UNDP Jobs - 50878- Research Specialist (HDRO)

Research Specialist (HDRO)

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

05-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (renewable)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The mission of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is to advance human development globally. The goal is to contribute towards the expansion of human choices for freedom. The Office works towards this goal by promoting innovative new ideas, advocating practical policy changes, and constructively challenging policies and approaches that constrain human development. It works with others to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, support to national and regional analysis and outreach and advocacy work.

Its mandate is to produce an annual global Human Development Report (HDR), an independent analytical and policy-oriented flagship publication anchored in the human development paradigm, which is presented to and globally launched with the UNDP Administrator.

The Director of HDRO, supported by the Deputy Director, provides the intellectual and management leadership to the Office. The Office consists of two teams – a Report Team and an Operations and Outreach Team. The Report Team of the HDRO works to produce the annual global Human Development Report (HDR).

The Report Team leads the substantive work including the quantitative work in terms statistics, data and indices. It also develops proposals for the annual theme, carries out in-house analytical work, commissions and reviews externally conducted research, undertakes innovative approaches to measurements of human development, networks and consults with leading scholars and other stakeholders around the world, and writes and prepares the report.

The Report Team works with the Operations and Outreach Team other on production, communication, outreach and advocacy of reports findings, occasionally provides advice to regional and National Human Development Reports (NHDRs), and contributes organizationally and substantively to promotion of the human development perspective and knowledge in various platforms including seminars, conferences and events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the overall vision and the structure of HDRO, the Research Specialist, under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Policy Adviser, will contribute to the intellectual thinking of human development issues and paradigm; to the substantive work of the HDRs; to the work on human development measurements and the statistical outreach; and to the overall work of HDRO.

Summary of key functions:

Research and intellectual work on human development issues;
Contributions to writings of the HDRs;
Work on the human development measurements;
Contributions to the overall work of HDRO.

Research and intellectual work on human development issues (25%)

Undertake research on conceptual and methodological areas of human development;
Develop and maintain close research collaboration with academics, and researchers in various universities and research institutions as well as in the UN system;
Develop contributions to the report into papers suitable for submission to professional conferences and academic journals.

Contributions to the writings of the HDRs To undertake research writing and outreach on human development (35%)

Contribute to the formulation of the theme and the structure of the HDRs brainstorming meetings and in-house discussions on various aspects of the Report development;
Contribute to the conceptual and practical organization of conferences, workshops and meetings designed to inform the development process of the report;
Provide background research for HDR: draft short memos, produce research notes, country and case studies;
Draft sections of the HDRs;
Identify and liaise with background paper authors, draft terms of reference for background research, comment on the contributions received from them and integrate them in the chapters of the Report;
Monitor and keep record of the work of the research team with the comments received from the UNDP Readers Group, Advisory Panel, Regional Bureaus and others;
Contribute to the finalization of the Report by interacting with the editing and the production teams, including participating in various rounds of proofreading of chapter drafts, fact-checking, ensuring consistency of data used throughout the report, checking for proper referencing of statistical data as well as performing other proofreading tasks that might be necessary;
Assist in the global launch of the HDR as requested, taking part in presentations to various audiences including training of UNDP staff on HDI issues;
Network with civil society organizations to advocate the messages of the Report.

Contribute to human development measurements and statistical information outreach (20%)

Work on human development measurements and data;
Prepare materials for the launch of the global Report and other HDRO activities, including country fact sheets and briefing materials especially related to statistics and analysis;
Respond to requests from media, government, UN, UNDP Regional Bureaux and Country Offices, and other external queries on measurements and data both at the time of the launch of HDR and on an on-going basis;
Work with national and international statistical agencies and UNDP Regional Bureaux and Country Offices to enhance the general understanding of the use of statistics in the Report and to improve the international data availability and reliability of basic human development indicators.

Cooperation with other units of HDRO (10%)

Liaise with the statistics team on consistency between the report’s key objectives and the statistics used in the analysis;
Liaise with the outreach team on the conceptualization of components for HDRO knowledge management that expand and support outreach efforts and increase access to and dissemination of HDRO materials;
Contribute to the review and substantive assessment of national and regional HDR and the organization of discussions through the human development network;
Contribute to the preparation of communications materials;
Participate in launch of the HDR and make presentations.

Work on other assignments as and when requested by the HDRO management (5%).

Use of Official time for self-learning (5%).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies:

Proven capacity to produce high quality research in the areas of human development, comparative sociology, the study of social trends, labor markets, education, public health, poverty or inequality;
Knowledge of the human development paradigm and the capabilities approach. Familiarity with the history and contributions of the human development reports;
Capacity to assess qualitative and quantitative research on development;
Strong communications skills;
Very good writing skills and ability to produce memos and notes with very short notice..

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience;
Encourages team members to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Strong ability to work in teams and create an environment that makes it possible for others to flourish and contribute.

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on results for the client.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
Demonstrates openness to change.
Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

The candidate must have a solid academic record, with a Master’s degree in a social science with a focus on social, economic, or political aspects of development;
A PhD or reasonable expectation of its completion before the start date is a strongly desirable asset but not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably experience from working on research in developing countries;
Have a good grasp of substantive and policy issues related to the study of social and economic development, and of the human development and capabilities approach;
Previous research experience in area studies of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and/or Eastern Europe will be an asset, as well relevant work or research experience conducted in developing countries;
Experience in coordinating and supervising researchers is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of English (oral and written);
Working knowledge of another UN language is highly desirable.