Project Portfolio Specialist – West & Central Africa & LAC

About the role

The Project Portfolio Specialist will lead the launch and early‑stage implementation of UNCDF projects in West and Central Africa (WCA) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Based in Dakar, the incumbent will coordinate project set‑up, work‑stream alignment and reporting across multilingual teams and a wide range of partners.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate the operational set‑up of new projects in Mali, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Colombia and emerging engagements.
• Ensure alignment of project objectives, workstreams, partnerships and reporting processes with UNCDF’s investment mandate.
• Maintain monthly progress updates with regional investment specialists and the regional team lead.
• Facilitate cross‑language support (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese) and liaison with donors, UN agencies, governments and private‑sector partners.
• Travel to project sites as required, with costs covered by UNCDF.

Required profile

• Proven experience in project management within development finance or similar multilateral environments.
• Ability to work in a multilingual context and coordinate across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of UNCDF’s blended‑finance approach and its priority areas (SME finance, sub‑national finance, digital finance).
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.