The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:    Investment
Specialist (Clean Energy)

Organization: United
Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Duty Station:
Kampala, Uganda

About US:

United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the
world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people
and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment
capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and
the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or
crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical
support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small
businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water
systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor
peoples’ lives.

Job Summary:  The Investment Specialist (Clean Energy) will
support the overall work of the UNCDF Financial Inclusion Practice Area (FIPA)
team in designing localized pipeline development mechanisms for investments
such as challenge funds, competitive incubation programmes and the development
of related investment pipelines with a strong focus on clean energy
projects/investments, working under the overall supervision and guidance of
UNCDF Clean Energy Programme Manager, P4 based in Bangkok.

More specifically,
the Investment Specialist will contribute to the origination, execution and
monitoring of energy access and related investments. While recognizing that
clean energy will represent the bulk of identified investments, the Investment
Specialist will also support UNCDF’s broader investment pipeline covering also
other areas, and s/he will coordinate the development of FIPA’s overall
investment plan, screening and due diligence agenda. The overall responsibility
of the Investment Specialist is to help UNCDF better exploit its investment
mandate.   The Investment Specialist will
additionally play a role to coordinate and monitor the FIPA investment
portfolio. The Investment Specialist with Clean Energy Focus will support
regional partnerships with donors, investors and the private sector for clean
energy access, and towards the sustainability of businesses (selected partners)
through creating financing linkages, working closely with FIPA regional and
country level teams and LDCIP Team, based in New York.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Operationalizing
Localized Competitive Mechanisms for Financing with emphasis on DRC:

·        
Providing
implementing support to the DRC Joint Project team on executing the Competitive
Incubation Programme to select partners and provide investment focused
technical assistance to selected partners (Years 1-2);

·        
Commercialization
of partners, including investment brokering, private sector partnerships and
resource mobilization for the programme (Years 3-4);

·        
Developing
strategies and tactical tools on strengthening the energy supply chain of
providers linking with clean energy and financial service provider partners;

·        
Identifying
and selecting local financial institutions to receive technical assistance on
clean energy (end-user) financing

·        
Providing
technical assistance to local financial institutions for end user financing and
structuring energy investments

·        
Working
closely with UNDP and other direct UNCDF clean energy partners on achieving
effective energy-related capacity building activities;

·        
Providing
inputs in developing and/or piloting energy service provider financing models.

·        
Investments
Identification and Analysis for Energy and Other Enterprises:

·        
Play a
lead role in the investment process, from the initial assessment of new
opportunities, credit analysis, due diligence, and to contributions to the
portfolio management and follow up activities in the clean energy space, as
well as other thematic areas in markets (FinTech, Health, Agriculture, etc..)
such as Uganda, Ethiopia, and others with a strategic UNCDF presence

·        
Specifically
support the structuring of deals in the clean energy and other spaces and
conduct credit score analysis and draft a credit opinion independently. In
structuring the transactions, the aim is often to maximize the potential for
commercial co-financing and catalyzing additional sources of capital for the
same social purpose

·        
Closely
liaise with the LDCIP team and provide input and analyze new debt propositions,
preparing screening and credit proposals as well as preparing monitoring papers

·        
Complete
discrete due diligence task such as company, industry and economic analysis

·        
Assess
clean energy companies’ financial accounts (balance sheet, income statement and
cash flow analysis)

·        
Model
debt service coverage – assess and build financial models in excel

·        
Consult
with the LDCIP team about the existing legal documentation and prepare the
proposal

·        
In
coordination with the LDCIP team, analyze the summary financial, legal and
fiscal issues including the capital structure and all necessary contractual
arrangements with investors

·        
Collaborate
with UN and local accelerators to identify and multiply pipeline opportunities.

·        
Investments
Approval Preparation:

·        
Project
management, project development, project financing, and project
portfolio/pipeline management

·        
Data
collection, technical missions, project appraisal, due diligence, analysis of
the business, governance and compliance requirements

·        
Undertake
project preparation and business development services to SMEs working in clean
energy and other thematic areas/market segments

·        
Structuring
of investment transactions and the determination of risk mitigation options to
be deployed to enable SMEs working in the clean energy to scale their business
and to unlock additional capital

·        
Determine
optimal capital structure based on due diligence and deal analysis and where
applicable invest seed capital to projects in the pipeline

·        
Lead in
the preparation of appropriate investment package required to meet UNCDF LDCIP
standards

·        
Lead in
the presentation of investment opportunities to internal and external
stakeholders including negotiation of bank term sheets and other scenarios

·        
Lead in
the preparation of internal and external agreements necessary for the approval
and disbursement of funds to projects.

·        
Preparation
of investment pipeline periodic and status reports and other corporate
reporting requirements.

Technical
Assistance and Knowledge Sharing:

·        
Develop
and deploy capacity building and trainings, workshops for SMEs working in clean
energy, financial institutions and relevant public-sector agencies;

·        
Organize
trainings to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders working in clean energy in
the public and private sectors;

·        
Provide
inputs and support to ensure application of the processes and tools to
facilitate the transfer of knowledge among stakeholders;

·        
Contribute
to knowledge networks and communities of practice within and outside UNCDF.

