Impact Investing Research Fellow

Job Title: Impact Investing Research Fellow

Organization: UNDP

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Application Deadline : 22-Oct-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Job Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction

Type of Contract : Other

Post Level : Other

Languages Required : English  

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Nov-2023

Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months

Expected Duration of Assignment : 12 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crises and to drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives, build resilient nations, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sustainable Development Goals represent the global consensus for the comprehensive and ambitious 2030 Agenda. The level of ambition and the need for resources to reach the targets necessitate innovations to increase efficiency, and partnerships for effective use of existing resources as well as growing them.

As a major effort to finance SDGs and in order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives. 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. 

Through SFH, UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) has a mandate to leverage the role of the private sector in development. ICPSD was established in Istanbul, Turkey on the basis of the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the UNDP in March 2011. The Center advocates and facilitates the contribution of the private sector to human development and inclusive growth through the following thematic priority areas:

•             Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation for the SDGs;

•             Role of the Private Sector in Skills Development;

•             Impact Investment;

•             Private Sector Resilience and Crisis Response.

Under its “Impact Investment” 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. The Center has been supporting UNDP Country Offices for SDG financing with knowledge products including impact investing ecosystem studies and SDG Investor Maps.

The Research Fellow will provide support to the abovementioned research and knowledge management activities of ICPSD in impact investing. The Research Fellow will conduct research on political, social, and economic trends in impact investing thematic area of the Center and participates in the formulation, management, and evaluation of knowledge management activities within ICPSD’s mandate to enhance the role of private sector in development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fellow will assist in the following duties and responsibilities: 

No	Duties and responsibilities	% of time
1	Provides research and knowledge generation support, focusing on the achievement of the following results: Support qualitative and quantitative background analysis and related research on impact investing ecosystems and mechanisms Provide support during the implementation of knowledge management activities of ICPSD in the impact investing area. Other research and information collection tasks related to impact investing area as required by ICPSD.	% 60
2	Provides administrative and logistical support, focusing on the achievement of the following results: Provide organizational support to the events including identifying and securing the venue, speakers and guests; outreach and drafting-distribution of invitations; managing event registration; and other related tasks. Support the preparation of the document set for event participants (i.e. press kit, logistics note) and any other document deemed necessary; Prepare the logistics plan for each event and ensure its proper implementation in coordination with the travel agencies, hotels and other partners; Provide research support in line with the subject topic of the events (trainings, workshops); Provide administrative support to the organization of other national and international conferences, workshops, retreats, Prepare formal/informal translations.	% 30
3	Provides support to management coordination, focusing on the achievement of the following results: Assist in the preparation of notes, summaries, presentations for events and advisory activities; Represent of portfolio in events, organizations Participate in project meetings, as required; Support the senior management with collection and compilation of information; Support the development of knowledge management products (methodologies, reports, briefs, etc.). Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.	% 10

 

Competencies 

Competencies and attitude:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, international development, international relations, political science, or related field is required.
• Master’s degree in economics, business administration, international relations, political science, or related field is an asset.

Experience:

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative background analysis and research is an asset.
• Familiarity with impact investing ecosystems and mechanisms is an asset.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems (i.e. ERP, Atlas) is an asset.

Language skills:

• Excellent written and oral English skills is a mandatory requirement.
• Knowledge of additional UN language(s) is an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
The application should contain: 

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post; 
• Current and complete CV in English; 
• Please group all your documents into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. 

Candidates who are selected for must submit prior to the interview the following documents: 

• Official document(s) confirming meeting at least on of the educational requirements.  

Stipend 

• During the time of the fellowship, UNDP will provide a monthly stipend which will be determined for each duty station based on the stipend rates published yearly by the OHR Policy and Compensation Unit. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis.

 

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