[Hiring] Innovative Finance Manager @World Food Programme

Role Description

The Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation division:

• BIU acts as the “advisory arm” of WFP
• BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience

We execute projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and have become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, Business Innovation Group). Our focus is on end-to-end solutions, including:

• Problem assessment
• Data analysis
• Operational model design
• Change plan and implementation monitoring

This consultancy will focus on designing and implementing cutting-edge financing instruments that can unlock new funding flows, alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA), for our partners.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Execution of Business Innovation projects in Innovative Finance
• Additional activities and needs

Depending on the time of joining, the candidate’s specific experience and current corporate priorities, the candidate will be responsible for the full delivery of a project work stream. Specifically, such workstream could be part of initiatives aimed at the definition of innovative financing strategies, the design and launch of innovative financing instruments such as:

• Blended finance instruments
• Impact investment funds
• Fundraising platforms
• Results-based financing

Examples of specific deliverables include:

• Support the design and structuring of innovative financing mechanisms aligned with our partners’ strategic priorities
• Support the development of innovative financing strategies
• Conduct landscape reviews of existing and emerging financing models across the UN system and development finance ecosystem
• Develop investment theses, business cases, and financial models for new instruments
• Engage with donors, investors, and implementing partners to co-develop and validate financing structures
• Support the operationalization of selected mechanisms, including legal, governance, and risk frameworks
• Provide strategic advisory support to senior leadership on financing innovation
• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders
• Contribute to internal capacity-building efforts on innovative finance
• Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries
• Additional project support based on pipeline and new projects contracted during time of contract, as required

Qualifications

• Preference for a degree in finance, economics, business administration, public policy, or related field
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, investment banking, or related fields
• Experience in a top tier management consulting firm or investment bank
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, development banks, or philanthropic investors is highly desirable

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing innovative financing instruments such as blended finance mechanisms, results-based financing, social impact bonds, impact investment funds, digital fundraising platforms in the development or humanitarian context
• Strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities
• Deep understanding of resource mobilization tools and strategies
• Ability and experience leading and overseeing the work of a team of more junior resources
• Good analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative
• Good stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Collaborative spirit to engage effectively with internal teams and external partners
• Time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles
• Self-motivated and able to work with a certain degree of autonomy and/or in a team
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme
• In addition to a high proficiency in written and spoken English, knowledge of a second UN language is a plus

Benefits

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across various country, regional and global offices around the world
• We offer an attractive compensation package