Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist (Home-Based)
Apply NowCompany: UNDP
Location: New York, NY 10025
Description:
Job Description
Background
The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan by focusing on three outcome areas:
In 2021, UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced planning of a new initiative, timbuktoo, which aims to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. timbuktoo's ambition is to mobilize one billion dollars with US$ 350 million invested as catalytic and more than US$ 650 million crowded in as commercial capital to transform more than 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified new jobs.
In January 2024, UNDP launched the timbuktoo Initiative which includes a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund has already received a commitment of $3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The ambitious plan aims to mobilize and invest the targeted $1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. This focused approach, combined with a "blended capital" model that incorporates both commercial and catalytic funds, aims to reduce risks associated with private investment and foster a comprehensive startup ecosystem. The main target for the Execution Phase is to establish the institutional arrangements for the Fund, and crowd in additional investments on the catalytic side as well as kick off effective operationalization of the Initiative.
The timbuktoo initiative will establish 10 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi - to serve as critical intervention nodes with full innovation ecosystem support. Each hub will be sector-specific and engage with startups across Africa rather than only those based in the host country. These hubs will catalyze innovation for sustainable development transforming ideas into viable businesses critical for powering Africa's transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The timbuktoo initiative also features University Innovation Pods (UniPods) - bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurial application. The 13 UniPods already established within public universities in Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia, will be linked to the above - mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech - enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs. The timbuktoo initiative is multi-pronged, focused on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem. The timbuktoo approach will be anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa's youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scope of Work
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the timbuktoo Global Lead, the RM and Partnerships Specialist will support the timbuktoo Initiative to mobilize resources for programmatic technical assistance (TA) support. The incumbent will also work closely with the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation to develop and roll out the fund-raising strategy - raising capital from the domestic and internation private capital markets for timbuktoo catalytic investment funds.
The Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist will work closely with the timbuktoo Initiative's program teams, operations staff, and external stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations. The Specialist will oversee donor intelligence, the development of innovative financing mechanisms to expand the initiative's funding base.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Ensure Development and Implementation of Resource Mobilization Strategy:
2. Ensure Coordination and Preparation of Funding Proposals and Donor Reports:
3. Ensure Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
4. Ensure Donor Intelligence and Partner Engagement System
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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 & Strategy Strategic Thinking
Minimum Qualifications of the successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
Min. years of relevant work experience
Required skills
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Required Language(s)
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
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
Background
The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan by focusing on three outcome areas:
- African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandate, especially cross-cutting issues related to resilience building (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2);
- Regional growth is inclusive, transformational, and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities, and characterized by structural transformation (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 2); and
- Regional institutions sustain peace and build resilience to crises and shocks (contributing to the Strategic Plan Outcome 3).
In 2021, UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced planning of a new initiative, timbuktoo, which aims to galvanize African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem solvers. timbuktoo's ambition is to mobilize one billion dollars with US$ 350 million invested as catalytic and more than US$ 650 million crowded in as commercial capital to transform more than 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified new jobs.
In January 2024, UNDP launched the timbuktoo Initiative which includes a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund has already received a commitment of $3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The ambitious plan aims to mobilize and invest the targeted $1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. This focused approach, combined with a "blended capital" model that incorporates both commercial and catalytic funds, aims to reduce risks associated with private investment and foster a comprehensive startup ecosystem. The main target for the Execution Phase is to establish the institutional arrangements for the Fund, and crowd in additional investments on the catalytic side as well as kick off effective operationalization of the Initiative.
The timbuktoo initiative will establish 10 thematic vertical Hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi - to serve as critical intervention nodes with full innovation ecosystem support. Each hub will be sector-specific and engage with startups across Africa rather than only those based in the host country. These hubs will catalyze innovation for sustainable development transforming ideas into viable businesses critical for powering Africa's transformation including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The timbuktoo initiative also features University Innovation Pods (UniPods) - bridging the gap between academic research and entrepreneurial application. The 13 UniPods already established within public universities in Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia, will be linked to the above - mentioned hubs and act as a pipeline for the tech and tech - enabled innovation ventures that will receive ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital investment under the Hubs. The timbuktoo initiative is multi-pronged, focused on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem. The timbuktoo approach will be anchored in seeking, nurturing, and building African solutions forwarded by Africa's youth that directly address one or more of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scope of Work
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the timbuktoo Global Lead, the RM and Partnerships Specialist will support the timbuktoo Initiative to mobilize resources for programmatic technical assistance (TA) support. The incumbent will also work closely with the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation to develop and roll out the fund-raising strategy - raising capital from the domestic and internation private capital markets for timbuktoo catalytic investment funds.
The Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist will work closely with the timbuktoo Initiative's program teams, operations staff, and external stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations. The Specialist will oversee donor intelligence, the development of innovative financing mechanisms to expand the initiative's funding base.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Ensure Development and Implementation of Resource Mobilization Strategy:
- Conduct external and internal analyses to identify resource mobilization opportunities specific to the timbuktoo Initiative.
- Develop a comprehensive and actionable resource mobilization strategy aligned with the goals of the timbuktoo Initiative.
- Define approaches for engaging with traditional and emerging donors, including private sector actors, to support the initiative.
- Create monitoring frameworks and tools to track progress on resource mobilization targets.
- Identify and cultivate relationships with key partners, including bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector actors, foundations, and civil society organizations, for the timbuktoo Initiative.
- Conduct regular donor mapping and maintain a database of current and potential partners.
- Identification and negotiation with donors, private sector, and other stakeholders.
2. Ensure Coordination and Preparation of Funding Proposals and Donor Reports:
- Provide technical guidance to program teams in the development of concept notes, project proposals, and funding agreements tailored to the timbuktoo Initiative.
- Ensure that proposals and reports are of high quality, tailored to donor priorities, and submitted in a timely manner.
- Develop tools and templates to standardize the proposal and reporting processes for the initiative.
3. Ensure Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
- Build the capacity of timbuktoo initiative staff in resource mobilization through workshops, training sessions, and coaching.
- Promote knowledge sharing and best practices in resource mobilization within the initiative and the wider UNDP network.
- Support the development of communication materials to enhance donor visibility and engagement for the timbuktoo Initiative.
4. Ensure Donor Intelligence and Partner Engagement System
- Develop and maintain a donor intelligence system specific to the timbuktoo Initiative, including profiles, funding priorities.
- Conduct regular analysis of donor trends and funding landscapes to identify emerging opportunities for the initiative.
- Develop and implement strategies to strengthen long-term relationships with existing and potential donors.
- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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 & Strategy Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP's objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities.
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends and to demonstrate foresight.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
- Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
- Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
- Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their UNDP | People for 2030 - Competency Framework - Technical Competencies (2024) buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
Minimum Qualifications of the successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Business Administration, Economics, Finance and Trade, International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or a related field is required. OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due 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 relevant experience required in resource mobilization, partnership development, or a related field is required.
Required skills
- Proven experience in comprehensive computer knowledge
- Demonstrate experience in high-level strategic thinking skills and business analytical skills.
- Demonstrated excellent communication skills and proven leadership and team skills.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Proven track record of successfully mobilizing resources from a variety of donors.
- Experience in designing and implementing resource mobilization strategies.
- Familiarity with UNDP's programming and operational environment is an asset.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of French is desirable
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
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.