Innovation Manager (Innovative Financing), (P-4), TA (364 days), Post # 129083, Innovative & Alternative Finance Children, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

UNICEF is seeking to complement its current efforts to accelerate results for children through the use of new financial structures (e.g., parametric insurance, blended finance, guarantees, impact investing) that can leverage additional resources for children (as well as make the use of existing resources more efficient and results-oriented). The PFP IF4C unit enables, drives, and accelerates innovative alternative financing and funding solutions for children, in partnership with the private sector and UNICEF National Committees to accelerate reaching the SDGs for children. Under the direction of the PFP IF4C Chief the Innovative Financing Manager will take a strategic planning and technical role in the PFP’s IF4C unit, including vetting new IF4C initiatives, conducting risk and market analysis and driving the development of new IF4C solutions (e.g., Debt Relief, Capital Market Solutions, Bridge Financing, etc.)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

UNICEF has set out ambitious goals for its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), based in Geneva, aims to achieve results for children by maximizing UNICEF’s private sector fundraising, partnerships, and engagement activities, including work with National Committees, regional and country offices, and other HQ Divisions.

The global Innovative Financing for Children (IF4C) initiative is key to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and aims to help address complex global challenges such as climate change and disasters faced by millions of children and adolescents today and disproportionately affecting the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalized. The objective of the PFP IF4C Unit is to enable the use of private sector financial instruments and financial frameworks to help UNICEF meet its programmatic requirements and fulfill its global mission to save and improve the lives of all children and youth. 

For every child, a Champion

UNICEF is seeking to complement its current efforts to accelerate results for children through the use of new financial structures (e.g., parametric insurance, blended finance, guarantees, impact investing) that can leverage additional resources for children (as well as make the use of existing resources more efficient and results-oriented). The PFP IF4C unit enables, drives, and accelerates innovative alternative financing and funding solutions for children, in partnership with the private sector and UNICEF National Committees to accelerate reaching the SDGs for children.  Under the direction of the PFP IF4C Chief the Innovative Financing Manager will take a strategic planning and technical role in the PFP’s IF4C unit, including vetting new IF4C initiatives, conducting risk and market analysis and driving the development of new IF4C solutions (e.g., Debt Relief, Capital Market Solutions, Bridge Financing, etc.) 

How can you make a difference?

Planning and Coordination

• Develop the PFP IF4C unit annual work plan under the overall guidance of the PFP IF4C Chief and in coordination with the PFP Innovative Finance Specialist.
• Establish and oversee processes and procedures for the Innovative Finance Committee (IFC) and ensure effective monitoring and reporting on the Global UNICEF IF4C Strategy and Vision under the overall guidance of the Principal Advisor IF4C and PFP IF4C Chief.
• Facilitate strategic coordination and alignment between the PFP IF4C unit and the Innovative Finance (IF) Hub Finland.
• Support PFP IF4C Knowledge Management and the deployment of UNICEF’s IF4C capacity-building platforms in coordination with the PFP Innovative Finance Specialist and IF Hub Finland.

Risk Assessment, Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Develop a comprehensive risk and financial framework for evaluating new private sector IF4C opportunities.
• Review IF4C proposals presented to the IFC and in coordination with the PFP IF4C Chief, deliver recommendations to the Principal Advisor IF4C.
• Perform due diligence on PFP IF4C opportunities, including risk assessment and the development of mitigation strategies.
• Provide in-depth financial analyses and reports to facilitate strategic decision-making and to meet reporting requirements.
• Continuously monitor and analyze market trends, regulatory changes, and economic indicators to guide and adapt PFP’s IF4C strategies.
• Ensure PFP IF4C activities comply with relevant standards and policies, working closely with Legal and DFAM.

Implement PFP IF4C Solutions

• Cultivate and maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders, including financial institutions, MDBs/DFIs, and regulatory bodies.
• Identify and assess new financial instruments and opportunities in the capital markets.
• Develop business cases, conduct financial modeling, and propose financial structures to the PFP IF4C Chief.
• Collaborate with financial institutions to design and implement innovative financing solutions aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (e.g., DFAM, Legal, PPD, IF Hub Finland) to structure IF4C solutions tailored to the organization’s specific requirements.
• Project manage the development and execution of IF4C solutions.
• Support the IF Hub Finland in the development and rollout of the Child Lens Impact Investing Framework (CLIF) for publicly traded equity funds.

Strategic Advisory and Representation

• Provide strategic technical advice to the PFP IF4C Chief on innovative financing mechanisms and provide ad hoc support as needed.
• Develop briefing notes, talking points, strategic reports, and presentations for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Research and develop white papers/strategies on emerging IF4C opportunities (e.g., Debt Relief, CLIF, etc.) to inform decision-making.
• Represent the PFP IF4C Chief at key global events and platforms, enhancing the visibility and positioning of PFP IF4C externally and within UNICEF.

DELIVERABLES:

• PFP IF4C team’s priorities and work plan for 2025 developed.
• IFC process and procedures developed, and IF4C proposals proposed to the IFC vetted.
• White paper/strategy developed for debt relief.
• Child Lens Impact Investing Framework for publicly traded equity funds and associated PFP investment manager rollout plan developed.
• IF4C capacity building training conducted.
• At least one IF4C solution conceptualized and implemented.

Estimated Duration of the contract

• 364 days

Reporting To:

• The Chief, Innovative Financing for Children

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland is the official duty station.

To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: International development, finance, economics, public or business administration, or closely related fields.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with 2 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in investment banking, private banking, management consulting, strategy development, risk and market analysis, and/or any other related field is required.
• Experience working in innovative finance or related fields, including a solid understanding of the innovative finance landscape is an asset.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills required.
• Ability to independently develop business cases, risk/market analysis, and financial models with minimal oversight.
• Ability to work across multiple projects, with multiple stakeholders and moving deadlines, while ensuring compliance is an asset.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) are required.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: our competency framework. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks: 

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.