Background

The UN has been present in Tajikistan since 1992, starting with the UN Tajikistan Office for Peace-building (UNTOP), which ended its mission in October 2007. Since 1993, the UN has increased its presence to 23 specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the UN including Field offices in the regions. The UNCT meets on a monthly basis under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator to coordinate UN support and to discuss and decide jointly on programmatic and operational issues. The UNCT is supported by the Office of the Resident Coordinator consisting of Head of RCO, a Coordination Associate and Web designer supporting joint UN Communications Group. UNCT is also supported by a Human Rights Advisor and Peace and Development Advisor.

Current UNDAF, signed in December 2009 by the Resident Coordinator on behalf of UNCT in Tajikistan and the Minister of Economic Development of Trade, covers the period of 2010-2015. The UNDAF has been developed through an extensive consultative process involving all stakeholders and is aligned with Tajikistan’s national priorities based on National Development Strategy and builds on the UN’s comparative advantages. UN in Tajikistan has three constantly functioning Theme Groups on Gender, HIV/AIDS, and Youth. Four UNDAF working groups, corresponding with UNDAF pillars related to 1) Poverty reduction and governance, 2) Food and nutrition security, 3) Energy and environment, and 4) Quality Social services and three sub-pillars of education, health and social protection are established to monitor and report on constraints and achievements as well as progress on UNDAF outcomes.

The National Development Strategy of Tajikistan and its time frame are well aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The current UNDAF (2010 – 2015) cycle is also aligned with the NDS and MDGs. The country’s achievements of MDGs are mixed with being on track on four goals (Goal 1, 4, 7 and 8), with two goals (2 and 6) still potentially achievable; however the poverty rate remains high at 35.6% (2013). Therefore there is a need for concerted efforts to further reduce poverty, especially in rural areas and stronger impetus with regard to further child and maternal mortality reduction. Gender inequality remains one of Tajikistan’s main development challenges, both as a rights issue and because of the bottleneck it presents in terms of the country’s overall development. The World Economic Forum ranks the country 90th out of 136 countries in its 2013 Global Gender Gap index. Gender inequality in Tajikistan is particularly pronounced in education (due to very low participation of girls in tertiary education), health and survival (with only five countries showing a greater gender gap in longevity) and political participation.

Tajikistan’s development is vulnerable to various types of political, economic and security-related conflicts, as well as to natural disasters and economic shocks. The porous border with Afghanistan poses social, economic and security threats to Tajikistan. In the regional context, the country’s geopolitical situation is potentially damaging to Tajikistan’s sustainable development taking into account its land-locked location, the border with unstable Afghanistan, isolation by Uzbekistan, strained local relationships and "recurring community level conflicts" with neighboring Kyrgyzstan over the use of land and water resources and the still unresolved demarcation of the borders with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Due to its mountainous terrain and location in a seismically active zone, Tajikistan is also prone to natural disasters, in particular earthquakes, floods and mudslides. Tajikistan’s population is very young, with 60.5% of its people under 24 years of age (UNDESA 2010). Tajikistan’s youth have huge potential to contribute to the country’s development. However, they live in an environment where poverty is widespread, economic opportunities are limited, the quality of public services is poor, corruption is pervasive and their voices go unheard. Labor migration is often the only feasible livelihood strategy for young people. Youth unemployment is high.

As part of UNDAF formulation process, UN Country Team needs to conduct the The Country Analysis which will serve the purpose of identifying the main challenges, needs and priorities of the country. UNCT opts for complementary UN-supported analytical work, with a focus on gaps in the existing analysis in the country. Analysis will be done utilizing existing statistic data, and government analysis, including sectoral reviews and analyses, especially those produced in the framework of preparation of the new National Development Strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Strategic analysis to identify the root causes of the existing and emerging development challenges and their effects on the population, particularly on youth, women, persons with disabilities, labour migrans, private sector, people living with HIV & AIDS, etc.;
  • Analysis of the social sectors and the ability to provide robust social protection mechanisms which ensure resilience and sustainability;
  • Assessment of the status and trends in the realization of population rights for development and well-being since 2010;
  • Identify and analyse the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent disadvantaged families from benefiting from required interventions and services, including the social, political and economic conditions;
  • Identification of capacity gaps of rights holders to make claims and duty bearers to meet their obligations;
  • Analyse the extent to which gender inequalities and the fulfilment/ non-fulfilment of the rights of women affect overall inequalities and deprivations;
  • Analysis of the economic sector, and its contribution to development processes, including the private sector and employment;
  • Analysis of opportunities for (and obstacles to) free, active and meaningful participation in national governance and development processes and outcomes;
  • Analysis of the capacity for risk reduction, crisis prevention and disaster preparedness at the national and district levels, including non-state actors;
  • Analysis of how to best support Government, non-government stakeholders and development partners to ensure all opportunities are capitalised upon in reaching the national development priorities. Propose recommendations for key areas of UN focus for the next UNDAF 2015-2020.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Excellent knowledge of the UN system and UN joint country programming processes (CCA/UNDAF);
  • Good knowledge and experience with the national development frameworks, especially Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Post-2015 Development Goals, PRSP, etc.;
  • Specialised technical knowledge, including data collection and analytical skills, mainstreaming HRBA to programming and gender equality and women’s empowerment;
  • Good knowledge of Results Based and Human Rights Based Management principles, logic framework analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and participatory approaches.

Functional Competencies:

  • Good communication skills, including the ability to write high quality reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style;
  •  Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds;
  • An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in economics, development studies, social science, economics, international relations or other related field.
Experience:
  • At least 10 years of relevant, international experience and proven expertise with CCA/UNDAF processes, evaluations and reviews, including strong understanding of UN’s relevant Programming Guidelines on Gender Equality, Human Rights-Based Approach, Capacity Development, Environmental Sustainability and Result-Based Management;
  • Practical experience in Central Asian region/Tajikistan and/or knowledge of the development issues in low income countries is an asset;
  • Excellent report writing skills as well as analytical and computer skills;
  • Experience in working with teams and team processes;
  • Proven track record in evaluation and review writing.
Language:
  • Proven excellence in written and spoken English;
  • Knowledge of Russian or Tajik desirable.