·        
Donor
Coordination & Engagement on Investment Pipeline Development:

·        
Coordinate
UNCDF FIPA’s investment portfolio across Africa with special attention to the
Uganda and DRC, with an attention to models showing new technologies, including
digital, as well as innovative business models.

·        
Support
UNCDF in building partnerships with main funders and stakeholders in target
countries, including but not limited to accelerators, development finance
institutions, as well as impact investors, foundations as well as corporate
donors, in connection with Uganda, DRC and beyond.

·        
Maintain
regular communications with donors and support donors’ engagement

·        
Build
strategic partnerships with key private, industry and civil society
representatives to jointly advance market development agenda, including but not
limited to Ministries of Energy; global industry alliances such as GSMA, CGAP

·        
Provide
assistance where required to the above-mentioned partners and their consultants
operating within the DRC in the clean cooking space.

·        
Support
implementation of communications activities related to joint programme,
including through social media, newsletters, blogs etc.

·        
Develop
appropriate and effective communication materials (audio, video, graphic) to
showcase the joint programme activities and results achieved

·        
Coordinate
with UNCDF’s LDC IP team on the alignment with corporate priorities, including
links to the BUILD fund and other vehicles as may be required.

·        
Support
to Clean Energy Project Management & Investment Pipeline Coordination:

·        
Support
the Clean Energy Programme Manager & Clean Energy Programme Specialist P-3,
in preparing annual planning and budgets, ensure performance targets are met,
especially in relation to FIPA investment portfolio;

·        
Maintain
regular contact with partners to monitor, support the implementation of the
supported investments and provide regular reporting on investment portfolio to
the Head Office in New York; 

·        
Regularly
monitor the progress of the project and ensure timely submission to the Clean
Energy Programme Manager of performance/progress reporting requirements such as
board/donor reporting requirements. 

·        
Lead
quality control and oversight of investment-related activities (including
overseeing consultants and the development of knowledge products and monitoring
tools) within UNCDF in Africa

·        
Regularly
update tools and guidelines for clean energy and other investment and
competitive selection processes (i.e challenge fund guidelines) to stay on
track with market trends and UNCDF strategic focuses

·        
Manage
or support other team members in implementing market development activities
that aim to improve the capacity of the overall sector, beyond UNCDF’s direct
investees. Market development activities include customer insights research,
market awareness campaigns, and capacity building of national associations.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·        
The ideal
candidate for the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Investment
Specialist (Clean Energy) job placement should an advanced university degree
(Master’s or higher) in economics, finance, business administration, public
administration or related fields.

·        
Chartered
Financial Analyst (CFA) diploma, or similar is highly preferred.

·        
Five
years of relevant experience within an international financial environment,
preferably in development finance institution, impact investor , investment
advisory firm/bank or similar.

·        
Experience
working in venture capital and/or investment banking, and more specifically
with private credit experience from investments with a social mission in the
clean energy space in emerging/frontier markets.

·        
Proven
experience from project preparation and development of investment opportunities
in the clean energy space, especially for projects in emerging/frontier
markets.

·        
Experience
in working with SME accelerators is preferred;

·        
Experience
working with SMEs, with emphasis on financial accounts;

·        
Active
interest in investing in developing countries and understanding of clean energy
market environments

·        
Prior
work experience in Africa and/or Asia is highly preferred;

·        
Experience
in enterprise discovery work, managing challenge funds or incubation
programmes, market system development is preferred;

·        
Experience
with monitoring and results measurement approaches using a market system
approach is preferred.;

·        
Experience
using an investment portfolio tracking platform;

·        
Proven
track record in mobilizing and managing donor partners;

·        
Strong
communications and writing skills as well as experience in e-platforms (e.g.
social media) is a must;

·        
High
level financial modelling and analysis ability in Microsoft excel is preferred;

·        
Familiarity
with UNDP/UNCDF rules and procedures is preferred,

·        
Language: English and French language fluency (written
& verbal) is required

Competencies

Core Competencies

·        
Innovation:
Ability to make new and useful ideas work;

·        
Leadership:
Ability to persuade others to follow;

·        
People
Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;

·        
Communication:
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform;

·        
Delivery:
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/
Functional Competencies:

·        
Possesses
expert knowledge of advanced concepts in to digital & financial inclusion,
a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of
relevant organizational policies and procedures.

·        
Knowledge
Management:  Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively
use information and knowledge.

·        
​Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, and control
resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

·        
Relationship
Management: Ability to engage
and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, Inter-Agency Coordination
and forge productive working relationships.

·        
Results
Based Programming: Assesses
project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices
into project work.

How to Apply:

All suitably
qualified and interested candidates who so desire to join the United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in the aforementioned capacity should endeavor
to Apply Online by Clicking on the link below. Please further review job
requirements and if competent Click Apply Now.

Click
Here

Deadline: 10^th July 2019

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