Investment Specialist, NPSA10, Nairobi, Kenya, UNCDF [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]
Overview
The Investment Specialist will mobilize and deploy catalytic blended-finance instruments to de-risk investments, strengthen local capital markets, and crowd in private capital for growth and financial inclusion across the East and South African region. The role involves conducting analysis, building financial models, and executing investment transactions.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and manage a pipeline of investment initiatives.
- Lead the appraisal and execution of investment transactions, including guarantees, concessional loans, and grants.
- Conduct financial analysis, due diligence, risk assessments, and ESG, KYC/AML/CFT reviews.
- Prepare investment assessment reports, memoranda, and committee documentation.
- Coordinate transaction structuring, legal documentation, and fulfilment of conditions precedent.
- Build and maintain relationships with commercial banks, DFIs, impact investors, and other financing partners.
- Support the structuring of blended finance and risk-sharing solutions.
- Facilitate investor engagement, co-financing opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
- Prepare presentations, briefing materials, and knowledge products.
- Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices.
- Support stakeholder engagement, investment forums, partner events, and strategic communications activities.
- Contribute to policy briefs, analytical papers, and research.
- Support resource mobilization through donor proposals and concept notes.
- Provide technical inputs to programme design.
- Identify policy-driven issues and synthesize best practices.
- Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks.
- Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions.
- Support policy advisory services for inclusive societal digital transformation.
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
- Organize and deliver training for operations/projects staff.
Required Experience
A minimum of 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelors degree) in either the financial sector or the private sector or a mix, with investment and /or business management experience is required. Demonstrated experience structuring and executing financial transactions, including financial modelling and credit risk assessment. Proven experience managing an investment portfolio, including monitoring performance, milestone tracking, mitigating risks, overseeing compliance, and restructuring. Experience in writing investment and transaction memos that are presented to the investment decisioning committee. Experience in stakeholder management and negotiation, particularly with financial institutions, fund managers, fintechs, and other stakeholders in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) financing space.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or relevant related field is required, OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.