Private Sector and Energy Investment Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define our contribution to human development: expanding prosperity for all, strengthening effective governance, safeguarding a healthy planet and building crisis resilience. These objectives are enabled by three accelerators that drive transformative impact across our portfolio: digital and AI innovation, gender equality and sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, UNDP supports countries to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives and to advance sustainable development at scale.  

Within the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts. 

UNDP, through its Sustainable Finance Hub (https://sdgfinance.undp.org/), supports partners in promoting financing for SDGs.  As an accelerator of the UNDP Strategic Plan, sustainable finance strengthens countries’ ability to mobilize, align and deploy finance at scale for national priorities. UNDP supports international and country level policy reform as a catalyst for system-wide change, stronger policy environments, better-functioning markets and more coherent financing strategies for sustainable development.  

Through SFH, UNDP’s Istanbul Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), one of the five Global Thematic Policy Centers of UNDP, acts as an enabler for the private sector and foundations to become more active partners in development, encouraging them through policy advice and technical services on how to contribute towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. ICPSD was established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Turkey. The Center’s work to engage foundations and the private sector focuses on delivering policy advice and technical services in four thematic 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

Under its “SDG Financing and Private Sector Development” thematic area, the Center offers research, advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnership services to diversify sources of financing for the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on attracting private impact capital. Private Sector and Energy Investment Specialist will support UNDP ICPSD’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development portfolio Country Offices and in advancing strategic knowledge management objectives, leading research, content development, partnership building and project management for the design and implementation of projects and activities in coordination and collaboration with the COs, RBx and SFH teams. Under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Lead, SDG Finance and Private Sector Development, the Private Sector and Energy Investment Specialist will provide technical support to the design and implementation of technical assistance products across the portfolio's multi-country pipeline, including credit guarantee mechanisms, and energy-sector investment facilitation, drawing on engineering experience in the energy sector and private sector engagement experience in post-conflict and crisis-affected settings.

Under the guidance of and reporting directly to the SDG Financing and Private Sector Development Portfolio Lead, the Private Sector and Energy Investment Specialist will be responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

• Lead qualitative and quantitative background analysis and technical due diligence on energy infrastructure and energy transition investments to inform new project design and partnership development across ICPSD's portfolio.
• Conduct desk research and analytical work on energy markets, tariff structures, and generation/grid technologies to inform the design and operationalization of new private sector engagement initiatives.
• Develop and quality-assure evidence-based briefs, concept notes, strategy papers, partnership proposals, and programme documents on energy and private sector engagement in support of new project pipelines, including partnership agreements/MOUs and monitoring and evaluation frameworks, ensuring readiness for management approval and external engagement.
• Contribute to the implementation of ICPSD's knowledge management activities in the energy and private sector development area, including maintaining an updated repository of technical data, research, and partner intelligence to support ongoing partnership identification and pipeline development.
• Lead qualitative and quantitative background analysis on energy-sector investment opportunities, private sector engagement modalities, and blended finance mechanisms as they relate to the identification of new partnership and co-financing opportunities across ICPSD's portfolio.
• Conduct other research and information collection tasks related to energy and private sector engagement as required by ICPSD.

• Lead end-to-end coordination of ICPSD programme and partnership-related activities on energy and private sector engagement, including identifying and securing venues, speakers, and guests; drafting and distributing outreach and invitations; managing event registration; and performing other related event management tasks.
• Develop and quality-assure the full suite of event documentation including press kits, logistics notes, briefing materials, and background papers on energy investment and private sector engagement, for stakeholder workshops and partner engagements.
• Design and deliver substantive research inputs for events, trainings, and workshops, including speaker briefings and evidence syntheses on energy investment, private sector development, blended finance, and partnership and resource mobilization opportunities.
• Support the content development and organization of national and international conferences, workshops, retreats, partner and donor engagement events, and other events organized by ICPSD in support of new energy and private sector engagement project and partnership development.

• Prepare and quality-review notes, presentations, and strategic summaries on energy and private sector engagement for senior management and external advisory functions, exercising independent judgment on framing, accuracy, and positioning.
• Identify and escalate emerging issues, risks, or opportunities relevant to ICPSD's energy and private sector engagement project and partnership pipeline, providing management with timely, evidence-based situational assessments.
• Lead the development of knowledge management products including methodologies, reports, and thematic briefs on energy and private sector engagement, ensuring outputs meet ICPSD quality standards and are fit for external dissemination.
• Participate in events and organizations related to energy and private sector engagement, actively identifying and cultivating new partnership and project development opportunities.
• Participate in project and partner/donor coordination meetings on energy and private sector engagement, as required.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

The Private Sector and Energy Investment Specialist will work under the guidance of and reporting directly to the UNDP ICPSD SDG Financing and Private Sector Development Portfolio Lead.

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Business Development  

• Knowledge Generation  
  • Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. 
  • Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. 
  • Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management   

• Results-based Management       
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
•  Partnerships Management          
  • Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Working with Evidence and Data              
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Business Direction & Strategy      

• System Thinking              
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Partnership management            

• Private sector engagement          
  • Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector.

2030 Agenda: Planet      

• Sustainable Energy Hub 
  • Energy Finance

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Engineering or related field is required , OR;
•  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) and 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of extensive working experience in private sector engagement and energy areas

Required skills:

• Experience in private sector engagement through partnerships with DFIs, multilateral development banks, governments or other institutions particularly in post-conflict, crisis, or fragile-state country contexts

Desired skills:

• Experience in sustainable energy investment analysis, including feasibility assessment of sustainable energy projects.
• Previous experience in engagement with energy companies and energy-sector institutions, both public and private. 
• Experience conducting analytical research, stakeholder consultations, and preparing high-quality publications, practitioner case studies, policy papers, or other knowledge products for energy particularly in post-conflict, crisis, or fragile-state country contexts.
• Working experience in an international organization, particularly familiarity with the UN/UNDP system.
• A PhD in Engineering or a related field is an asset. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. 

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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