The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), is seeking applications for an Investment Specialist for Asia Pacific, IPSA-11.
This is a home-based, full-time international consultancy position supporting investment development, blended finance, private-sector engagement and sustainable development initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.
Key Details
- Position: Investment Specialist for Asia Pacific
- Organization: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
- Agency: UNDP
- Grade: IPSA-11
- Location: Home-based
- Contract: International Personnel Service Agreement
- Duration: 1 year
- Job Type: Full-time
- Job ID: 35699
- Posted: 17 August 2026
- Application Deadline: 24 August 2026 at 5:59 AM
- Required Language: English
About UNCDF
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) works to mobilize capital and expand financing for sustainable development, particularly in developing and least developed countries. As a catalytic blended-finance platform within the UN system, UNCDF uses grants, loans and guarantees to crowd in additional public and private investment.
Its work focuses on three priority areas: SME Finance, Sub-National Finance and Digital Finance.
The Investment Specialist will contribute to UNCDF’s efforts to develop investment opportunities, structure financial solutions and mobilize capital that supports sustainable economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
What Will the Investment Specialist Do?
The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Regional Investment Specialists for Asia and the Pacific and collaborate closely with colleagues across UNCDF’s investment and finance functions.
The role combines investment analysis, strategic research, financial structuring, project management, fundraising and technical assistance.
1. Strategic Research and Market Analysis
The specialist will conduct market scoping to identify investment opportunities and inform investment strategies. Responsibilities include analyzing financing landscapes, identifying capital providers and financial intermediaries, assessing market conditions and identifying regulatory or policy barriers affecting investment flows.
The position will also require monitoring developments in blended finance, climate finance and impact investing and translating market intelligence into practical investment recommendations.
2. Project and Financial Mechanism Design
The specialist will contribute to the design of blended-finance solutions and investment vehicles aligned with UNCDF’s strategic objectives.
This includes developing investment strategies, operational guidelines and structural frameworks; recommending appropriate de-risking instruments; supporting investment-readiness initiatives; identifying potential co-investors and development finance institutions; and contributing to country-level investment roadmaps and strategic partnerships.
The specialist will also contribute to knowledge products, case studies, analytical briefs, donor engagement and strategic reporting.
3. Investment Transaction Execution
A significant part of the role involves identifying and screening investment opportunities aligned with UNCDF’s priorities and SDG targets.
Responsibilities include conducting due diligence, analyzing financial statements, developing financial models, assessing credit risk, preparing investment appraisal memorandums and supporting transaction structuring.
The specialist may work with financial instruments including concessional loans, guarantees, capitalization grants and performance-based payments.
They will also monitor transactions throughout the investment cycle, analyze financial and development data, identify emerging risks and support mitigation measures.
4. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
The successful candidate will provide technical assistance to investees and support capacity-building activities designed to improve financial management and investment readiness.
This can include helping enterprises develop viable business plans and financial strategies, advising government counterparts and partners on investment constraints, and facilitating knowledge exchange with financial institutions and other stakeholders.
5. Project Management
The role also involves preparing annual work plans, budgets and activity schedules; coordinating project implementation; managing partner engagement; preparing donor reports; overseeing monitoring and evaluation processes; maintaining project documentation; and supporting steering committee meetings.
The specialist will also contribute to project close-out, including final reporting and documentation of lessons learned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have an Advanced university degree at Master’s level in development, business administration, finance, marketing, economics, accounting or a related field.
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area may also receive consideration if they have the required additional qualifying experience.
For applicants with a Master’s degree, at least 7 years of relevant professional experience is required. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree require at least 9 years.
The position specifically seeks candidates with at least 5 years of investment experience in areas such as:
- Agricultural SMEs
- Clean energy SMEs
- Fintech and digital financial inclusion
- Project finance
- Microfinance institutions
- Guarantee instruments
- Development finance
Experience in venture capital or banking within an international financial environment, particularly within a development finance institution, impact investor or similar organization, is required.
Candidates should also have experience preparing investment projects or developing investment opportunities with social and environmental objectives in developing countries.
Technical Skills
Strong competence in financial modelling and analysis using Microsoft Excel is required.
The position also values:
- Financial markets knowledge
- Sustainable development finance
- Development finance instruments
- Due diligence
- Private-sector engagement
- Investment analysis
- Evidence and data analysis
- Strategic research
- Analytical writing
- Executive-level reports and presentations
- Project preparation and investment readiness
Experience with private credit or equity investments in emerging or frontier markets is highly desirable.
An understanding of how enterprises require different combinations of debt and equity across their growth stages—from incubation through scaling and commercial viability—is also an advantage.
Experience working within the UN system or a similar international development finance institution is desirable, with at least two years of such experience listed as an advantage.
Experience working in or with the Asia-Pacific region, or being located in a compatible time zone, is also considered advantageous.
Core Competencies
UNDP is looking for professionals who demonstrate the ability to achieve results, think innovatively, learn continuously, adapt with agility and act with determination.
The role also requires strong partnership skills, political awareness, collaboration across institutions and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Technical competencies particularly emphasized include systems thinking, knowledge generation, communication, evidence and data analysis, development finance expertise, due diligence management and private-sector engagement.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
This opportunity is particularly relevant to experienced investment and development-finance professionals seeking to work at the intersection of capital mobilisation and sustainable development.
The position offers the opportunity to contribute to investment transactions, blended-finance mechanisms and partnerships designed to mobilize additional capital for development outcomes across the Asia-Pacific region.
Because the position is home-based, it also provides an international working arrangement while allowing the successful candidate to contribute to UNCDF’s global investment mandate.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 24 August 2026 at 5:59 AM.
Candidates should carefully review the eligibility requirements, particularly the required investment experience, financial modelling expertise and relevant academic qualifications, before applying.
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Important: UNDP states that it does not charge applicants a fee at any stage of recruitment.
