IRADE Project Manager (NPSA 11) -UNCDF

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Closing Date: March 9, 2026, 05:59 AM

Job Description

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and d Philanthropy, among others.

UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources,
in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. UNCDF’s work is focused on three priority areas, including:

• SME Finance
• Sub-National Finance
• Digital Finance

UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and  Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions.

UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF.
UNCDF is overseen by an Executive Board comprised of UN Member States.

Advancing Inclusive Rural & Agriculture Digital Ecosystems (AIRADE) is an initiative to transform Ethiopia’s agricultural sector by expanding inclusive access to finance and services through digital solutions. Building on insights from the Integrated Value Chain Support scheme, the project focuses on creating a reliable digital
system to improve efficiency, accessibility, and inclusivity in agri-input distribution and financing. AIRADE aims to accelerate inclusive rural and agricultural ecosystems in Ethiopia by improving smallholder farmers’ access to inputs and financing, ultimately attracting greater investment into the sector.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator in Ethiopia, the AIRADE Project Manager will be responsible for the effective management and day-to-day implementation of the project. The AIRADE Project Manager will work in close collaboration with the project team, the regional team, and implementing partners
to ensure timely delivery of project activities and achievement of results

3. Scope of Work 

The AIRADE Project Manager will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of AIRADE activities to scale the digital platform and expand farmer access to credit.

a) Project Planning and Execution

• Lead the development and implementation of annual and quarterly work plans aligned with project goals and donor requirements.
• Coordinate planning of technical activities including input distribution systems and capacity building initiatives.

b) Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Serve as the main liaison with implementing partners, government agencies, private sector actors, and other stakeholders;
• Facilitate partnerships and ensure alignment with the project objectives and UNCDF broader strategic frameworks.

c) Implementation Oversight and Technical Support

• Supervise field activities and provide technical guidance to ensure quality delivery of project outputs; Monitor progress of the project.

d) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Work closely with M&E teams to track performance indicators, outcomes, and impacts;  Prepare high-quality narrative and financial reports highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

e) Risk Management

• Closely monitor development in the external environment and identify operational, financial, and environmental risks affecting project outcomes and recommend mitigation measures.

f) Knowledge Management and Communication

• Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned to inform policy dialogue and program design;
  Support visibility and communication efforts through progress updates, field stories, and stakeholder briefs.

4. Institutional Arrangement 

The AIRADE Project Manager will perform her/his duties under the direct supervision of the Ethiopia Programme Coordinator and will work closely with the country and regional programme teams of UNCDF as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Transformation Institute in Ethiopia.

5. Competencies 

Core

Achieve Results: 

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction and Strategy. System Thinking:  Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within
an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management. Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Business Management. Agri-inputs distribution and financing; Ability to understand the input distribution and financing system in Ethiopia and leverage experience to support the government to enhance functionality.

Business Management. Partnerships Management; Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working
relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Digital & Innovation. Digital ecosystems: Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society.

Digital & Innovation. Digital business analysis; Ability to support digital business processes across a range of digital projects, programmes, and activities.

 6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA 

Min. Education requirements 

• A master’s degree or first university degree in Economics, Project Management, Management, Banking and Finance, Economics, or a similar field is required, OR
• 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.
• Min. years of relevant work experience
• A minimum of seven (7) years (with a master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with a bachelor’s or equivalent) of relevant professional experience in the areas of  agriculture financial services, input distribution, supply chain management, business administration

Required skills 

• Experience in project management, project coordination and monitoring and/or provision of advisory services or similar is required.
• Demonstrated experience in leading inclusive private sector business development projects, particularly in the financial and agricultural sectors or related fields is required.
• Familiarity with the technical aspects of digital finance services, agricultural finance, financial inclusion and agriculture digitization, challenges and opportunities of reaching the unbanked community though digital finance services in Ethiopia is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section 

• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with government, private sector, and development partners is desired.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-qualityresults under pressure is desired.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and facilitating partnerships is desired

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Amharic or other languages used in Ethiopia is required.

Professional Certificates N/A

The following documents shall be required from the applicants: 

a) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

b) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

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