Local Finance Specialist [Open to all applicants]

Better Than Cash; Madrid; Sur place; EUR 70 000 - 95 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

UNDP seeks a Local Finance Specialist to lead subnational public finance work within the SFH PF4SDGs portfolio, working at the intersection of PF4SDGs pillars, INFFs and the Local2030 Coalition to deliver integrated fiscal policy support.

The role includes designing and monitoring subnational fiscal policy coherence, applying the cost of fiscal incoherence at local levels, and guiding redistribution efforts to advance territorial SDG outcomes.

Responsabilités

• Provide strategic and technical leadership in the application of the fiscal policy coherence approach – including the cost of fiscal incoherence – at subnational level, working closely with other thematic advisors, regional specialists, RBx, COs, other teams across the Global Policy Network, and SFH to provide integrated support.
• Work closely with the Head of Public Finance for the SDGs and the INFF team to act as a technical bridge between PF4SDGs, ILFFs and the Local2030 Coalition, integrating subnational fiscal policy coherence considerations into national financing strategies and territorial implementation in line with Local2030/SDG Fund Agenda.
• Integrate fiscal redistribution (including the HNWI SPA agenda) into public and subnational finance reforms through a fiscal policy coherence approach, to support equitable, SDG-aligned local investment outcomes.
• Lead the research and analytical work required to guide the identification of local public finance reforms in support of strengthened fiscal policy coherence at subnational level, including fiscal redistribution, drawing on PF4SDGs analytical tools.
• Facilitate dialogue and coalition building with relevant country-level stakeholders, including government, donors, civil society, and the private sector, to define and implement shared reform agendas.

Description du poste

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.


• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments


• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers


• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define our 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.

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.

SFH Public Finance for SDGs (PF4SDGs) portfolio supports governments to strengthen public finance systems for sustainable development. Operating across 99+ countries with a portfolio exceeding $200 million, the portfolio provides integrated technical assistance across three core pillars: (1) Fiscal Policy Coherence, (2) Tax Systems for Sustainable Development, and (3) Public Expenditure Management. The portfolio works with Ministries of Finance, Planning, and line ministries to align fiscal policies, tax systems, debt strategies and public expenditure with national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda. UNDP’s comparative advantage in public finance stems from its unique position at the nexus of fiscal policy and development outcomes. Rather than focusing on isolated technical reforms, UNDP empowers governments to adopt whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategies that link fiscal instruments directly to sustainable development impact. This includes facilitating cross-ministerial policy dialogue, building coalitions for reform, integrating governance, climate, gender, health, and resilience priorities into fiscal frameworks, and supporting countries in translating SDG ambitions into fiscally viable implementation pathways.

Position Purpose

The Local Finance Specialist will serve as the lead technical advisor on subnational public finance within the SFH UNDP’s Public Finance for the SDGs portfolio, working at the intersection of PF4SDGs pillars, the INFFs and UNDP’s leadership of the Local2030 Coalition, playing a strategic integrator role across these agendas, to ensure integrated, whole-of-government fiscal policy support to countries.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Public Finance for the SDGs, the incumbent will guide the design, implementation and monitoring of subnational fiscal policy coherence efforts, including leading the application of the \"cost of fiscal incoherence\" methodology at the local level, and supporting the integration of fiscal redistribution—incorporating work on High-Net-Worth Individual (HNWI) taxation—into coherent fiscal frameworks that translate national reforms into territorial SDG outcomes. The Specialist will also drive thought leadership and knowledge sharing on subnational public finance, represent UNDP in global fora, and build partnerships.The Specialist will work closely with Country Offices (COs), Regional Bureaux (RBx), and specialists across the PF4SDGs team to strengthen UNDP’s integrated offer on local finance for SDG delivery.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This reflects the interconnected nature of development risks and crises and the need for integrated and systemic responses. Accordingly, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance horizontal collaboration and strengthen UNDP’s service offer on public finance for the SDGs at both national and subnational levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide high level policy advisory support

• Provide strategic and technical leadership in the application of the fiscal policy coherence approach – including the cost of fiscal incoherence methodology – at subnational level, working closely with other thematic advisors, regional specialists, RBx, COs, other teams across the Global Policy Network (particularly with the Local Hub and Prosperity team), and the SFH to provide integrated support.


• Work closely with the Head of Public Finance for the SDGs and the INFF team to act as a technical bridge between PF4SDGs, ILFFs and the Local2030 Coalition, integrating subnational fiscal policy coherence considerations into national financing strategies and territorial implementation in line with the Local2030/SDG Fund Agenda and the Bilbao Blueprint.


• Integrate fiscal redistribution (including the HNWI SPA agenda) into public and subnational finance reforms through a fiscal policy coherence approach, to support equitable, SDG-aligned local investment outcomes.


• In coordination with the Public Finance Specialists and SFH Regional Advisors, lead and support country-level analytical, diagnostic and implementation work on subnational public finance and fiscal policy coherence reforms across the PF4SDGs portfolio, ILFFs and broader SFH initiatives, including technical backstopping and support to programme design, monitoring and reporting.


• In coordination with the SFH Regional Advisors, facilitate policy dialogue and coalition-building with national and subnational governments, UN system entities, International Financial Institutions, development partners, civil society and the private sector to advance shared reform agendas on local public finance, fiscal policy coherence and equitable development..


• Lead the research and analytical work required to guide the identification of local public finance reforms in support of strengthened fiscal policy coherence at subnational level, including fiscal redistribution, drawing on PF4SDGs analytical tools (including the cost of fiscal incoherence methodology).


• Facilitate dialogue and coalition building with relevant country-level stakeholders, including government, donors, civil society, and the private sector, to define and implement shared reform agendas.