Background

The United Nations is in the process of defining a post-2015 development agenda that will build the global development framework. This agenda will be launched at a Summit in September 2015. The United Nations has played a facilitating role in the global conversation on the post 2015 development agenda and supported broad consultations. It also has the responsibility of supporting Member States by providing evidence-based inputs, analytical thinking and field experience. UNDP, along with UNDG has played a key role in facilitating this dialogue across countries, regions and globally.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Strategic Policy Unit of BPPS and the overall guidance of the Associate Administrator (AA) as required, the Policy Specialist will support BPPS and the AA in monitoring the outcomes after the summit and adopting the agenda and resolutions made at the Summit.

Specifically, his/her functions will be as follows:

  • Policy Research and Development;
  • Policy Positioning and Representation;
  • Advice and support to the Associate Administrator (AA);
  • Coordination of special projects, assignments, meetings and travels of the AA;
  • Knowledge Management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Policy Research and Development:

  • Develop guidance in the specific area of SDGs  for the implementation of global policy standards and methodologies;
  • Develop policy initiatives for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas, in collaboration with BPPS bringing in perspectives and knowledge from Country Offices and the regions;
  • Coordinate and conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform AA on critical policy issues;
  • Develop relevant analysis and guidance, in close collaboration with BPPS strategic positioning team, on emerging issues of global significance and contribute to new research, including through working with the Global Policy Centers;
  • Provide substantive advice and analysis of key documentation to the AA, with relevant background information; and
  • Prepare and contribute to the preparation of reports, briefings, presentations, and responses on institutional, development, strategic and operational issues related to the post-2015 Agenda.

Policy Positioning, Representation and Partnership:

  • Provide substantive and content input to contribute to mobilizing, fostering and strengthening global strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies (IGOs, NGOs) and provide inputs to those partnerships in support of UNDP initiatives related to the resolutions adopted at the post 2015 Summit;
  • Provide substantive input to the AA’s advocacy of the thematic areas in various fora, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms;
  • In collaboration with BERA, support the AA to engage with global partners and develop/implement resource mobilization plan under corporate guidelines, including to fulfill corporate and donor reporting, advocacy and information-sharing requirements; and
  • Support the AA in building effective partnerships with various stakeholders inside and outside UNDP – senior UNDP managers, the Executive Office, Permanent Missions, and other external partners – in pursuit of the UNDP’s corporate strategic goals, providing the greatest value and sustainable impact.

Provides Policy Advice and Support to the AA and  her day-to-day management of UNDP:

  • Provide advice and strategic support to the AA including coordinating the substantive work of the organization in close collaboration with BPPS and ExO;
  • Prepare and draft related correspondence, briefs, speaking points, statements, notes-to-the-file and other materials for the AA;
  • Research, review and edit all briefs and background documentation obtained for meetings attended by the AA; and
  • Research on topics as assigned, information synthesized and summarized for the AA to facilitate decision-making

Coordinates special projects, assignments & meetings and travels with the AA, as needed, on official visits:

  • Attendance with the AA at meetings with senior government officials and senior United Nations officials and all levels of staff within UNDP;
  • Coordination of special projects and assignments on behalf of the AA, frequently involving senior managers of UNDP as well as a broader constituency;
  • Accompany the Director in official travels as needed, to UNDP country offices/United Nations system meetings and donor and intergovernmental meetings;
  • Timely preparation of reports and correspondence, including reports for the Administrator;
  • Development of agenda for meetings, chaired by the AA;
  • Regular contacts with the Directorates of other Bureaux;
  • Liaison and correspondence with Missions to the UN, IGOs and NGOs on specific issues as requested by the AA;
  • Undertakes specific assignments on behalf of the AA to participate in substantive meetings and provides specific inputs to the AA on broad spectrum of issues.

Knowledge Management:

  • Coordinate  contributions and support to corporate KM activities, whether at the global, cross-regional or region-specific level to help influence/advance policy dialogue in the area post 2015 agenda in collaboration with BPPS teams; and
  • Coordinate and perform knowledge extraction, analysis, documentation, codification of results/lessons learned in the specific thematic area, and verify that knowledge sharing and content management is in line with guidelines and performed using corporate tools.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

  • Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

  • Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Project and Programme Management:

  • Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnerships:

  • Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.
     

Knowledge Management:

  • Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Secondary:

Resource Mobilization:

  • Ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.

Coordination:

  • Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement.

Trends and emerging areas analytics:

  • Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in sustainable development, development economics, governance and institutional development;
  • A PhD in a development related field would be an asset.

Experience:

  • A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development preferably in the areas of policy planning and post-2015 agenda, policy development, international cooperation and coordination and related capacity development;
  • Experience in the provision of advisory services to developing countries or implementing a national strategy in a developing country in sustainable development is required.

Language:

  • Fluency in oral and written English is required;
  • Knowledge of other official UN languages is highly desirable.