Background

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 has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Office/Unit/Project Description

More than half of all livelihoods in India is primarily dependent on agriculture. A massive 54.6% of the total workforce is engaged in agricultural and allied sector activities and 57% of the rural households are directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, the agricultural sector is facing various challenges like small landholding, declining productivity, rising input costs, declining farm income, the adverse impact of climate change, and decline in the percentage share of workers engaged in the agriculture sector. Agricultural production shocks have huge social and financial repercussions, impacting rural income levels, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and poverty rates.

The Government of India’s flagship schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and KCC/MISS have become important tools to strengthen the resilience of Indian farmers. The schemes ensure maximum benefits for the farmers by providing financial risk protection against natural calamities and catastrophic events including pests, climate uncertainties and environmental shocks. Apart from providing comprehensive risk coverage for the entire crop cycle, PMFBY also enables direct claim transfer into farmers’ accounts through e-remittance. Additionally, to address agrarian distress, Kisan Credit Card/ Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) was introduced by the Government of India to provide cheap and hassle-free credit for millions of farmers and to ensure continued investment into agriculture to bring in mechanisation, modernise agriculture practices and eventually enhance productivity.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”. UNDP leverages its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture through setting up of Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) for the implementation of PMFBY and KCC, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures and support mechanisms for Agri-value chain financing, risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India. The PMU will also focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and KCC and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Crop Insurance & R&D Specialist – Technical Support Unit will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the National Programme Director-TSU. S/He will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives, in coordination with the Joint Secretary & CEO, DoA&FW, MoA&FW when needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide support in conducting an assessment of the vulnerability of farmers to climatic and other forms of risks and their coping mechanisms through formal and informal mitigation support services.
Liaison with States, Insurers and farmer organisations over crop insurance needs for inputs into product design and innovation.
Liaison with international crop insurance programmes and experts to draw on international best practices.
Assess the capacity of insurers and insurance agents to pilot insurance products.
Identify and advise on the introduction of suitable crop insurance products.
Determine the views of potential farmer clients regarding PMFBY and WIBCI, including assessment of the affordability of insurance and willingness to pay the premiums.
Review current business practices and procedures inside and outside India to identify key risk factors and alignment to the insurance market.
Work closely with the Senior Specialist Non-Life Actuary on the annual review and audit of PMFBY/WIBCI crop insurance results.
Analyse the underlying loss cost in relation to the commercial premium rates being charged by the insurance companies.
Provide high level assistance to the states on the seasonal crop insurance portfolio planning and procurement systems and procedures with the insurers.
Perform any other tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the National
Programme Director – Technical Support Unit.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Partnership management:

Emerging partnerships – Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.
Strategic engagement – Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
Multi- stakeholder engagement and funding: Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

Insurance:

Insurance analysis skills: The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts in order to frame and understand an issue, apply the insurance framework to the particular set of facts and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the situation presented in order to deliver practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization’s best arguments for proceeding and a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable insurance framework.
Negotiation: The ability to lead efforts to work with others to conclude or settle a matter. These are often soft skills and include abilities such as communication, persuasion, planning, strategizing and cooperating. In the UNDP context, this skill includes working closely with the client to understand the parameters of an acceptable solution, and assisting business units in resolving commercial disputes, and working with staff members or their insurance representatives to resolve a grievance, claim or issue. Negotiation often involves working with colleagues of differing views to arrive at an acceptable corporate solution.
Managing Client relations: The ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches and resolve issues, this skill includes liaison with counterparts and determining the best sequence in which to pursue an issue, where information, particularly for UNDP, may be across different independent UN agencies.

General (across the functions):

Event planning and execution – Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree OR Master’s degree in Agriculture Economics OR Insurance, Business Administration (MBA) OR equivalent.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years’ (Bachelor’ Degree) or 5 Years’ (Master’ Degree) of demonstrable experience in insurance business in developing countries preferably agricultural crop insurance and WIBCI products.
Relevant Experience at the national level working with Governments and private entities in the insurance sector.
Additional years of demonstrable experience in insurance business in developing countries preferably agricultural crop insurance and WIBCI products.
Ten or more years of experience Program/project management experience with at least five years are in a lead role.
Experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ international agencies/on similar assignments will be preferred.
Prior experience of setting up TSU or technical advisory services in the insurance sector.

Job Knowledge/ Technical skills

In-depth knowledge of Agriculture Insurance, product design, indemnity-based insurance, index-based insurance products, national policies and existing schemes, regulatory laws related to crop insurance, related concepts, policies and practices,
Adequate experience in project Management practices and ability to formulate and manage budgets,
Broad based knowledge across cross cutting thematic areas such risk management, CCE, financial legal and regulatory standards, procurement procedures, environmental and social safeguards,
Should of knowledge of legislative, legal and regulation structure in place with respect to crop insurance in India,
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and requirements of the post with excellence,
Possesses the capacity for strategic planning, result – based management and reporting.

Communication Skills

Good facilitation and communication skills,
Ability to carry out research and communicate strategic pieces that guide decisions on strategic programme directions,
Tailors and presents information to diverse audiences using a variety of communication delivery methods (e.g., written, electronic, oral, interpersonal) Documentation,
Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Management skills

Strong leadership skills,
Ability to lead a Technical and Communication team,
Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multi- disciplinary teams,
Hands-on experience in design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects,
Ability to guide the Project Management Unit in implementing and achieving project outcomes,
Ability to lead consultative meetings at national and state level with partners and senior stakeholders to identify priorities and manage the timely delivery of project activities,
Reliable in delivering own parts of the work as part of a team effort,
Demonstrates excellent work/project planning skills,
Is open to change and ability to manage complex, ever- changing environments.

Required Languages:

Excellent oral and writing skills in English and Hindi

To apply for this job please visit estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com.