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 is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently. In a rapidly changing global environment, the work of UNDP and the broader UN family aligns withthe Government of India’s new national development vision, India 2030, and builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP India’s country programme for 2018-2022 has three major focus areas:

Inclusive growth
Environment and energy
Strengthening systems and institutions

These are supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, a pool of financial and technical resources for greater impact and scale, and South-South expertise.

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the India to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind – and we reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India.

UNDP operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity. It works internationally to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). UNDP was one of the main UN agencies involved in the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. To accomplish the SDGs and encourage global development, UNDP focuses on poverty reduction, democratic governance, energy and environment, social development, and crisis prevention and recovery. UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment, and resilience.

In India, NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for supervision and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in India. It is responsible for identification of national targets and assigning them to the Ministries/Departments concerned and for seeking the participation of State Governments for their participation in implementation and monitoring of the 2030 agenda through the localization of SDGs. UNDP has been extending technical support to NITI Aayog for the localization and integration of SDGs, Transformation of Aspirational Districts and the Atal Innovation Mission, to name a few. UNDP’s programmes continue to focus on building strong institutions through innovative participatory mechanisms to progressively deliver universal access to basic services for the last mile impact, leaving no one behind, complementing the works of United Nations Agencies engagements with NITI Aayog including the UNRCO technical support on SDG Index and Women Economic Forum etc. UNDP has initiated active support to a number of state governments in mainstreaming SDGs within their schemes and programmes as a part of an overall support to SDG roll out for visioning and planning.

The Government of India is committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leaving no one behind. The State of Karnataka has performed well in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The Poverty Head Count Ratio in 1990 was 55.11 for Karnataka, has come down to 20.91 in 2011-12 which is much below the target of 27.55 by 2015. The State has performed well in reducing the poverty as evident from its MPI of 0.224 in 2005-06 to 0.068 in 2015-16 The State is making best possible efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger, institute effective governance, support integrated policies, and capacitate stakeholders to identify and analyse inter-linkages, synergies and work across institutional boundaries. Furthermore, enhanced capacities are needed to improve sectoral policies, reach those who are furthest behind, envision the long-term impact of policies and possible scenariosto make institutionstransparent and accountable and to support participatory decision-making.

Thus, to implement the ambitious VISION 2030 set for the State, the Government of Karnataka has established an SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC) as part of the Department of Planning, Government of Karnataka, in partnership with United Nation Development Programme. The SDGCC acts as a capacity building centre, a catalyst or resources centre, a think tank, knowledge centre and a monitoring post for all supporting departments of Government of Karnataka. SDGCC is responsible for initiating action for convening on SDG related issues, as also meetings at government level, as and when required. As a part of the ongoing research agenda, UNDP would like to onboard a Research Associate for extending support service to SDGCC in fast-tracking the global goals agenda. The Research Associate will work closely with the SDGCC Project Head and other verticals to fast-track the policy advocacy agenda of UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Research Associate will handle a variety of tasks that are designed to help the work being done by the team for enhancing impact. The Research Associate will support SDGCC Karnataka in taking forward its policy work with the Government (State and local) counterparts, donors and other stakeholders. S/he will provide day to day support to the team to bring out impact of the policy/programmatic work ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency. The Research Associate will work under the direct supervision of Project Head SDGCC and under the overall guidance to the SDGCC Karnataka.

The Research Associate will report to SDGCC Project Head, UNDP India with day-to-day administrative reporting to the government.
Under the guidance of SDGCC Project Head, and in close coordination with the teams, the incumbent is expected to:

Carry out research and analysis of various SDG and Global Indices
Publish papers based on the research
Prepare reports for submission to stakeholders with inputs from various teams.
Work with an emerging and dynamic team to document programme and project impacts and communicate to relevant stakeholders.
Establish/maintain an up-to-date documentation centre/repository for publications, press releases and feature stories, as well as photographic and audio-visual materials of studies conducted.
Participate in analyses and development of targeted policy publications and other project outputs such as discussion briefs, new media pieces and visual material.
Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of various activities and programmes.
Establish and maintain a database for easy retrieval of knowledge products, photographs and videos (in consultation with the project managers).
Assist in maintaining partnerships with policy actors and decision makers, such as government agencies, private sector, and regional/international development agencies.
Prepare progress reports and other relevant documentation etc. Any other relevant work assigned by the supervisor

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:

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and to choose communication methods depending on the audience
Strategic thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education
Bachelor’s degree in Economics or any other related field of study would be desirable

Experience:

At least 6 years (3 years in case candidate is having bachelor’s degree) practical professional work experience in the economics and statistics research
Experience on documentation of programme/ project results
Excellent writing skills is essential.
Prior experience working with UN, Government agencies on similar role is desirable.
Experience in writing research articles in a team for published documents.
Experience in coordinating/working for the Monitoring of programmes and projects

Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

Understands the main processes and methods of work assigned
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Data gathering and implementation of managementsystems

Uses information/databases/other management systems
Provides inputs to the development of simple system components
Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems
Excellent working knowledge of MSOffice-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, e-mail applications etc

Communication Skills

Good facilitation and communication skills
Excellent writing and presentation skills
Research best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

Maintains effective client relationships

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationshipswithin the work unit and with internal and external clients
Respondsto client needs promptly
Ability to liaise and work with people of different background
Ability to work well under pressure.

Language requirement :

Excellent verbal and written in English and knowledge of Kannada with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment as well as immediate availability for deployment.

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