Project Specialist

The Project Specialist will support the implementation of UNCDF-led activities under the LEED Joint Programme in Papua New Guinea's Highlands region, focusing on financial inclusion, digital finance, and economic development to address conflict and underdevelopment. The role involves project implementation, partner coordination, financial advisory, and monitoring to foster sustainable economic growth and social cohesion.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day implementation of UNCDF-led activities under the LEED Joint Programme in the Highlands region, in line with approved workplans and budgets.
• Prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts to ensure sufficient resources are available for the achievement of planned results and fulfilment of workplans.
• Anticipate delays and recommend solutions to rectify implementation challenges.
• Coordinate and oversee field-level execution of activities related to access to finance, digital financial services, risk mitigation instruments and blended finance.
• Ensure timely delivery of activities in collaboration with project partners, including MFIs, financial institutions, cooperatives among others.
• Support beneficiary targeting and outreach, ensuring inclusive participation of youth, women, persons with disabilities, and conflict-affected communities.
• Maintain regular field presence to monitor progress, troubleshoot operational issues, and provide hands-on implementation support.
• Support the deployment of financial instruments and ensure regular follow up with the investees to ensure portfolio compliance.
• Serve as the primary UNCDF field focal point in the Highlands, liaising with local authorities, partners, and communities.
• Facilitate coordination with FAO, ILO, HJP2 field teams, and relevant provincial and district government counterparts to ensure coherent joint implementation.
• Support the establishment, strengthening, and maintenance of partnerships with financial service providers, cooperatives, mobile network operators, and private-sector actors.
• Participate in provincial-level coordination meetings, joint project reviews, and community consultations.
• Conduct community needs assessment on gaps to accessing and utilising financial services among youths and farmer groups and value chain actors.
• Represent UNCDF in relevant field-level forums, working groups, and stakeholder engagements as delegated.
• Provide operational and technical support to the rollout of financial inclusion interventions, including digital finance pilots and tailored financial products.
• Support partners to implement UNCDF instruments such as guarantees, risk-sharing mechanisms, or insurance pilots, in line with approved designs.
• Assist implementing partners in understanding and complying with UNCDF and UN operational, financial, and procurement procedures.
• Support the development of financial literacy training packages to suit the youth and farmer groups context in partnership with financial institution providers.
• Support due diligence processes, field-level assessments, and operational readiness of partners.
• Oversee the development of parametric insurance packages to youths, women and farmers or farmer groups.
• Identify operational risks and constraints and proactively propose practical solutions to ensure continuity of implementation.
• Support the collection and verification of field-level data, results, and beneficiary feedback in coordination with M&E colleagues.
• Contribute to progress reports, donor updates, and joint programme reporting, including narrative inputs and documentation of results.
• Identify, document, and share lessons learned, good practices, and success stories from field implementation.
• Support monitoring visits, joint reviews, evaluations, and audits as required.
• Ensure implementation adheres to Do No Harm principles, conflict sensitivity, gender equality, disability inclusion, and UNCDF social and environmental safeguards, promptly flagging risks or incidents.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• An Advanced (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development, business administration, finance, marketing, economics, accounting, social sciences or related fields is required.
• 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.
• A minimum of 5 years (with a Masters’ Degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant work experience in project implementation in financial inclusion, rural development livelihoods or private sector development or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or remote contexts.
• Experience in at least one, but preferably several, of the following areas: Agricultural SMEs, Clean energy SMEs, SMEs promoting digitalization in the context of financial inclusion (FINTECH), Project finance, Micro Finance Institutions, Guarantee instruments within the space of development finance.
• Experience in project preparation and/or in development of investment opportunities, especially for investment projects with social objectives in developing countries.
• Strong project coordination and field implementation skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including community groups and government counterparts.
• Computer literacy, including proficient use of research and applied software.
• Experience working in project management, implementation and M&E at the national level.
• Experience working on GBV or peacebuilding or related issues would be an asset.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team is an advantage.
• Strong reporting, documentation, and communication skills are desirable.
• Ability to work independently in remote field locations with limited supervision is an advantage.
• Sensitivity to gender, disability inclusion, and peacebuilding contexts is an asset.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes is desirable.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Tok Pisin is required;

Skills

• Project Implementation
• Financial Inclusion Knowledge
• Rural Development Policy
• Private Sector Development
• Agricultural SMEs
• Clean Energy SMEs
• Digital Finance
• Project Financing
• Micro Finance Institutions
• Development Finance
• Investment Proposal Preparation
• Project Coordination
• Field Implementation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Research Software
• Project Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Documentation and Reporting
• Gender Sensitivity
• Disability Inclusion
• Peacebuilding Processes

Languages

English, Tok Pisin