Regional Specialist, LAC - Insurance and Risk Finance (Home-Based) (Open to Tier 0,1, & 2 applicants)

UNDP•Panama City, FL

5d•Remote

About The Position

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. As outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define the organization’s contribution to human development: expanding prosperity for all, strengthening effective governance, safeguarding a healthy planet and building crisis resilience. These objectives are enabled by three accelerators that drive transformative impact across our portfolio: digital and AI innovation, gender equality and sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, UNDP supports countries to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives and to advance sustainable development at scale. In alignment with the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) 2026-2029 identifies sustainable finance as a key accelerator and outlines UNDPLAC´s strategic vision and operational priorities for the next four years. At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), UNDP launched the LAC Facility for Financing Resilient Human Development, which is a multi-stakeholder platform focused on enhancing the region’s capacity to mobilize public and private investments. UNDP, through its Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) (https://sdgfinance.undp.org/), supports partners in promoting financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an accelerator of the UNDP Strategic Plan, sustainable finance strengthens countries’ ability to mobilize, align and deploy finance at scale for national priorities. UNDP supports international and country level policy reform as a catalyst for system-wide change, stronger policy environments, better-functioning markets and more coherent financing strategies for sustainable development. SFH work is delivered through three interconnected portfolios: 1) Public Finance for the SDGs; 2) Private Finance for the SDGs; and 3) Global & Country Financing Policy Frameworks. UNDP’s Insurance and Risk Finance Team, (https://irff.undp.org) housed within the Sustainable Finance Hub’s Private Finance portfolio, is building countries’ long-term financial resilience to an evolving risk landscape. Currently active in 39 countries, the Insurance and Risk Finance team is working with over 100 public and private partners, facilitating tailored financial protection solutions for the public sector, households, smallholder farmers, small businesses and nature. The team is creating the right environment for sovereign, sub-sovereign and inclusive insurance solutions to scale, working with governments to develop supportive insurance regulations and policies, and building the capacity of local industry to develop inclusive products, services and distribution channels. The insurance and risk finance work contributes to the Sustainable Finance Hub’s public, private and global policy portfolios, with the team also providing technical assistance to help governments integrate risk finance and insurance into all aspects of public financial planning and management.

Requirements

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), in Economics, Finance, Actuarial Science, Development Studies, Public Policy or other closely related area 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.
Minimum of 5 years (with a master's degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in insurance, risk finance, disaster risk financing, or financial sector development in the public sector (national or multilateral), private sector, academia, or non-governmental organizations is required.
Demonstrable experience working in insurance and risk financing in Latin America, with exposure to initiatives linking insurance to agriculture, nature, gender, social protection, SME development.
Experience in managing projects across issues of insurance and risk financing.
Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

Nice To Haves

Competency in other UN languages is an asset.
Experience in overseeing implementation of projects involving government, NGO/CSO, private sector, academia and/or intergovernmental stakeholders.
Experience in results-based project management including implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
Experience in managing teams, inspiring and mentoring staff, facilitating their capacity development, and resolving conflicts.
Experience in overseeing and guiding the development of communications and knowledge management strategies and products.

Responsibilities

Provide policy support to the Regional Hub and SFH for regional implementation of UNDP’s work across insurance and risk finance, in close coordination with SFH Regional Advisor, SFH portfolios and Regional Hub teams.
Deliver strategic advice, advocacy support, and critical analysis and information to enhance UNDP’s overall positioning on insurance and risk finance, including the preparation of briefing notes, presentations, speeches etc. Where appropriate, manage resources that may be delegated as part of overall programmatic work.
Work across UNDP thematic teams in the Regional Hub to ensure coherent integration across issues of financing, risk and development, including, but not limited to, those working in inclusive growth and social protection, health, SME development, private sector development, impact investing, economic growth, disaster risk reduction, climate, nature and forests.
Participate across a range of regional and country fora where appropriate and actively promote and position UNDP’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Support country offices in the delivery of all Insurance and Risk Financing Programmes within the region, in close coordination with SFH Regional Advisor and SFH portfolios.
Provide direct technical advice to Country Offices and Programme Countries, especially for the implementation of country-level programmes, and where appropriate, jointly manage the delivery of specialized insurance/risk finance staff at the country level with a strong focus on coordination with other areas of work within country offices.
Liaise with both public and private sector delivery partners (Insurance Development Forum and the Global Shield) together with Country Offices.
Develop and implement regional initiatives.
Identify new and scalable opportunities for UNDP across the region and within countries and develop them to concept stage.
Proactively seek to resource all projects in development and actively support country offices in their task of securing financing for insurance and risk finance work in coordination with other UNDP priorities, especially sustainable finance.
Actively explore and develop strategic alliances with key partners for joint fundraising and service-delivery, in coordination with SFH and Regional Hub.
Contribute significantly to the development of strategic programmatic partnerships with both internal and external partners to advance the implementation of UNDP’s Insurance and Risk Finance Facility and Regional Hub priorities.
Develop strong relationships with donor financing and technical teams where they exist, at the regional level but also increasingly at the country level (in support of UNDP Country Offices.)
Lead on regional KM, advocacy and research issues for the Insurance and Risk Finance teams in the region.
Lead on and support the development of marketing, policy, learning and advocacy materials related to the team’s work, as well as in support of both SFH and the Regional Hub.
Ensure that all training materials, tools and advocacy work are disseminated across country offices and programme countries.
Participate across regional media, and actively contribute to its work through a strong social media presence supported by regular expert articles.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.