The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at headquarters, regional, and country offices, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

In order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives. The Hub is an integral part of both Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), as well as part of the GPN. The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via the COs, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work. Please visit the Sustainable Finance Hub website for more information.

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Policy Center mandated to leverage the role of private sector in development. The ICPSD was established in Istanbul, Türkiye on the basis of the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the UNDP in March 2011. ICPSD, one of the five global thematic centers of UNDP, convenes stakeholders from public and private sectors as well as foundations to facilitate knowledge sharing and partnerships, and catalyzes private sector actors for developing products and initiatives for SDG implementation. The Center advocates and facilitates the contribution of private sector to human development and inclusive growth through the following thematic priority areas:

• Private sector engagement through South-South cooperation for the SDGs
• Digital transformation and private sector engagement in skills development
• SDG Financing and Private Sector Development
• Resilience and crisis response

ICPSD’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development work stream is based on two portfolios: impact investing and Islamic finance. In this context, the Center offers research, advocacy, capacity building and technical assistance services through multi-stakeholder partnerships on both conventional and Islamic finance impact investing to diversify sources of financing for the SDGs with a focus on attracting private impact capital.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Director, Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development, the Project Operations Analyst will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of financial and budgetary management, project procurement, compilation and maintenance of project records, partnership development and project reporting exercises, supporting HR management strategies and other related duties as may be required by the Supervisor, of the Center’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development thematic area, covering the impact investing and Islamic finance portfolios.

1.Procurement:

• Support and advise project procurement planning and ensure timely and quality submission of inputs to BPPS Procurement portal.
• Support projects in procurement processes including drafting and preparation  of technical specification / ToRs,  receipt of quotations,  their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Support PMST (Project Management Support Team) to ensure the implementation of   the internal control system, including duly preparation, dispatching  and closure of Purchase Orders and undertaking timely corrective actions on POs with budget check errors and other problems.
• Collect and verify necessary information for the creation of vendor profiles.
• Maintain data on all procurement contracts and take timely actions for the renewals.
• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control; proper functioning of a client- oriented procurement management system.

2. Finance and Budget Management:

• Maintain project shadow budget and commitments and produce quality financial reports for the ICPSD and donors.
• Review project revenue and expenditures, monitor budget implementation, prepare, and enter project budget revisions as may be needed.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of requests for payment.
• Prepare financial authorizations to enable financial transfers/allocations, provision of COAs, or other actions as needed to ensure smooth allocation/funds deployment processes.
• Facilitate clearance process for funding agreements, ensure full compliance with the corporately approved templates, and submit requests for new funds to GSSC.
• Periodically review project accounts and initiate corrective actions and resolve issues on exceptional transactions, including budget errors.
• Provide support in the preparation of project budgets and related financial reports for the internal and external use.
• Compiling donor and other financial reports, monitoring the use of cost sharing funds and other resources linked to projects.
• Keep up to date with new releases vis-à-vis UNDP regulations, and exchange information.
• Ensuring timely response to HQ requests to provide necessary financial inputs and resolve financial data issues.

3. Project Management and Coordination:

• Contribute to the corporate planning, monitoring, and reporting exercises as may be required.
• Contribute to the project’s knowledge management, strategic communications and partnership development efforts as may be required.
• Prepare partnership agreements (MoUs, Development Services Agreements, Responsible Party Agreements, Low-Value Grants, etc.) and liaise with counterparts and relevant UNDP teams (e.g. the Legal Support Office, GPN Joint Directorate, BERA, OFRM, and BPPS Operations) to obtain necessary clearances and signatures.
• Prepare information for the ICPSD audit and provide follow-up/support to the implementation of audit recommendations as may be needed.
• Follow the established filing and archiving standards and procedures for ICPSD; organize, update and maintain all project/programme-related documents.
• Ensure proper digital filing of all ICPSD documents that must be retained in support of corporate policies.

4. Human Resources:

• Monitor the budget availability for the existing and new ICPSD positions and ensure timely submission of requests for COA modifications as may be required. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

The Project Operations Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the ICPSD Deputy Director and in close collaboration with the operation team of the Center and with the SFH Project Management Support Team.