Pro-Bono External Observer for UNDP’s Investment Committee

External Members of the UNDP Investment Committee serve as independent advisors providing expert advice and strategic guidance to support UNDP's monetary and investment oversight framework. The role is advisory, focusing on governance, risk oversight, and institutional investment discipline across UNDP's portfolios and foreign exchange activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent expert advice and strategic guidance to the Investment Committee in support of UNDP's monetary and investment oversight framework.
• Ensure the Treasury unit manages investments prudently and with due process, while enhancing its knowledge and capabilities.
• Provide objective challenges, institutional perspective, and market expertise in support of UNDP's investment objectives of safety, liquidity, income, and socially responsible investing.
• Advise on the development, interpretation, and amendment of UNDP Investment Guidelines.
• Review strategic asset allocation frameworks, permissible instruments, maturity structures, and diversification parameters.
• Provide independent perspectives on ESG/SRI integration and evolving institutional investment practices.
• Select benchmarks and targets for investment returns.
• Review portfolio performance relative to approved benchmarks and investment objectives.
• Assess portfolio risks including credit, liquidity, market, currency, operational, and counterparty risks.
• Review material compliance breaches, downgrade events, or other exceptions reported by Treasury.
• Provide guidance on non-USD currency management and hedging strategies.
• Review the appointment and appropriateness of custodians, investment managers, brokers and counterparties.
• Advise on governance, transparency, and institutional control frameworks relevant to investment operations.
• Review the performance of asset managers, custodians, brokers and other relevant external service providers to assist the Organization in oversight, management and performance evaluation of its investments.
• Bring external market insight and institutional best practices to Committee discussions.
• Provide constructive challenges and independent judgement on significant investment proposals or strategic changes.
• Support long-term institutional resilience, sound governance, and fiduciary discipline across UNDP's cash management, asset management, and investment activities.
• Attend quarterly Committee meetings and additional sessions as required.
• Review meeting materials in advance and participate actively in discussions.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding all Committee deliberations, materials and recommendations.
• Exercise independent and objective judgement in the best interests of UNDP.
• Provide informal advice between meetings on material market developments, strategic initiatives, or emerging risks affecting UNDP portfolios.

Requirements

• External Members should possess substantial senior-level experience in one or more of the following areas: Institutional asset management, Fixed income portfolio management, Treasury and liquidity management, Foreign exchange management, Risk management, ESG/SRI investing, Pension, reserve or sovereign-style portfolio oversight.
• Members should generally possess a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience with governance frameworks applicable to large institutional investment portfolios.
• External Members must remain free from actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could impair their independence or objectivity.
• Members shall complete UNDP conflict of interest declarations prior to appointment.
• Members shall promptly disclose any conflict arising during their term.
• Members shall recuse themselves from discussions or decisions where a conflict exists.
• Where a conflict cannot be appropriately managed, the Chairperson may recommend suspension or termination of membership.

Skills

• Institutional Asset Management
• Fixed Income Portfolio Management
• Treasury Management
• Liquidity Management
• Foreign Exchange Risk Management
• Risk Management
• ESG Investing
• SRI Investing
• Pension Portfolio Oversight
• Reserve Portfolio Oversight
• Sovereign Portfolio Oversight
• Governance Framework Analysis
• Investment Portfolio Governance
• Conflict of Interest Management
• Strategic Investment Advisory
• Monetary Oversight
• Investment Oversight

Languages

English