Antecedentes

The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, Bangkok, serves countries of the region under UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. It is a regional hub for development knowledge and expertise, providing programming, policy advisory and capacity development services in Asia and the Pacific. Located at the APRC, the work of the Poverty Reduction Team is organized around three synergistic output streams promoting human development, particularly contributing to the MDG Breakthrough Strategy under the MDG Acceleration Framework to ensure, accelerate and sustain progress:

• Inclusive Growth and Globalization (IGG)
• Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
• Social Policy and Institutions (SPI)

with Environment and Gender linkages with Poverty as crosscutting. The Team’s policy and programming work towards poverty reduction is guided by identified priorities linked to the three streams. Partnerships are an integral way of undertaking the work across all three streams.

The Unit’s strategic value is in bringing a combined understanding of the regional and national development contexts to multi-dimensional poverty issues that need to be addressed at an international or multi-country levels, and in-country national or sub-national levels. Development results are linked to influencing ideas, policy and programming impacts for reduction of multi-dimensional poverty and sustainable human development. Towards these results outputs of the Team include knowledge products, knowledge exchange, knowledge services, and policy-oriented advocacy, contributing to programming and policies for poverty reduction and the MDGs.

The work of the Poverty Reduction Practice includes (a) an engagement with external stakeholders for regional public goods, technical expertise on policy-oriented advocacy, capacity development and knowledge sharing through regional public goods, (b) supporting and working with internal UNDP teams at Country Offices, providing technical and policy advisory services, (c) working with the other internal regional practice teams, and (d) linking global, regional and country level knowledge for poverty reduction, progress towards MDGs and other internationally accepted development goals, in promoting human development.

As the issues of poverty cannot be compartmentalized, the work is team-based, with all Team members expected to work in a coordinated and interlinked manner to deliver high quality and timely outputs, often against tight deadlines. Each member contributes to the work of the other members of the Team and a system of Focal Points and Alternates ensures responsibility, mutual support, and continuity in the absence of someone to deliver on the Team’s outputs.

Under the overall supervision of the Practice Team Leader, the Policy Advisor is responsible for achievement of the outputs and under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) stream, while supporting the work of the other two. The incumbent is responsible for technical and policy advisory services for UNDP Country Offices, delivering on the regional programmes, and supporting the Team Leader in achieving overall results.

Under the MDG stream, s/he is the Focal Point responsible for MDG Acceleration; Tracking MDG Progress; MDG localization; and MDG-linked gaps in social services in support of local development for countries of Asia Pacific. This includes Regional and MDG Reporting, tracking and monitoring; outputs of the Team’s regional programmes; policy development and advocacy of knowledge products; technical and policy advisory services to support country programmes; and MDG-linked partnerships. The incumbent is also expected to support the Team Leader in overall coordination of the Team’s work, contribute to the outputs of the other streams serving as the Focal Point or Alternate, and coordinate capacity development activities. S/he handles staff matters, budgets and delivery, reporting, monitoring, resource mobilization and management, supervises the work of the MDG Policy Specialist and functions as an integral part of a well-knit team responsible for common outputs and results.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Policy articulation, research, analysis for the Millennium Development Goals under UNDP’s Human Development Framework:

• Spearheads research contributing MDG-related knowledge products including the regional MDG report
• Functions as the Team’s MDG Focal Point under the Poverty Reduction Practice and as the deputy coordinator of the Regional programme
• Contributes to the outcomes, outputs and activities of the Regional Programme on MDGs
• Builds partnerships with UN Agencies, regional institutions, think tanks, etc.
• Coordinates and works in collaboration with experts, reviews and provides feedback on research for the knowledge products and services of the Team
• Undertakes and supports poverty analysis, research, prepares short think pieces, papers, op-eds, concept notes
• Contributes to the outputs of other streams—for example, IGG and SPI
• Prepares concept notes, briefs, agendas, minutes etc., as required for the Team’s work
• Guides and substantively contributes to moderated network discussions on thematic priorities of the Team, including initiating the discussion, synthesizing and preparing consolidated content
• Guides and coordinates the process of development, review and publication of knowledge products, including proof-reading of the text, layout, facts and figures, consistency of argument, flow, messages and references

Advisory services and capacity development:

• Undertakes and assists in coordinating the Team’s consolidated responses for demand based technical and policy advisory services for UNDP Country Offices
• Undertakes and supports substantive reviews and drafts written feedback for country programme development, technical backstopping, review of draft documents, expert referrals, network queries, review and preparation of terms of reference, and other similar services required by UNDP Country Teams
• Guides the Team’s knowledge management, knowledge broking, network discussions
  Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for the client and responds to queries and feedback on a timely basis
• Participates in missions as required for technical and policy advisory services
• Conceptualizes and undertakes training and capacity-building for UNDP staff and counterparts
• Coordinates and organizes the substantive content and process of regional and sub-regional consultations, workshops, capacity development learning events, Communities of Practices

Partnerships for development results:

• Builds and supports partnerships with relevant UN agencies for MDG acceleration
• Builds and supports partnerships with regional organizations like the SAARC, ASEAN and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
• Supports the Team’s collaboration with other regional Practices and Teams for common outputs and development results
• Coordinates the Team’s collaboration for consistency and interaction between global, regional and national development debates for Poverty reduction and MDG achievements

Programme management and common team work:

• Contributes to the monitoring and reporting on outcomes, outputs and activities of the Regional Programme
  Undertakes recruitments, supports performance assessments, procurement, budgets and delivery
  Serves as Focal point / Alternate for specific team activities under knowledge products, services, partnerships and other
• Guides the Team’s work and supports the Team Leader in drafting the Result-oriented Annual Report for the Project Board and the Outcome Board; drafts the Project Quarterly Progress Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, Expenditures)
• Assists with the dissemination of the knowledge products of the Team, supports formulation of strategies toward advocating for policies for poverty reduction, preparation of media kit, including press releases, fast facts, key messages and FAQs
• Undertakes any other work related to the key results of the Team, as deemed necessary by the Team Leader

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices within and outside of the UN

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects
• Knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contracts, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant social science or law; PhD an advantage

Work Experience:

• At least ten years of progressively higher relevant experience at the national / international levels with at least two or more on MDG issues
• Ability to function at both policy advisory and project implementation levels
• Track record of country-oriented programming, technical and policy advise an advantage
• Demonstrated understanding of the MDGs and human development, including debates at the global, regional and country levels
• Strong written and oral communication skills – analytical writing with ability to conceptualize and articulate issues governing UNDP’s development assistance
• Quantitative skills and familiarity with MDG databases an advantage
• Demonstrated skills in team work in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Track record of research/publications and policy-oriented analysis
• Expertise with standard office software packages
• A very good knowledge of Asia Pacific; work experience in the Asia Pacific region an advantage
• Experience working with UN agencies in supporting policy research activities an advantage

Language:

• Proficient written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of other Asia Pacific languages an asset.