Innovative Finance Analyst

Job Posting Organization:
The Slovak Transformation Fund (STF) is managed by the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) and focuses on supporting sustainable and systemic transformation initiatives across Europe and Central Asia. The STF aims to leverage strategic innovation methodologies and innovative financial mechanisms to accelerate impactful urban solutions and strengthen resilience in local ecosystems. The organization emphasizes inclusivity, particularly in women's economic empowerment and youth engagement, and operates through two interconnected components: BOOST and the City Experiment Fund (CEF).

Job Overview:
The Innovative Finance Analyst will play a crucial role in contributing to the STF's innovative financing strategy. This position involves supporting the exploration, design, prototyping, and scaling of innovative financing models. The Analyst will engage with various stakeholders, including UNDP Country Offices, municipal stakeholders, private sector partners, impact investors, and international financial institutions, to mobilize diversified funding and enhance local capabilities in financing urban transformations. The role is vital for achieving tangible systemic transformation, improving regional urban resilience, and ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth through integrated and innovative financial solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Innovative Finance Analyst will be responsible for implementing the STF's strategic approach to innovative finance. Key responsibilities include:

• Innovative and Alternative Financing Exploration: Mapping and analyzing funding opportunities from various levels, exploring innovative finance tools, and contributing to the development of financing models for initiatives under BOOST and CEF.
• Systems Finance and Portfolio Financing Development: Supporting the integration of financing logic into urban transformation strategies and contributing to the design of systems finance strategies.
• Knowledge Development, Learning and Peer Exchange: Capturing lessons from financial pilot initiatives and supporting regional knowledge sharing.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building: Assisting in identifying and convening partners for co-financing city portfolios and structuring collaboration frameworks.
• Other Tasks: Contributing to strategic planning and reporting processes related to financing workstreams.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in international development, development economics, urban studies, natural sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) combined with additional qualifying experience will also be considered. Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience with innovative financing mechanisms, or 4 years with a bachelor's degree. Fluency in written and spoken English is required, along with at least one year of working experience with different financing mechanisms.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as international development, development economics, urban studies, or natural sciences is required. A bachelor's degree in these fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, will also be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience for candidates with a master's degree or 4 years for those with a bachelor's degree. Experience should include working with innovative financing mechanisms and methods of development, as well as experience in financing strategies or project preparation with public sector institutions, city governments, development agencies, or impact-driven organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as required.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based with potential travel for missions, workshops, and peer-learning events, subject to UNDP travel policies. The Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the STF Regional Project Manager and collaborate with various teams within the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. The role emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, and UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. The organization does not tolerate harassment or discrimination and reserves the right to select multiple candidates from this vacancy announcement.