Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected
Summary of Key Functions:

• Manage the fund mechanisms of UNCDF Inclusive Finance programmes in the country office as assigned;
• Support implementation of UNCDF’s FIPA programme strategies;
• Ensure project management and assurance of UNCDF’s FPA programmes;
• Support resource mobilization efforts;
• Contribute to knowledge building and management.

I.  Management of UNCDF Fund Mechanism

The Programme / Fund Mechanism Officer will be responsible to manage the fund facilities of UNCDF, FIPA programmes.

Under UNCDF FIPA programme, UNNATI programme has a challenge fund for the following categories of stakeholders: 

• Banks and Financial Institutions;
• Small and Medium Enterprise – SME fund facilities which is set up for Orthodox Tea, Ginger, Dairy and Cardamom value chain actors in the eastern development region of Nepal;
• Private business and public sector for market infrastructure development.

Partnership on the above three Challenge Funds:

• The UNNATI- challenge fund has three windows which includes one for Banks and Financial Institutions - managed by UNCDF together with Nepal Rastra Bank under a sub component, UNNATI – Access to Finance (A2F);
• The other two windows will be implemented by UNCDF in partnership with ORGUT which is the implementing agency of Value Chain Development and Public/ Private Market Infrastructure components. Hence, Programme/ Fund Officer will be managing the overall fund facilities of the programme which include the following tasks: 

(a) Fund Governance:

• Setting up and contracting the assessment panel members for all categories of fund facilities.
• Perform the secretariat role to the fund assessment panel (meetings, presentation of applications, communication with members etc.);
• Organising meeting of the assessment panel (member selection, invitation, venue and fees);
• Preparation and submission of all required materials to the assessment panel members before the meeting is organized;
• Minutes of the decisions and forward panel’s decision to project Executive Board (PEB) and request for approval;
• Abide by the Operations Guidelines for the three funds, and get approval on any policy changes if required from concerned authorities in the fund governance structure.

(b) Pipeline Development:

• Market gap analysis for the round design (Concept paper for each new round with fund allocation and round-specific criteria) – for A2F in close collaboration with A2F team, and for the other two in close collaboration with other sub components leaders;
• Pipeline development with potential applicants and stakeholders especially with Banks and Financial Institutions – for A2F in close collaboration with A2F team, and for the other two in close collaboration with other sub components leaders;
• Organisation of launch workshops and information workshops if required for wider dissemination and substantial number of applications being received;
• Coordinate development of communication materials and channels for dissemination about funds, windows and rounds to potential applicants and sector and sector level stakeholders;
• Drafting of RFP draft and organizing a proper communication to interested parties including organizing meetings/ workshops/ seminars;
• Assured Technical Assistance (TA) for pipeline development– for A2F in close collaboration with A2F team and for the other two in close collaboration with other sub components leaders.

(c) Application Stage:

• Facilitate screening of concept notes and RFPs with respective components teams, before submission to assessment panel;
• Reporting of concept notes received/eligible to applicants;
• Information to applicants and request for full proposals;
• Assured TA support from the various component of UNNATI to short listed applicants on full proposal writing;
• Admin screening/checklist of proposals submitted;
• Content screening of proposals and activities + due diligence + advisory letter to the assessment panels;
• For non-eligible proposals, assured draft feedback letter to applicants explaining the reasons  for non-eligibility;
• Summarizing proposals for the assessment panel.

(d) Project Implementation:

• Intimation of selection to approved grantees;
• Drafting of agreements, discussion with selected grantees and ensuring timeliness in contract signing;
• Coordinate development of M&E indicators, implementation plan and necessary milestone verification and reporting mechanisms;
• Project follow-up and TA to grantees as per guidelines and requirement;
• Responsible for Grant management/disbursement/accounting of expenses and related reporting, in collaboration with fund partnering organisations;
• Submission of periodic progress reports to concerned stakeholders.

(e) Closure and Exit:

• Grant closure and management of non-performing projects; 
• Develop a knowledge management and learning plan from the projects, that feeds into UNDCF FIPA and other stakeholder work and future design of programmes in Nepal;
• Coordinate submission of completion report before exit from the project;
• Coordinate with stakeholder who would be interested in supporting the grantees if required post UNCDF support exit;
• Participate in various communication and event platforms to disseminate the progress and learnings from the projects.

II. Support implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Conduct analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to various programming documents – Common Country Assessment, UN Development Assistance Framework, Country Programme Document, Country Programme Action Plan, etc. – and ensure UNCDF’s strategic positioning within the UN country programme;
• Assist with identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned;
• Support UNCDF business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management;
• Collaboration closely with UNCDF technical advisors at national and regional level – reporting to these advisors on technical issues and producing substantive inputs as appropriate.

III. Ensures effective project management of the UNCDF FIPA programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

• Assist with effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Contribute to design and formulation of programmes/projects within the area of responsibility, translating UNCDF’s FIPA priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
• Support initiation of a project, presentation of the project to UNCDF PAC, LPAC, entering project into Atlas, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. The Programme/ Fund Mechanism Officer can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects;
• Ensure financial monitoring and reporting, support monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of operational solutions,  organise audits of nationally implemented projects;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.

IV. Support the Programme Specialist on resource mobilization efforts  focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist with development of strategic partnerships with other UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNCDF, FIPA country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Support Resource Mobilization for UNCDF’s programme;
• Acquire a clear understanding of the interests of major donors in country and support articulation of the concepts UNCDF wishes to promote to leverage its programme investments. 

V. Contribute to knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to grant mechanism and project results;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

    Competencies

Functional Competencies:      

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
Ppreparing information for advocacy:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management                               Contributes into results through primary research and analysis:

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships                                                                           Maintaining a network of contacts:

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Enhancing processes or products:

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization
Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies:

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
• Develops a database of project profiles.  Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Basic research and analysis:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Fundamental knowledge of own discipline:

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
Preparing information for global advocacy:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

Client Orientation
Establishing effective client relationships:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity; 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
•  Managing conflict;
•  Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Completion of Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in managing fund mechanism and financial sector including providing management advisory services including projects/ programmes management and support, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Experience in one of the sectors i.e. financial sector especially with banks and/or institutions having managed large fund mechanism will be an asset.  

Language Requirements:   

    Fluency in English and Nepali language.