Senior Project Officer, ISFD Taskforce

General Background

The OEC: The Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC) is an international intergovernmental organisation, founded in January 2020 by countries from across the Global South, to “contribute to the equitable, just, and prosperous social transformation of societies by promoting balanced and inclusive education, in order to attain the fundamental rights to liberty, justice, dignity, sustainability, social cohesion, and material and immaterial security for the peoples of the world”.

ISFD: The International Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) – a key instrument of the OEC which is sitting under the Finance for Development (FINDEV) department – has as a vision to eventually become a new development bank supporting countries from the Global South. The role of ISFD will, inter alia, include generating new funds and promoting investments in OEC Member States as well as financing OEC’s budget and being in charge of distributing the loans received by the OEC’s Common Leveraging Union of Borrowers (CLUB).

The main functions of FINDEV are to:

a. provide technical and policy support to Member States in developing context appropriate frameworks for the implementation of sustainable public private partnerships

b. host and support the ISFD and the CLUB

c. collectively secure more favourable financing and debt relief for the CLUB members

d. reinforce the case and actively advocate for a more equitable international financial system considering the interests of Member States.

Job Title

Senior Project Officer, ISFD Taskforce

Duty Station

Headquarters (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Duration

Indeterminate appointment

Category and Level

T3, Step I (mid-level technical)

Role Summary

Under the overall authority of the Secretary-General, the guidance of the Under-Secretary-General for FINDEV, and the direct supervision of the ISFD Taskforce Chief of Section, the ISFD Senior Project Officer will support the ISFD Taskforce: Chief of Section in preparing the launch of the ISFD at the second ordinary session of the General Assembly and developing its capability post-launch. This, inter alia, includes reviewing protocols of other development banks to look at best practice governance and their set up strategies, designing the strategies and business plans for the ISFD and strengthening relations with donors, international institutions and other banks to secure funds for the ISFD. This position provides the exciting, unique opportunity of joining the core team of a new international organisation – contributing to its lasting construction and influencing its future trajectory – and an innovative international financing instrument.

Duties

• Review protocols of other development banks to look at best practice governance, set up strategies and provide detailed recommendations to the ISFD: Chief of Section on how to best structure the ISFD.
• Responsibe for drafting the bylaws of the ISFD.
• Work together with the ISFD: Chief of Section to:
• (i) Design the strategies, tactics and business plans that will lead towards the establishment of the ISFD as a new development bank; and
• (ii) Identify sources of funding that will support the ISFD’s vision to gradually become a development bank by working towards building new or strengthening existing relations with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, private sector investors, national governments, donors etc.
• Upon identifying the sources of funding, supporting the ISFD: Chief of Section together with the Under-Secretary-General for FINDEV and the CLUB Committee in designing the strategies on how to best invest these funds in order to promote OEC Member States’ sustainable economic growth.
• Design strategies on how to best utilise the management fee received by financing secured through the CLUB with the aim to support investments in OEC Member States.

Competencies

• Ability to identify the geopolitical, economic and commercial issues that could impact the operation of the ISFD and provide context to strategic decisions
• Strong proven experience of liaising with stakeholders (i.e., donors, government officials, private sector actors, financial institutions)
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and cross-cultural communication skills with a proven track record
• Excellent networking and negotiation skills; credibility and confidence in relating to and dealing with people from various backgrounds
• Strong methodical and strategic thinking skills and ability to develop long-term organisational strategies
• Excellent research and writing skills

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of extensive experience working at an international financial institution and/or international or regional development bank and dealing with governance and
• Master’s degree (or higher) in Economics or Finance

Language Requirements

Candidate must at least be fluent in English. Additional knowledge of one or more other official languages (French, Arabic, Spanish) is an asset.