The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels:

• inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives;
• local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and
• investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

SMEs play an important role in Zambia’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP, employment, and the private sector. Despite their important role, SMEs face challenges in operating and growing their businesses. SMEs therefore are an important target group for UNCDF’s activities. UNCDF is setting up a loan guarantee and technical assistance facility in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia. The objectives of the facility are;

• To scale up SME financing significantly and on a sustainable basis in Zambia. This includes financing for SMEs in sectors such as digital-first enterprises, renewable energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, women-owned enterprises, eco-tourism, and nature conservation.
• Improve the capacity of commercial banks to better serve SMEs, particularly through digital approaches.
• Support SMEs to run their businesses better and more efficiently using digital tools.
• Support the SME ecosystem in Zambia, including policy makers and regulators, in improving the operating and financing environment for small businesses.

The Results Measurement Specialist will be responsible for leading the implementation of the results measurement strategy for UNCDF activities related to digital (financial) inclusion and impact investment in Zambia. This includes:

Development of a results management framework:

• Develop and / or refine the theory of change and result indicators for different projects and programs in UNCDF Zambia.

System design, development, and implementation for data collection, aggregation, and analysis:

• Design monitoring tools for interventions (results chains, project KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), data collection plans) and support the implementation (field visits, key informant interviews, review and validation of partner reporting, project closing, etc.).
• Ensure accurate, complete, reliable, and timely results measurement information is submitted to UNCDF.
• Carry out in-depth analysis of submitted information to generate insights and findings that aid decision making.

Quantitative and qualitative research:

• Design and implement quantitative and qualitative research to identify programme priorities, inform market engagements and capture programme results and impact.

​​​​​​​Internal and external reporting:

• Review and contribute to internal and external reporting, including donor reporting, and knowledge products to share programme results and learnings.

​​​​​​​Training and capacity development:

• Train other team members and partners on Results Measurement standards, processes, and tools.

• 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.

Business Management:Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management:Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Business Management:Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Business Management:Evaluation: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

• Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Public/Business Administration, Social Sciences, Technology or a related discipline or a  Bachelor’s degree in the related filed with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.

• Minimum of 7 years with Master’s degree and 9 years with (Bachelor’s Degree) progressive work experience work experience in designing and implementing results measurement frameworks;
• Strong skills in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research in the context of inclusive development;
• Excellent skills in Excel and other programs such as Stata, R Studio, and Power BI;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing measurement systems and research in the field of impact investment, SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) finance, and/or (digital) financial inclusion;
• Familiar with the Market Systems Development approach and/or the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) standards for measurement and evaluation.

Language: Fluency in English, with excellent writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.