UNDP Careers · 5 hours ago
Strategic Intelligence and Analytics Specialist
New York, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expUNDP is a leading UN organization focused on assisting developing countries in their economic development. The Strategic Intelligence and Analytics Specialist will analyze global investment trends and provide actionable intelligence to guide investment strategy and policy engagement, ultimately supporting UNCDF's mission to mobilize private capital for development in least developed countries.
International Affairs
Responsibilities
Analyze global, regional, and sectoral investment trends to identify catalytic entry points for UNCDF’s instruments, with emphasis on UNCDF’s capabilities: MSME finance, subnational finance and digital finance
Map investor patterns across developed, emerging, and South–South markets to highlight capital gaps, barriers, and entry points for UNCDF interventions
Generate insights on emerging market opportunities by country, sector, and investor group (including asset managers, family offices, and development finance institutions)
Support the development of evidence-based strategies to attract co-investment from public and private partners
Identify systemic constraints and diminishing returns in last-mile markets, and propose ways UNCDF can address them
Translate complex data analytics (e.g., MDB/DFI portfolios, risk benchmarks) into intelligence that informs programming
Advise regional investment and programme teams on structuring initiatives and projects aligned with identified opportunities and intelligence outputs
Guide the design of project-level interventions to ensure coherence between strategic foresight, private sector trends, and UNCDF’s financial instruments
Collaborate with thematic leads (digital finance, energy, climate, MSME, and nature) to integrate data-driven insights into country programmes
Incorporate scenario planning into the design of project-level interventions
Develop framing questions that help colleagues pivot from legacy approaches to the new Strategic Framework focus
Produce policy briefs, foresight notes, and strategic papers on market dynamics affecting private investment in LDCs and SIDS
Develop content for high-level engagements (e.g., G20, World Bank/IMF Spring and Fall Meetings, SDG Investment Forums) showcasing UNCDF’s intelligence-driven approach to development finance
Contribute to shaping UNCDF’s positioning as a thought leader in investment intelligence, catalytic capital, and de-risking
Conduct foresight analysis on trends shaping finance for LDCs, SIDS, and fragile states
Translate analytical findings into accessible formats for policymakers, investors and UNCDF staff (briefing notes, dashboards, presentations, infographics, webinars, newsletters)—that reinforce UNCDF’s positioning
Work with IMVL colleagues to capture lessons from UNCDF’s portfolio and communicate evidence of impact
Contribute to UNCDF’s knowledge platforms and outreach events to strengthen external visibility and investor confidence
Establish a rhythm of outputs (e.g., 1-2 knowledge products every quarter, quarterly newsletter/intelligence notes and Directorate briefings)
Leverage journalistic/storytelling techniques to improve accessibility and impact
Collaborate with the Strategic Engagement Unit to align narratives for partner outreach based on market data and investment analytics
Liaise with regional IMVL staff to ensure coherence between data collection, monitoring, and strategic analysis
Provide regular updates to the Directorate and front-office teams on key investment insights and trends
Coordinate with external partners, including MDBs, DFIs, institutional investors, and private sector alliances, to validate intelligence outputs and co-develop market entry strategies
Qualification
Required
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Finance, Development Finance Public Policy, Politics, Development Studies, or related field is required, or
A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
A minimum of 7 years (with a master's degree) or 9 years (with a bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in data analytics and market intelligence
Demonstrated experience in developing and aligning intelligence and analytics frameworks with organizational strategy and planning
Demonstrated experience in translating complex analytics into actionable policy or investment guidance
Experience in synthesizing market intelligence and communicate findings to diverse audiences
Experience in international development finance, blended finance, capital mobilization in LDCs/SIDS
Experience producing high-level reports and presentations
Preferred
Experience with AI-driven analytics
Experience with digital finance solutions
Proven track record of experience in building partnerships with research institutions, think tanks, or technology firms
Experience engaging with high-level stakeholders
Published work or thought leadership in strategic foresight, development finance or analytics
Experience within the UN development system, familiarity with UNCDF
Company
UNDP Careers
UNDP’s mission is an ambitious one: to lead the United Nations in its fight for a world without poverty, in which women are empowered, inequality is addressed and the planet is protected.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageCompany data provided by crunchbase