Programme Specialist - Women Leaders in Finance (WiF) (Office-based) [Open to internal and external applicants], New York City

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.

The Gender Team within UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) serves as the institutional anchor for UNDP's work on gender equality and women's empowerment. The team provides policy advice, technical support, and leadership to all UNDP Bureaus and Country Offices on integrating gender across all areas of work, guided by UNDP's Gender Equality Strategy. The strategy outlines UNDP's commitment to addressing gender inequalities in development processes and accelerating progress toward sustainable development for all.

The Women Leaders in Finance platform (WIF) is a transformative initiative from Ministry of Finance of Brazil designed to reconfigure the leadership and governance of financial systems by placing women at the forefront of economic policy and reform. Its strategy is based on the understanding that inclusive and sustainable financial systems require leadership capable of responding responsibly, resiliently, and urgently in a context of climate crisis, growing inequality, and rapid economic transition.

The WIF advances its objectives through three interrelated pillars that collectively aim to unlock the potential of women to drive financial reforms aligned with gender equality, climate justice, and resilient development.

Shaping Finance Political Agendas through High-Level Dialogue and Influence

At the core of the Platform is its function as a strategic space for high-level political dialogue. It brings together ministers of finance, central bank governors, development bank leaders, and senior financial regulators to collectively shape the future of public and private finance through a gender lens. This pillar will ensure that women’s voices and priorities are embedded in the global architecture of sustainable finance and that the frameworks guiding climate action and economic reform are inclusive by design.

Empowering Women Leaders in Finance through Capacity Building, Technical Advisory, and Policy Finance Innovation

This pillar invests in strengthening the individual and collective capabilities of women leaders to guide structural change in finance. It supports women across diverse institutions—ministries of finance, central banks, development banks, tax authorities, financial regulators, and beyond—to shape, implement, and influence inclusive and sustainable fiscal and financial policy. 

Building Visibility, Communication, and Global Recognition

To sustain political and cultural change, the Platform will build a strong global identity for Women Leaders in Finance Platform. It will work promote visibility, recognition, and collective voice, helping shift global narratives around leadership, gender, and the economy. Through these efforts, the WIF will reinforce inclusive financial leadership, ensuring that women’s contributions are not only impactful—but seen, celebrated, and replicated.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist – Women Leaders in Finance (WIF) will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the Women Leaders in Finance platform (WIF), with a focus on advancing women’s leadership in public and/private finance. The role will ensure coherence across global, regional, and country-level interventions, facilitate strategic partnerships, and contribute to advancing inclusive and gender-responsive economic governance globally.

1. Coordinate the implementation of the Women Leaders in Finance Platform (WIF)

Lead day-to-day coordination and execution of the WIF platform in alignment with its strategic pillars and workplan, advancing women’s leadership in public and/ private finance. Support the establishment and management of a global platform and distributed governance structure to convene and connect women leaders in finance. Engage with the Ministry of Finance of Brazil as co-chair of the platform to provide alignment with local policys related to the objectives of WIF. Support the positioning of WIF in global decision-making platforms such as the G20, COP, UNGA, and IMF/World Bank meetings by preparing materials and facilitating high-level engagements that elevate women’s leadership in finance. Organize and facilitate strategic dialogues, regional forums, and multi-stakeholder consultations to drive collective action and secure policy commitments that strengthen women’s leadership in finance. Liaise with UNDP country offices, regional hubs, and global partners to ensure effective delivery of programmatic interventions and alignment with national priorities. Oversee implementation of leadership academies, mentorship programs, and tailored learning journeys for women in ministries of finance, central banks, regulators, and financial institutions. Monitor implementation progress, identify risks or challenges, and recommend course corrections to ensure high-impact results in advancing women’s leadership in finance.

2. Ensure effective knowledge sharing and learning. 

Contribute technical inputs to policy briefs, research papers, and publications on gender-responsive economic policies, fiscal reforms, and gender equality with a focus on advancing women’s leadership in public and/ private finance; considering international and local priorities Support the creation and management of a digital platform to facilitate resource sharing, peer collaboration, and visibility of women leaders in public and/private finance. Design and maintain knowledge management systems to capture, organize, and share insights from program implementation and research. Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners. 

3. Build and maintain strategic partnerships and strengthen resource mobilization.

Identify and engage in resource mobilization opportunities to expand the Women Leaders in Finance platform and advance women’s leadership in public and/private finance. Develop concept notes, proposals, and funding applications to secure additional resources.  Build and maintain strategic partnerships with UN agencies, international financial institutions, research centers, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.  Participate at international forums, conferences, and events related to advancing women’s leadership in finance, gender equality, and economic development as needed Support the organization of donor meetings, partner consultations, and other strategic events to strengthen collaboration and mobilize resources.  Connect with the Ministry of Finance of Brazil as co-chair of the platform in order to align WIF´s advancements with government priorities and local stakeholders’ strategies.

4. Provide strategic guidance and support for the implementation of the Gender Team’s priorities related to inclusive development and gender equality. 

Contribute to the Gender Team's annual work planning and reporting processes.  Support the preparation of progress reports, donor reports, and other documentation as required.  Provide inputs to UNDP's strategic positioning on inclusive economic development and gender equality.  Perform any additional tasks related to this assignment as required by the supervisor.  Draft briefing notes, talking points, presentations, and other materials as requested to support corporate requests and events related to gender equality and economics. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Specialist – Women Leaders in Finance works under the direct supervision of the lead of EQUANOMICS (Economist, Gender Specialist).

Competencies Core

Achieve Results:                               LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact  Think Innovatively:                           LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems  Learn Continuously:                         LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility:                            LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands  Act with Determination:                   LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner:                         LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion:         LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

SDG Finance   Public Finance for the SDGs

2030 Agenda: Peace Governance

Public Administration Reform.

2030 Agenda: People

Gender: Gender and Intersectional Analysis. Equality Seal for public institutions

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

Inclusive Growth: SDGs/National Development Strategy, Planning and Budgeting

Business Management

Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Business Direction and Strategy

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated       elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one elementcan impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, Public Policy, International Development, Gender Studies, or closely 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.

Min. years of relevant work experience

Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelors degree) of experience in public or private finance, or related fields showing progression to senior positions 

Required skills 

Demonstrated experience in advancing women’s leadership in public and/or private finance. Experience in project management , including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation;  Experience in excellent report writing  and ability to produce high-quality knowledge products;  Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across public and/private finance. 

Desired skills

Demonstrated experience advancing women’s leadership in public and/or private finance, including through work on public finance, fiscal policy, financial systems, or related areas with Ministries of Finance, central banks, financial regulators, or private-sector financial institutions. Experience working across different world regions, including developing countries. Previous professional experience with UN agencies, international financial institutions, or development partners, particularly on initiatives related to gender equality and advancing women’s leadership in public and/private finance. Proven experience in resource mobilization and strategic partnership building, including engaging donors and partners and demonstrating results and impact. Experience in coordinating programs or teams 

Required Language(s) 

Fluency in English, both written and oral is required. Fluency in Portuguese, both written and oral as an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see