
ensuring that risk-absorbing capital is strategically deployed to de-risk
markets and mobilize follow-on finance.
This role bridges private sector investment logic
(Fintechs, Venture Capital, AI ecosystems) with UNCDF’s development
mandate—ensuring interventions achieve systemic impact rather than
transactional outcomes.
The Specialist will serve as the focal point for Investment
Conditionality, certifying that all pipeline proposals adhere to UNCDF’s
strategic framework and readiness tiers.
Key Responsibilities
1. Diagnostics & Investment Conditionality
- Apply
UNCDF’s Diagnostic Filter (Access, Efficiency, Trust) to identify systemic
barriers
- Certify
pipeline proposals against constraint-based readiness tiers
- Translate
diagnostics into actionable capital deployment strategies
- Guide
regional teams to ensure operational speed and strategic rigor
2. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Advisory
- Define
advisory parameters for open, interoperable, and secure Digital
Public Infrastructure (DPI)
- Structure
grants and guarantees to catalyze e-KYC systems and interoperable payment
rails
- Improve
fiscal transparency and creditworthiness of local governments
- Align
regulatory frameworks with practical investment needs
3. Market Intelligence & Knowledge Integration
- Integrate
insights from Fintech, AI, and Venture Capital ecosystems
- Ensure
commercial relevance in investment structuring
- Develop
cross-regional knowledge products
- Lead
capacity-building initiatives for country and regional teams
4. Capital Pathways & Investment Structuring
- Structure
Performance-Based Grants (PBGs) for Fintech MSMEs
- Advise
on concessional loans and portfolio guarantees
- Optimize
subordinated capital positions to achieve a 4x leverage target
- Define
risk mitigation strategies for CAPEX and OPEX digital assets
5. Capital Mobilization & Portfolio Expansion
- Design
blended finance instruments (e.g., first-loss guarantees)
- Attract
venture capital and impact investors
- Support
pipeline development, especially in Latin America & the Caribbean
(LAC)
- Ensure
financial modeling and risk assessment align with global standards
The Specialist will report to the Chief Investment Officer
and collaborate closely with regional investment leaders.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Master’s
degree in Finance, Economics, Development Finance, or related field with
7+ years of experience
OR - Bachelor’s
degree with 9+ years of relevant experience
Professional Experience
- Demonstrated
expertise in fund management and multi-country portfolio risk management
- Direct
experience in Fintech, AI, Digital Financial Services, or DPI financing
- Proven
capital mobilization track record in emerging markets
- Strong
blended finance structuring capabilities
- Advanced
financial modeling skills
- Experience
conducting financial due diligence and negotiating complex transactions
Experience with USD 20M+ multi-country funds and familiarity
with Africa or Latin America markets is advantageous.
Fluency in English is required; Spanish is a distinct asset.
Core Competencies
UNCDF seeks a strategic and innovative leader who can:
- Achieve
measurable results
- Think
entrepreneurially and systemically
- Manage
partnerships across multilateral and private sectors
- Apply
data-driven decision-making
- Champion
diversity and inclusion
Why This Role Matters
Digital finance is a transformative driver of inclusive
economies. By enabling digital traceable data, strengthening MSME
creditworthiness, and scaling inclusive financial ecosystems, UNCDF aims to
unlock sustainable capital flows into underserved markets.
The Digital Finance Specialist will directly influence how
catalytic capital is deployed globally—ensuring investments deliver systemic
change, enhance resilience, and expand financial inclusion.
For professionals with deep expertise in blended finance,
digital innovation, and development investment strategy, this role offers the
opportunity to shape high-impact capital mobilization within the United Nations
system.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply before the 25
February 2026 deadline.
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