Innovative Finance Manager
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace and stability. WFP utilizes food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and a high-performing workforce committed to its mission.
Job Purpose
The Innovative Finance Manager will play a crucial role within WFP's Change Management and Business Innovation Unit, focusing on designing and implementing cutting-edge financing instruments. This position is vital for mobilizing new funding streams beyond traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA) to address growing humanitarian and development needs. The manager will lead projects to develop innovative financing strategies, structure instruments like blended finance, impact investment funds, and results-based financing, and engage with diverse stakeholders including donors and investors. The role requires strong financial modeling, strategic advisory, and project management skills to ensure the successful operationalization of these mechanisms and contribute to WFP's ability to channel resources effectively to those in need.
Responsibilities
The Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) at the World Food Programme (WFP) seeks an Innovative Finance Manager to design and implement cutting-edge financing instruments. This role involves developing strategies and launching mechanisms like blended finance, impact investment funds, and results-based financing to unlock new funding streams beyond traditional Official Development Assistance. Responsibilities include executing business innovation projects, conducting landscape reviews of financing models, developing investment theses and financial models, and engaging with donors and investors. The manager will also support the operationalization of selected mechanisms, provide strategic advisory to senior leadership, and prepare high-quality reports and presentations. Additionally, the role entails contributing to internal capacity-building on innovative finance, supporting knowledge management, and guiding junior staff. The position requires expertise in designing and implementing innovative financing instruments, strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities, a deep understanding of resource mobilization, and the ability to lead teams and manage complex projects under tight deadlines. The manager will work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners across diverse settings.
Work Experience
Requires at least 7 years of relevant work experience in fields such as innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, or investment banking.
Skills
Innovative Finance, Impact Investing, Development Finance, Investment Banking, Financial Modeling, Business Case Development, Risk-Return Frameworks, Resource Mobilization, Stakeholder Engagement, Project Management, Team Leadership, Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis, Strategic Advisory, Cross-cultural Collaboration, Change Management, Business Innovation