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.

Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Policy Unit leads UNDP India’s research and advocacy on Global Goals and the national development agenda, with a special focus on environment and climate change, skill development, inclusive growth and strengthening systems for SDG localization.

Recognizing the relevance of policy advocacy for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, UNDP launched a Policy Unit in 2020 to honor the mandate of national development agenda. UNDP seeks to onboard a Policy Analyst to join our growing, dynamic Policy team to provide substantive inputs to key strategic and policy documents, which direct and guide UNDP interventions on climate change, livelihoods, health, gender, and localization of SDGs among others.

Provide support to the Unit’s research activities and provide technical support:
Design and implement targeted policy research using both primary and secondary data.
Write and present high-quality evidence-led policy briefs, reports and summary documents that will be shared both internally and externally, including to key donors and government counterparts.
Participate in the development of new and novel concepts related to relevant policy discourse and the national development agenda.
Assist in evidence-led design of projects, while maintaining transparent and detailed documentation.

Engage with Project partners, consultants, and stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the Policy unit’s activities:

Organize and attend internal meetings, consultations, workshops, conferences, brainstorming sessions, meetings as required.
Submission of collated reports of Policy Unit on policy work conducted by UNDP India CO.
Ideate on and prepare the plan of action/concept notes of Policy Unit priorities on relevant themes in consultation with other UNDP verticals and external stakeholders.

Provide strategic management of the Policy Unit’s projects and provide assistance by supporting administrative, operational and logistical processes:

Build evidence notes on priority areas of work such as female labour force participation, climate vulnerabilities and impacts on poverty, and inclusive social protection.
Lead on in the preparation of monthly newsletters based on evidence-based research on various themes such as gender, social security, poverty, SDGs etc, with the support of consultants.
Oversee reports, studies, papers and other knowledge products and provide technical inputs as assigned by supervisor.

Facilitate knowledge building and management:

Ensure effective facilitation of knowledge building and management, guidance to all stakeholders on programme/project management, operational and technical matters focusing on the achievement of Country Programme(s) and Country Office’s performance.
Prepare communication and awareness materials, and knowledge products for policy advocacy, knowledge sharing and strategic partnership.
Conduct regular exchange of information/experience with other programme teams and initiatives/projects to ensure synergies and integration; promote cross-portfolio and cross- programme learning and sharing.

Provide overall technical and operational support to the Unit:

Liaise with programme teams to generate evidence backed plans, project proposals, and external facing policy communications.
Assist in the preparation of activity proposals/event proposals relevant to the unit’s development.
Maintain documents according to required standards and perform any other tasks relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

Results- based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Communication Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Partnership management: Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and priority led plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
Effective decision making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and effective manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, or other relevant social sciences

Experience:

2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) or 0 years (with Master’s degree) of relevant experience with think tanks/private sector/government/international agencies on issues related to economic and social development.
Experience in designing and carrying out data-driven research with
excellent writing skills is essential.
An understanding of India’s development challenges, the federal structure, and key development policy debates is essential.
Experience of carrying out data-driven research and the ability to conduct secondary research, with a rich knowledge of reliable sources and data platforms (both government and non-government)
Ability to work independently and proactively in a result-oriented manner.
Excellent working knowledge to Microsoft products such as Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and SharePoint are essential.
In-depth knowledge of spreadsheet programs (such as Microsoft Excel), their analysis packages and visual representations is essential.
Good working knowledge of data analysis software such as STATA/R/Python with the ability to learn at a rapid pace is required.
Good knowledge of econometric concepts including, but not limited to, tests of significance, correlations, causation identification and regression. analysis. Knowledge of sampling methodologies.
Experience with data visualization platforms will be considered an advantage.

Communication Skills

Good facilitation and communication skills
Excellent writing and presentation skills, including data visualization
Research best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Maintains effective relationships.
Reports to internal and external partners in a timely, proactive, and appropriate manner.
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet deadlines
Establishes, builds, and sustains effective relationships
Ability to liaise and work with people of different background.
Ability to work well under pressure.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and working language of the duty station.

Remuneration starting at INR 14,35,933 (Annual) / INR 119,661 (Monthly) as per the scale depending on qualifications and experience. The remuneration is excluding 8.33% pension amount paid over and above the salary.

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