Uzbekistan has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda, with the considerable attention being paid to development of medium- and long-term development vision. In 2017 the Government adopted the Action Strategy on Five Priority Areas of Development of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021 (the ‘Action Strategy’), which sets out a comprehensive agenda covering institutional and administrative, judicial, economic, social reforms and enhanced partnership and regional cooperation. This reform has been accompanied by the strong commitment of the Government to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 with adoption on 20 October 2018 Uzbekistan of the national SDGs, including 16 national Goals and 125 national targets. The monitoring framework was established with the Government setting up a list of 206 national SDG indicators in March 2019.

Uzbekistan is facing a number of challenges in developing an integrated approach to financing the SDGs. These challenges are often rooted in misalignment between planning and financing functions of government, as well as participation of only a narrow group of stakeholders in the decision-making process on financing. Often national, sectoral and regional development plans are elaborated by various agencies without a clear sense of their financial viability.

In order to develop a more comprehensive development finance overview, linked to the SDGs implementation in Uzbekistan, the GoU and UNDP have launched a Development Finance Assessment (DFA) exercise in October 2019. The assessment aims at facilitating a deeper understanding of the development cooperation landscape, emerging opportunities for domestic revenue generation and the potential for greater private sector contribution toward national development priorities.  

DFA exercise has informed the design of the new project “Financing for Sustainable Development in the Republic of Uzbekistan”. The project will serve as a ground for establishment of an Integrated National Financing Framework by the Government of Uzbekistan for implementing national development plans/strategies and the SDGs. It will aim at mobilizing public and private resources needed to fund development and provide on-demand policy research and capacity building to help maximize the impact of policies/reforms on economic, environmental and social dimensions of the 2030 Agenda. 

The project activities will thus be grouped into four major directions:

• Support and promote establishing an Integrated National Financing Framework
• Elaborate and pilot innovative financing instruments
• Promote Public Finance management reform
• Establish an On-Demand Facility and conduct research on financing instruments

The Task Manager on Innovative Financing Instruments (Task Manager) will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. The Task Manager will ensure delivery of outputs on elaboration and piloting of innovative financing instruments (such as guarantees, social insurance, social impact bonds, impact investments, crowd funding, green bonds/sukuk, Zakat, microfinance, etc.) and coordinate research activities under this component in accordance with annual and quarterly work plans of the Project through performing the following duties and responsibilities:

1.    Leading the design and implementation of analytical work on social and innovative finance, Islamic Finance and development financing to effectively partner and align with Government initiatives for leveraging financing for SDGs:

• Undertake bibliographic and documentary search in support of research papers in the area of development and application of innovative and alternative financing instruments;
• Identify opportunities to introduce innovative finance instruments (such as guarantees, social insurance, social impact bonds, impact investments, crowd funding, green bonds, Zakat, microfinance, etc.) in the context of Uzbekistan;
• Develop relevant TORs and outlines for research papers (as per the work-plans);
• Select national experts to be involved in the research activity and coordinate their work;
• Coordinate the preparation of research papers, concept notes, methodical documents, draft legislative and regulatory documents, and review drafts of the papers and other written materials prepared by team of national consultants;
• Compile, edit and finalize written materials prepared by team of national consultants;
• Organize discussions and peer reviews of the draft papers, methodical documents, laws;
• Promote to the possible extent the involvement of international and independent expertise in research activities;
• Undertake such ad hoc research tasks as may be required by the NPC and Project Manager; this may include involvement in training activities, both as a mentor and a trainee;

2. Provide inputs to the preparation of the Project’s main strategic outputs related to leveraging financing for SDGs: a) Integrated National Financing Framework, b) SDG Financing Strategy, c) Development Finance Assessment, etc.;

3. Advocate, formulate and implement strategies related to leveraging financing for SDGs, including Social and Innovative finance as well as Islamic and Development Financing;
4. Conduct consultations with potential partners: Government, potential investors and service providers
5. Facilitate piloting of innovative finance instruments identified as the most promising in the context of Uzbekistan and contribute to development of relevant standards, frameworks and guidelines to operationalize the selected innovative financing in the country;
6. Lead the process of identification and development of specific proposals to pilot models of innovative financing for their successive scale up in collaboration with the Government and other actors.
7. Elaborate recommendations and contribute to establishment of institutional and regulatory framework for introduction of innovative instruments in Uzbekistan; this will also include technical support on issuing financing instruments and assistance in establishing relevant governance structure, management of proceeds, external review and reporting mechanisms;
8. Provide support in creation of platforms for the Government to showcase the innovative instruments piloted by the project, raising their profile for international audiences and investors;
9. Support the project fund-raising activities;
10. Perform other duties as required in the scope of current position.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;

Functional Competencies:

1. Communications and Networking

• Has excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
• Has excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

2. Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the team through leadership and personal example;
• Focus on results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Competent in leading team and creating team spirit, stimulating team members to produce quality outputs in a timely and transparent fashion.

3. Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints.

4. Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

5. Innovation and marketing of new approaches

• Identifies new approaches that are replicable, generalizable, and promotes their use in other situations;
• Generates original and imaginative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image

Education:

• University degree in finance, international finance, economics, capital markets, public finance management, public or business administration, management or related studies;

University degree in finance, international finance, economics, capital markets, public finance management, public or business administration, management or related studies;

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in the field of finance, capital markets development, public finance management, private sector development, budgeting and planning.

• Research experience in the areas of capital markets, finance, international finance, public finance, budget review and public expenditure review are required;

At least 3 years of experience in the field of finance, capital markets development, public finance management, private sector development, budgeting and planning.

Research experience in the areas of capital markets, finance, international finance, public finance, budget review and public expenditure review are required;

• Previous experience with a development partner or government is a very strong advantage.

Previous experience with a development partner or government is a very strong advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, Russian and Uzbek (written and spoken).

Fluency in English, Russian and Uzbek (written and spoken).

Others:

• Good analytical skills;

• Ability to lead consultations with senior government officials will be an advantage;

• Experience in drafting legislative and regulatory documents will be an advantage;

• Good knowledge of financial sector in Uzbekistan

Good analytical skills;

Ability to lead consultations with senior government officials will be an advantage;

Experience in drafting legislative and regulatory documents will be an advantage;

Good knowledge of financial sector in Uzbekistan

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 6 months (extension upon satisfactory performance)