Background

Office/Unit/Project Description

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.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries globally, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

In the programme countries, UNDP supports to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion, while protecting the planet in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. To advance these aims, UNDP provides technical policy advice and programming tools, especially to help address critical sustainable development challenges..

In Indonesia, UNDP operates within the framework of the Country Programme Document 2021-25 that focuses on 1) inclusive social development; 2) economic transformation; 3) environmental protection and disaster risk reduction; and 4) innovation for development. UNDP office in Indonesia is known to spearhead within UNDP’s global community in areas such as innovative sustainable financing, digital health, energy transition and climate policies, and integrated response that response the lingering efforts of the COVID-19 and promotes inclusive and green recovery in long term.  In all these areas, UNDP Indonesia has generated wealth of studies and information, based upon which deeper socio-economic analyses and policy dialogues/recommendations could be developed and facilitated – a potential that UNDP has yet to have realized. This way UNDP Indonesia aspires to better demonstrate its thought-leadership in the areas of Indonesia’s critical development priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Policy Advice and analysis on the country’s development context and trends, which can inform the country office management and programme team leaders to strengthen UNDP’s strategic positioning in development policy-making;
• Provision of technical advice to the CO’s development economics and policy research works, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic concepts and theories in Indonesia;
• Advocacy, and partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate, when directed by the Resident Representative/Deputy Resident Representative;
• Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas.

1. Policy Advice and development economics analysis on the country’s development context and trends, which can inform the country office to strengthen UNDP’s strategic positioning in development policy-making:

• Provide analysis and briefings to senior management to reflect emerging economic development issues and trends in Indonesia or in the global which may have an implication in the country; 

• Stock take and analyze the CO’s existing efforts and gaps in different areas of work, and synergize and integrate information to develop knowledge  which can inform a visionary and practical strategy to consolidate UNDP’s positioning and future opportunities

• Collaborate across UNDP teams to identify and assess risks, opportunities and entry points to enhance the policy impact of UNDP’s work and relevant linkage to UNDP programmes in Indonesia based on emerging development priorities of the country and political ambitions of the Government of Indonesia, and other Indonesian stakeholders 

• Support the creation of large-scale development solutions to help address complex development challenges in particular relevant to developing social infrastructure, reducing inequality and sustaining livelihood resilience under the overarching climate agenda; 

• Thereby, with other team leaders, facilitate the expansion of UNDP’s portfolio and services offers on digital transformation, resilience, sustainable financing, and energy transition, marine development.

2. Provision of technical advice to the CO’s development economics and policy research works, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic concepts and theories in Indonesia:

• Provide technical advice or consultation feedbacks to government counterparts in monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity as relevant;

• Support to leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes, to provide holistic and effective support to the country;  

• Leverage support and expertise from the UNDP’s global/regional Economist networks to assist in strengthening UNDP’s support on economic analysis and policy development to Government and the UN Country Team.  

• Supervise and guide the work of policy consultants and researchers as relevant.

3. Representation, advocacy, and partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate:

• Maintain and extend UNDP’s network of key stakeholders and experts in other UN agencies, development partners, IFIs, government entities, civil societies and academia, among which influential economic and development policymakers and thinkers in Indonesia and abroad, within the field of economics and sustainable development.

• Substantively contribute to the organization of high-level international conferences and workshops and other relevant office-wide activities such as production of analysis, papers  and input to senior management on the specific topics.   

• Advocate for and represent UNDP at external meetings and through external communications, where requested.

• In close consultation with relevant stakeholders, and in alignment with the office’s strategy and priorities, identify opportunities for collaborative work and help initiate new projects, actively contributing to the overall office efforts in resource mobilization.

• Support the preparation and quality assurance of senior management’s speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical development issues within the SDG framework for senior management at the country and regional levels.

4. Contribution to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas:

• Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, through attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews;

• Collaborate and contribute to regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports;

• Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing);

• Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic 

Education Bachelor Degree in degree in development economics, environmental economics, social and public policies, or related fields is required.

Master's degree or Ph.D. in development economics, environmental economics, social and public policies, or related fields is required will be an advantage in the environment, forestry, agriculture, natural resources science, development management or related fields would be preferable

Min. years of relevant Work experience

•Minimum 12 years for Bachelor's Degree or 10 years for Master's Degree experience at an international or multilateral organization, or international development institution, think tank in sustainable development issues in relevant areas of economic research and policy and implementation support

Required skills

•Good interpersonal and team-building skills.

•Has excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to mediate inter-group dynamics and mediate conflict of interest

•Ability to work in a team

•Ability to engage and negotiate with high level personnel in governmental institutions, external agencies, etc.

•Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualize strategic intervention

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

•Extensive experience in technical advice to national stakeholders and policy-level analysis;

•Extensive experience in preparing high-quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policymakers;

•Experience of strategic visioning with technical solid and highly developed analytical capabilities;

•Solid knowledge of climate change and sustainable development, development finance at the national level;

•Politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement;

•Experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced software programs for statistical analysis of data;

•Previous work experience in Indonesia or Asia and the Pacific region would be an asset

•Knowledge of and experience in supporting UN/UNDP-funded project will be highly desirable.

•Experience working with government or international organizations will be highly desirable

•Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), advanced knowledge of spreadsheets will be an advantage.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

•Advanced language skills in written and spoken English is an absolute necessity.

Professional Certificates

N/A