UNDP Jobs - 111999- Research Fellow

Research Fellow

Location :

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Apr-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

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

UNDP Ethiopia Country Office (CO) has launched a Research Fellowship Programme since 2022 to support the implementation of priorities in its Country Programme Document (CPD: 2020 – 2025). The CPD aims to support Ethiopia to overcome its structural challenges as it strives to become a democratic, peaceful and prosperous middle-income country by focusing on three key thematic areas: i) supporting a successful transition to a democratic polity by addressing the drivers of conflict to consolidate and build peace; ii) fostering the creation of enabling conditions for shared prosperity through financial inclusion, jobs creation and private sector development (especially of micro, small and medium enterprises); and iii) helping to sustain development gains by accelerating the transition to a green economy that is resilient to climate change. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are also central, cross-cutting themes that will be embedded across all three focal areas of the CPD.

To support the implementation of the CPD, UNDP Ethiopia is strengthening the capacity of its development research, analysis, and policy advisory team to provide the evidence base for its programmatic interventions in the key focal areas. To this effect, the Development Policy and Research Hub (DPRH) of the Country Office is overseeing the delivery of a multi-year funded research agenda to ramp up the generation of top-flight knowledge and policy advisory products. The aim of this research agenda is to transform UNDP Ethiopia into a dynamic, learning organization where policy and programmatic decision-making are knowledge-driven and backed by evidence-based research.

The Research Fellowship Programme will contribute to this vision by attracting bright, young, and highly qualified Ethiopian researchers to produce cutting-edge, original development research aligned with the policy interests of the CO’s programmatic work. Selected Fellows will be embedded within the CO’s programmes, working with teams to bring fresh and forward-thinking perspectives to UNDP’s work, grounded in data and evidence. The Programme’s annual research agenda is therefore designed in collaboration with programme teams to ensure that it addresses the most pertinent policy questions and provides solutions that will advance the implementation of the CPD, its contribution to government’s long-term development agendas and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In turn, Fellows will be given the opportunity to: (i) hone their research skills in a world-leading development organization; (ii) gain practical experience in developing actionable policy solutions that can deliver real impact at scale; (iii) work closely and collaboratively with seasoned development professionals; and (iv) develop professional skills such as public speaking, leadership, and teamwork.

This year’s research theme is Transitioning from Trading to Manufacturing, which requires an in-depth understanding of the anatomy of the private sector, factors behind investment/trading engagement decisions and what it would take to transit from trading/services to Manufacturing.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Head of DPRH, and in collaboration with DPRH programmatic teams, selected Fellows will design and deliver policy and programme-relevant empirical research papers under the theme on Ethiopia’s transition from services to manufacturing. In addition, Fellows will be expected to undertake the following activities:

Publish research papers in the above stated theme, policy briefs and blogs as required in the theme of the research.
Conduct field research at the federal and sub-federal (regional, zonal, woreda, kebele) levels as deemed necessary.
Organize and lead research-in-progress seminars (peer review panels) and presentations for wide-ranging audiences including the CO, other UN agencies, federal and regional government authorities, and development partners.
Link the research product with required policy advice and technical support to relevant programme teams.
Attend internal and external meetings and events as required by DPRH and relevant programme teams.
Help organize and participate in DPRH’s annual development conference.
Undertake training and capacity-building courses focused on building research and professional skills as required.

Competencies

Exceptional research, qualitative and quantitative analytical skills supported by a track record of publications.
Highly motivated and self-directed, capable of managing workload effectively deliver required deadlines and quality including whilst working remotely.
Effective team player that demonstrates commitment to UNDP values and displays cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
Good communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to communicate and interact with stakeholders at all levels and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse setting.

Required Skills and Experience

A minimum of Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, development studies or related disciplines is required. Preference will be given to recent graduates who completed their Master's degree within the last six years; three years for candidates with PhD.
Minimum five years of professional work experience conducting research on Ethiopian development issues, preferably related to manufacturing (industry) and the private sector is required.
Experience in designing and conducting primary research.
Good understanding of the development challenges and opportunities facing Ethiopia is required.
Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda is desirable.
Experience in formulating and implementing development policies and strategies is an asset.
Strong experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis using statistical software (e.g. EViews, STATA, R or Python).
Experience collaborating and working in teams, exchanging information and ideas with others to reach common goals, and making a substantial contribution to the team's outputs.
Established network in area of research expertise is an asset.
Practical experience working on African development issues is an asset.
Fluency in written and spoken English.

Terms Of the Award

Successful applicants will be awarded a Fellowship with UNDP for a period of six (6) months and will be paid a monthly stipend.
UNDP shall be entitled to all property rights, including, but not limited to, patents, copyrights, and trademarks, with regards to material that bears a direct relation to, or is made as a consequence of, the activities conducted during the fellowship.
Fellows may not use any information obtained by reason of their association with the Fellowship Programme without the written authorization of UNDP, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the fellowship with UNDP.
Fellows may not apply for, nor be appointed to, any staff position, nor may they apply to (nor be considered for) consultancies or any other type of paid engagement with UNDP during the period of their fellowship.
All expenses related to Fellows’ official mission travel will be met by UNDP.
Travel costs for the assumption of duty and repatriation at the end of the appointment will also be met by UNDP.
Full Terms and Conditions of the Fellowship Programme will be provided in the Fellowship Undertaking Letter.
Selected Fellows will sign a Fellowship Undertaking Letter with UNDP before commencement of the fellowship in accordance with UNDP’s Fellowship Policy.
The Fellowship Undertaking Letter and the Fellowship Policy will govern the status, rights, obligations, and duties of Fellows for the duration of the fellowship.

Application Process

Interested candidates are required to submit:

A detailed CV including three professional references and a full list of relevant publications.
A cover letter (not exceeding 1000 words) stating why you would be an outstanding candidate for the Research Fellowship Programme and outlining how your research interests align with UNDP’s thematic priorities.
Copies of degree certificates and academic transcripts from all tertiary institutions attended.
A sample of a recently published research paper.
Three letters of recommendations.

Selection Criteria

Applicants fulfilling the eligibility criteria as well as required competencies, skills and experiences will be shortlisted and evaluated based on UNDP’s competency framework and cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method).
Demonstration of strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, relevance and applicability of educational qualifications and work experience, and knowledge of development theory will also be considered as selection criteria.
The award of the fellowships will be made to candidates whose applications have been evaluated and determined as responsive, compliant, and acceptable.