Innovation Specialist (Innovative Financing, Sovereign Debt Solutions) (P-3) TA (until 31 December 2026), # 136477, Innovative & Alternative Finance Children, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

Overview

The Innovation Specialist will support a sovereign debt solution to free up fiscal space for children, including operational planning, internal and external positioning, and coordination with partners. The role focuses on the development and implementation of innovative finance frameworks and initiatives.

Tasks Summary

• Analyze UNICEF’s portfolio to identify innovative finance opportunities, with a focus on sovereign debt dynamics affecting fiscal space for social sectors.
• Support the initiation, design, and implementation of innovative financing solutions, particularly sovereign debt solutions.
• Formulate business analyses of financial markets and trends, including risk assessment and mitigation.
• Conduct assessments and feasibility analyses of prospective innovative finance instruments.
• Document strategic decisions and operational processes.
• Provide inputs for the IF4C Training Programme.
• Manage projects and coordinate the PFP IF4C team’s work plan and deliverables, especially those involving complex debt processes and government negotiations.
• Maintain tracking and reporting mechanisms for IF4C initiatives and sovereign debt workstreams.
• Support the development and management of partnerships with private sector entities, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Produce audience-specific content for internal and external positioning, fundraising proposals, and promotional materials.
• Draft and curate content for the IF4C newsletter, impact reports, and other communication channels.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience in development, innovative finance, ESG/impact investing, project management, investment banking, private banking, management consulting, risk and market analysis, or law is required.
• Experience working in innovative finance or related fields, including a solid understanding of the innovative finance landscape, is an asset.
• Prior experience in structuring sovereign debt solutions is an asset.
• Experience in partnership building and capital resource mobilization is an asset.
• Ability to work across multiple projects, with multiple stakeholders and moving deadlines is an asset.
• UNICEF experience is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is an asset.

Qualification Requirements

• An advanced university degree in International development, finance, economics, public or business administration, or closely related fields is required.
• Alternatively, a first level university degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Other Details

Languages Required: • Fluency in English is required.

Languages Preferred: • Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Contract Duration: Until 31 December 2026

Work Modality:

Remuneration: