Public Finance for SDGs Specialist
Job Description
Background
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 and programme work, carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office (CO) levels, form a contiguous spectrum of deep, local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in 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.
As part of BPPS, the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) was established in April 2019, aggregating UNDP’s existing work and expertise on financing the SDGs. The Hub is an integral part of both the 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. The SFH offers a comprehensive package of methods and tools in support of the organization’s SDG Integration offer to enable governments, the private sector and international financial institutions to accelerate financing for the SDGs. From supporting national strategies that deepens public-private collaboration to developing global Standards for Private Equity funds, SDG Bonds and Enterprises, and investor maps for SDG-enabling investment at global, regional and national levels, the SFH brings the best of UNDP to accelerate progress of the SDGs.
The Public Finance for the SDGs Initiative supports governments in transforming their public finance systems to accelerate SDG implementation. It targets key barriers such as inefficient public expenditures, limited domestic resource mobilization, and misaligned fiscal policy frameworks. Public Finance for the SDGs is structured around four interlinked pillars: (1) strengthening domestic resource mobilization; (2) enhancing public expenditure efficiency; (3) ensuring fiscal policy coherence; and (4) advancing digitalization and data- driven solutions for public finance. Building on UNDP Country Office portfolios and already existing engagements with Ministries, the Public Finance for SDGs initiative is scaling up the focus and role of public finance – from the revenue, expenditure and debt perspectives - in achieving Agenda 2030. It adopts a national-to-subnational governance approach and embeds transparency, accountability, and participation throughout its work. The Initiative also promotes alignment with climate, equity, gender, health, and nature goals, enabling countries to de-risk investment environments and unlock both public and private finance for the SDGs.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide high-quality technical advisory services to Country Offices and government counterparts on fiscal policy coherence methodologies, with a focus assessing the interlinkages between revenue, expenditure, and debt policies in relation to climate, equity, gender, health, and nature, alongside broader sustainable development.
Under the direct supervision of the Lead Advisor on Public Finance for SDGs, within the Sustainable Finance Hub in BPPS, working closely with the other team members, the Public Finance for SDGs Specialist will be responsible for the performance of the following functions and duties across three main lines of work:
Provision of High-Level Technical Advisory Services
- Develop practical and applied guidance notes, diagnostic tools, and policy briefs to support the identification and resolution of incoherencies in fiscal policy, such as the simultaneous presence of conflicting fiscal instruments, such as regressive subsidies and progressive tax measures (e.g., fossil fuel subsidies alongside carbon taxes and their impacts on climate mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction);
- Contribute to the implementation of the joint UNDP-IMF study on fiscal policy coherence in 3-4 pilot countries by supporting national teams apply the methodology and integrate findings into their fiscal frameworks and SDG financing strategies.
Lead Programme Implementation and Cross-Team Coordination and Facilitate Knowledge Sharing
- Lead the implementation of the Fiscal Policy Coherence component of the Public Finance for SDGs initiative, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and deliverables, including oversight of annual work plans, results-based management, reporting, and contributions to PRODOCs, Theory of Change Frameworks, overall program documentation in alignment with UNDP’s strategic objectives.
- Coordinate with regional hubs and regional specialists to ensure context-appropriate application of fiscal policy coherence approaches and methodologies at regional, national and subnational levels.
- Facilitate cross-team collaboration with other GPN teams working under the Public Finance for SDGs initiative, including gender, governance, inclusive growth, climate, health, and other thematic teams to ensure integrated approaches to fiscal policy coherence.
- Promote knowledge exchange and integrated policy approaches by contributing to the development of knowledge products and learning agendas, ensuring coordination with communications and innovation teams to enable agile dissemination, effective stakeholder engagement, and timely course correction based on evidence and emerging priorities.
Establish Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Establish and manage strategic partnerships with key institutions, particularly international financial institutions (e.g., the IMF, World Bank, regional development banks) to advance fiscal policy coherence principles and approaches within the broader development finance architecture.
- Support the design and implementation of resource mobilization initiatives for the Fiscal Policy Coherence workstream of the Public Finance for SDGs initiative, including the preparation of concept notes, project proposals, funding proposal, and donor engagement strategies aligned with portfolio priorities.
- Actively participate in high-level forums and policy dialogues on fiscal policy coherence, articulating UNDP's approach and facilitating knowledge exchange among partners to enhance global understanding of fiscal policy coherence for sustainable development, contributing to global thought leadership and conceptual consistency.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Public Finance for SDGs Specialist will carry out relevant duties under the guidance and direct supervision of the Lead Advisor on Public Finance for SDGs within the SFH.
Competencies
| Core | |
| 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
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Business Direction and 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. |
| Business Management | Communication | Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. |
| 2030 Agenda: Partnerships | SDG Finance | Public Finance for the SDGs. |
| Partnership Management | Relationship Management | Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding. |
| Business Direction and Strategy | Strategic Thinking | Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. |
Required Skills and Experience
| Min. Academic Education |
An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent), in Finance, Economics, Development Finance, Applied SocialSciences or closely related field is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be givendue consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. |
| Min. years of relevant work experience | Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) and 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience in public finance research and analysis, public finance management, national budgeting, advising on public financereforms or closelyrelated areas is required. |
| Required skills |
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| Desired additional skills |
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| Required Language(s) (at working level) |
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Equal opportunity
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.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
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.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
Scam alert
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Company Information
Location: New York, NY
Type: Hybrid