Catalytic Finance Specialist
Organizational Context
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding globally. The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), a UNOPS project, focuses on improving 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 facilitating access to finance in low- and middle-income countries.
Job Purpose
The Catalytic Finance Specialist will support UNOPS' Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) Capital M initiative in India. The primary purpose is to advance country pipeline opportunities for catalytic financing within the menstrual health market. This involves identifying and analyzing high-impact enterprises and strategic partners to unlock additional investment. The specialist will assist the technical team in scoping potential pipeline targets and partners, drawing on expertise in private sector, impact investing, or development finance. The role is crucial for mapping key market players, exploring opportunities with enterprises and partners, understanding challenges, and assessing financing needs to drive investment through catalytic finance mechanisms, ultimately supporting market-based menstrual health solutions.
Responsibilities
The role involves comprehensive market and pipeline assessment, identifying and evaluating enterprises, financial institutions, investors, and strategic partners crucial for catalytic financing in India's menstrual health market. This includes assessing enterprises across the value chain (manufacturing, distribution, retail, e-commerce) based on their development stage, business model, financial performance, and investment readiness. A key responsibility is mapping the financing ecosystem, identifying local financial institutions, blended finance funds, impact investors, and development finance institutions that can provide local-currency financing. The specialist will develop and apply criteria to screen and prioritize pipeline opportunities, assessing their impact, feasibility, and alignment with SHF objectives. Stakeholder engagement is vital, contributing market intelligence, building relationships with potential partners, and representing SHF at relevant events. Deliverables include an inception report, a financing ecosystem map, a prioritized pipeline database, and strategic financing recommendations.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in India is required, specifically in impact investing, venture capital, development finance, corporate finance, or fundraising for private sector entities. Experience in programme financing within development finance or impact investing in India is also necessary. Desirable experience includes working in financing or investment for women's health, menstrual health, FMCG, or related markets, as well as mapping and engaging local financial institutions and accelerators.
Skills
Market Analysis, Project Coordination, Research, Stakeholder Management, Prioritization, Impact Investing, Development Finance, Corporate Finance, Fundraising, Financial Analysis, Partnership Development.