Senior Advisor, Partnerships, Blended Finance and Strategic Initiatives
Organizational Context
The Joint SDG Fund accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through joint programmes implemented by national stakeholders and supported by UN Country Teams. Managed by a Secretariat hosted by the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO), the Fund aligns with UN Development System reforms and focuses on co-creation with diverse partners to overcome political and financial hurdles for SDG acceleration.
Job Purpose
This Senior Advisor role is crucial for strengthening the Joint SDG Fund's partnerships, catalytic financing, and country co-creation agenda. The position provides strategic leadership to transform global and national priorities into investable, multi-partner programmes. The advisor will engage with public and private sector actors, including development finance institutions, foundations, and philanthropies, to drive resource mobilization, develop partnerships, and advance innovative blended financing approaches. The role is advisory and catalytic, focusing on high-value engagement with the development finance ecosystem and non-traditional partners, and supporting early-stage programme design and pipeline development.
Responsibilities
The Senior Advisor will lead the design and advancement of strategic partnerships with non-Member State stakeholders, including development finance institutions, foundations, and private sector entities, to identify and shape high-value collaborations and financing pathways. This includes serving as a senior advisor on partnership expansion, authoring proposals, and driving resource mobilization through partner mapping and tailored engagement strategies. The role involves advising on programme design and positioning within partnership frameworks, leading blended finance engagement, and collaborating with communications teams to enhance visibility. Additionally, the advisor will facilitate co-creation processes with external partners and UN Country Teams, foster cross-functional coherence, and contribute to advocacy and knowledge management by documenting lessons learned from partnership and co-creation initiatives.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience in strategic partnerships, external stakeholder engagement, and relationship management is required, with significant engagement with development finance institutions, financial institutions, foundations, private sector actors, or international development organizations. At least 5 years of hands-on experience in blended finance and catalytic financing is desirable.
Skills
Systems Thinking, Client and Partner Management, Resource Mobilization, Results-Oriented and Risk-Informed Partnership and Blended Finance Management, Intergovernmental and Inter-Agency Coordination, Public Relations, Knowledge Facilitation, Strategic Partnerships, Blended Finance, Co-creation, Advocacy, Communication.