Innovative Financing Officer, P3, Geneva At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

Based at UN City in Copenhagen, UNHCR’s Private Sector Partnership Service (PSP) sits within the Division of External Relations and supports the Agency’s global collaboration with the private sector through its network of fundraisers and national associations in almost 30 operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and Gulf region. The growth in income secured from the private sector by UNHCR since 2006 has made PSP the private sector division growing the fastest amongst its peers in the first five years of its creation. The ambition of the new ambitious PSP Global Strategy 2018-2025 has the vision to grow into a service capable of generating $1bn annually.

With traditional funding from both development and humanitarian contexts seeing a downward trend, PSP and UNHCR have made it a strategic priority to pursue innovative financing modalities to channel private sector funding for the benefit of refugees. In addition to its potential for securing private sector support for refugee and displacement issues, there is also significant potential for innovative financing to spur support from government and multilateral sources, particularly from non-humanitarian budgets of these donors. As a key member of the PPH Section and reporting to the Senior Innovative Financing Officer (Head of Unit) based in Geneva, the Innovative Financing Officer is a significant element of this scenario and will be responsible for ensuring that new financing modalities are mapped, developed and implemented to enable sustainable and innovative solutions for refugees.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Investigate and develop innovative finance mechanisms from idea stage to implementation, including (but not limited to):
  o Examining feasibility of ideas through analysis and research
  o Engaging with DFAM, LAS, DRRM, DRS, and other technical and field-based colleagues to co-design each innovative finance mechanism
  o Evaluating and/or crystallizing the business case involved in potential mechanisms
  o Conducting partnership conversations with donors and private sector
  o Writing business plans
  o Conducting financial modelling
  o Serving as project manager for deal development and execution
• Develop recommendations on whether potential deals are worth pursuing to Senior Innovative Financing Officer other senior managers/leaders of UNHCR
• Help develop pipeline of potential innovative finance deals through market research and relationship development with social impact investors, private sector, donors, academics, etc.
• Help with operationalization of UNHCR innovative finance strategy, e.g., set-up of internal governance structures, as directed by Senior Innovative Financing Officer
• Help with regular ongoing engagement with all key external partners in the UN and NGO community, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and within the government donor community
• Engage and coordinate DFAM, LAS, DRRM, DRS, and other technical and field based UNHCR staff on the evaluation, design, development, and implementation of innovative finance mechanisms
• Engage existing and potential new external partners into collaboration on innovative financing
• Advise Senior Innovative Financing Officer (Head of Unit) and UNHCR management and make recommendations on innovative financing mechanisms
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; Economics; Finance
Development Economics; Accounting or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
Minimum 6 years of previous job experience with a Bachelor¿s degree in business case / investment deal development (e.g., from investment firm, PE firm, management consulting, investment banking) and demonstrated experience in development and/or humanitarian topics. Ability to independently develop business cases and financial models with minimal oversight. Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management, in particular, in managing complex, multi-stakeholder, and fast-moving projects which are cross-disciplinary and require a certain degree of expert knowledge. Proven ability in understanding how to reconcile the needs of the organization with those of a private sector partner, including working with technical units in humanitarian/development organizations and working with private sector. Proven experience in building and maintaining partnerships and securing gains from negotiations with different partners. Knowledge of public-private partnerships in a particular region (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and/or MENA) or country. Excellent business analysis / business case development ability, including demonstrated experience doing business case development in development, humanitarian, or social enterprise settings. Excellent financial modelling skills, including being able to independently construct an income and cash flow model and run financial sensitivities; accounting & finance background a plus. Knowledge of major trends in the humanitarian/development and private sector on the topics of innovative finance, sustainable financing mechanisms, and mixed private sector & donor-driven programming, as well as familiarity with key stakeholders on these topics.

Desirable
Knowledge of another UN language other than English. Experience in the private sector, especially management consulting, capital markets, investment banking, and/or private equity. Experience in fragile/developing country contexts or in field locations. Accounting and/or investment transactions legal background.