Catalytic Finance Specialist (Anglophone West Africa)

Organizational Context

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding globally. The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), a project of UNOPS, focuses on achieving universal access to sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health. Capital M is SHF's initiative to strengthen the menstrual health market by fostering sustainable, market-based solutions and improving access to finance in low- and middle-income countries.

Job Purpose

The Catalytic Finance Specialist will support SHF's Capital M initiative by identifying and analyzing high-impact enterprises and strategic partners to advance pipeline opportunities for catalytic financing in the menstrual health market. This role involves scoping potential targets in priority countries, initially focusing on Anglophone West Africa, particularly Nigeria. The specialist will map key private sector players, potential partners, and investors, engaging with them to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and assess financing needs. The ultimate goal is to support strategies that unlock more investment through catalytic finance, thereby advancing market-based menstrual health solutions and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsibilities

The role involves assessing the menstrual health market and pipeline by identifying and evaluating enterprises, financial institutions, investors, and partners for catalytic financing. This includes reviewing enterprises across the value chain based on their development stage, business model, financial performance, and investment readiness. The specialist will map the financing ecosystem, identifying local financial institutions and intermediaries, as well as blended finance funds and impact investors, assessing their mandates and alignment with Capital M objectives. Pipeline opportunities will be screened and prioritized based on impact, feasibility, and financing needs, with recommendations for technical assistance and catalytic financing. Stakeholder engagement is crucial, contributing market intelligence, building relationships, preparing technical briefs, and representing SHF at relevant events.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of work experience in the private sector, development finance, or corporate finance is required. Experience in program financing, specifically related to development finance or impact investing in low- and middle-income countries, is also necessary. Experience in the menstrual health market and value chain, or knowledge of the Anglophone West Africa sector-specific enterprise and financial environment, is desirable.

Skills

Market Analysis, Project Coordination, Research, Stakeholder Engagement, Prioritization, Development Finance, Impact Investing, Financial Analysis, Business Development.

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