Project Coordinator (NOD) – UNCDF Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Apply Before 12 November 2025. Our platform is advertising a high-level temporary assignment with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). This senior role is open to Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 applicants, including internal UN staff and external candidates. The Project Coordinator will lead the strategic implementation and expansion of two major initiatives, FinWise Ethiopia and the DONE Project, focused on increasing financial inclusion and access to finance for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). This is a full-time position in Addis Ababa requiring a Master’s degree and 7+ years of experience in development finance, MSME finance, and digital financial services, with a mandatory focus on the Ethiopian context. Discover the full responsibilities, supervisory duties, and application process for this leadership role below. This is an external advertisement for a vacancy we are not directly affiliated with.
Background & Job Description
We are sharing this senior-level job announcement for a Project Coordinator (NOD) with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNCDF is the UN’s catalytic capital investment agency for the world’s 45 least developed countries (LDCs). It uses its unique mandate to deploy grants, loans, and guarantees to crowd-in public and private finance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on areas where development needs are greatest.
In Ethiopia, UNCDF is implementing two strategic and impactful initiatives:
- FinWise Ethiopia: Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this project aims to provide “last-mile” capital for inclusive growth.
- The DONE Project: Funded by the EU delegation in Ethiopia, it supports financial service providers in using digital financial services to increase financial inclusion for MSMEs in conflict-affected areas in northern Ethiopia.
These projects are structured around four key components: a de-risking financing facility, investment readiness support, financial sector development, and knowledge & advocacy. The overarching goal is to catalyze capital flows to MSMEs, tech startups, and aspiring entrepreneurs, with a specific focus on empowering women-owned and women-led businesses.
The Project Coordinator will be the senior lead responsible for the overall strategic direction, effective management, and expansion of this portfolio. This is a leadership role that involves managing a team, building high-level partnerships, advising government entities, and driving resource mobilization to ensure the sustainability and significant impact of UNCDF’s work in Ethiopia.
Project Coordinator Job in Addis Ababa: Lead MSME Finance Initiatives (Apply by 12 Nov 2025)
Tasks and Responsibilities
The following key responsibilities are based on the official UNCDF vacancy announcement and outline the core functions of this senior role.
- Strategic Project and Portfolio Management: Provide strategic oversight for the planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of the FinWise and DONE projects, ensuring compliance with UNCDF/UNDP rules. Lead the development and expansion of a robust project pipeline, leveraging UNCDF’s financial instruments (grants, loans, guarantees) to support MSMEs in key sectors like fintech, agri-tech, and climate-tech.
- Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization: Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with government ministries, regulators, financial institutions, and development partners. Proactively engage in resource mobilization by cultivating relationships with funders and presenting new concept notes and proposals to secure funding for scaling existing and new initiatives.
- Team Leadership and Management: Provide direct supervision and leadership to a team of five core staff members, with overarching support for a total team of eight personnel. Foster a collaborative, high-performance environment through mentorship, capacity-building, and effective performance management.
- Knowledge Management and Results Measurement: Oversee results measurement to track project impact against benchmarks. Facilitate knowledge management to document and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and thought leadership insights. Coordinate with UNDP and other UN agencies to align efforts and enhance the collective impact of the UN system in Ethiopia.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy: Serve as a key advisor to government entities and regulators, promoting policies that foster a conducive environment for MSME financing. Represent UNCDF in high-level forums and actively participate in the UN Country Team to design joint programs and advocacy strategies.
Qualifications
The qualifications listed are the minimum requirements as specified by UNCDF for this NOD-level position. Our website is relaying this information to assist potential applicants.
Education and Certification
- An Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Development Studies, Management, or a related discipline is required.
- 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.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years (with a master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in designing, coordinating, and implementing development projects is required.
- Required Experience: At least five (5) years of this experience must be specifically focused on access to finance, digital financial services, and MSME finance within Ethiopia.
- Required Experience: Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and support a diverse team, including direct supervision of core team members.
- Desired Experience: Experience working with international donor organizations on MSME Finance and business development support.
- Desired Experience: Extensive experience working with governmental entities and regulators in Ethiopia.
- Desired Experience: A proven track record in strategic resource mobilization, donor relations, and familiarity with UNDP/UNCDF financial rules and programmatic tools (e.g., Letters of Agreement, Responsible Party Agreements, grants).
Languages and Competencies
- Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.
- Fluency in Amharic is required.
- Key competencies for this senior role include: Achieving Results (Level 3), Engaging and Partnering, Strategic Thinking, Portfolio Management, Partnership Management, and Development Finance Expertise.
Additional Information
This section contains critical details for applicants. We strongly advise all interested candidates to verify all information on the official UNDP/UNCDF jobs portal before applying.
- Contract Duration: This is a 364-day Temporary Appointment (TA).
- Duty Station: The role is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Job Schedule: This is a Full-time position.
- Agency: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
- Apply Before: The final deadline for applications is 12 November 2025, 06:59 AM (local Ethiopia time). The vacancy timeline is one week.
- Eligibility: This position is open to Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 applicants, including internal UN staff and external candidates.
- Supervisory Role: This is a senior managerial position with direct supervisory responsibilities over five staff members.
- Application Process: Applications must be submitted through the official UNCDF/UNDP careers portal. Our website is an independent platform and does not manage any part of the application process.
- Equal Opportunity: UNCDF is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
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