Background
Under the overall guidance and direction by the Bahrain Human Development Report (BHDR) Steering Committee, and under the direct supervision by the UNDP Bahrain Deputy Resident Representative, the BHDR Team Leader provides guidance and technical services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The NHDR Lead Author works in close collaboration with UNDP Bahrain and Derasat, and she/he coordinates the NHDR Team.
“Human development is about people, about expanding their choices to live full, creative lives with freedom and dignity. Economic growth, increased trade and investment, technological advance – all are very important. But they are means, not ends. Fundamental to expanding human choices is building human capabilities: the range of things that people can be. The most basic capabilities for human development are living a long and healthy life, being educated, having a decent standard of living and enjoying political and civil freedoms to participate in the life of one’s community.”[1]
Formally advertised as 'Bahrain HDR Team Leader and lead author'
For more than 15 years national and regional Human Development Report (HDR) teams have been helping to advance the human development conceptual framework and apply it to the most pressing development challenges of the day. Now published in over 135 countries, these reports, grounded in thorough analytic research, have become dynamic advocacy tools. They are helping to generate lively debates around the policies and actions needed to accelerate human development and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
In the past the Kingdom of Bahrain published two national HDRs: one in 2000 (Achievements and Challenges of Human Development), and the second one in 2001 (Education & Labour Market Challenges of Human Development). Moreover, Bahrain has been included in the past six Arab HDR (AHDR) and mentioned in numerous global reports as well.
In 2017 there is an opportunity for UNDP to work with the Government of Bahrain and other key actors to develop the Third Bahrain HDR (BHDR). While the Report will draw on the Government of Bahrain’s “Economic Vision 2030” and its National Development Strategy 2015-2018, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global Agenda 2030 will provide the backdrop for the development prism to be adopted by the Report.
Global Programme of Action was set in line with Economic Vision 2030, along with a National Development Strategy (2015-2018) which highlights the different priorities and the strategies under them to achieve sustainable growth. This includes creating the suitable environment and ecosystem for economic growth, diverse resources, and the dependence on non-oil investments, along with encouraging the private sector to contribute to sustainable development though the implementation of innovative measures and achieving economic diversification. For that reason, the theme of the upcoming BHDR, to be presented in 2018, will be “Sustainable Economic Growth: 10 years after Vision 2030”.
[1] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2003. Human Development Report 2003 – Millennium Development Goals: A Compact Among Nations to End Human Poverty, p. 28. New York: Oxford University Press.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
The objectives of the NHDR Lead Author are as follows:
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3. Ensure a participatory approach and the promotion of the report by:
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[1] The NHDR Toolkit is available on-line at http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/publications/title,1281,en.html, nevertheless it would be practical to provide a printed copy of the toolkit to the NHDR Team Leader
Competencies
- Demonstrates leadership, team building and coordinating skills
- Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values.
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Shares knowledge and experience
- Provides helpful feedback and advice
- Strong analytical skills
- Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
- Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
- Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate
- Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
- Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
Required Skills and Experience
Recognized degree (preferably PhD level) in social sciences. |
At least 15 years of relevant experience in the Academia or research institutions, with a focus on socio-economic analysis, experience with gendered analysis and the development of composite indices, and social impact assessments. Experience with international organisations is an asset. |
Excellent command of English, with Arabic desirable. |
Bahraini or non-Bahraini |