Policy Specialist [Open to all applicants] - Home-based

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Present in 166 countries and territories, UNDP supports governments in developing strong policies, institutions and partnerships to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing on UNDP’s country presence and in close collaboration with UNDP’s Global Policy Network and the Development Coordination Office (DCO) in the UN Secretariat, the Effective Development Cooperation Team, located in the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), provides policy and technical support to partner countries and UN Country Teams on development effectiveness, and supports the work of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.

Established through the Busan Partnership Agreement in 2011, the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (Global Partnership or GPEDC) is a multi-stakeholder initiative for driving development effectiveness, to "maximize the effectiveness of all forms of co-operation for development for the shared benefits of people, planet, prosperity and peace." It brings together governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, civil society, the private sector and representatives from parliaments and trade unions among others, who are committed to strengthening the effectiveness of their partnerships for development. The 2023-2026 Global Partnership Work Programme aims to strengthen the effectiveness of development cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and ensure that no one is left behind. The Work Programme outlines three strategic priorities; generating evidence through the GPEDC monitoring exercise; driving informed policy dialogue and action through country dialogues and strategic partnerships; and fostering political awareness behaviour change and update through targeted outreach and advocacy.

Since its inception, the Global Partnership has benefitted from institutional support from UNDP together with OECD, which together constitute the OECD-UNDP Joint Support Team (JST). Annex 3 of the 2022 Geneva Outcome Document sets out the core functions of the Joint Support Team, which include: a) Management of the GPEDC Monitoring Framework and Process; b) Secretariat services and Advisory Services to Co-Chairs and Steering Committee; and c) Advocacy, Strategic Communications, Learning, and Knowledge Management support.

Among other things, the UNDP side of the JST provides country-level guidance to strengthen capacities for more effective development co-operation management, supports and tracks progress toward development effectiveness commitments through the monitoring exercise, provides substantive support to DCO in their role on the GPEDC Steering Committee as the UN development system representative, as well as facilitates knowledge sharing, communications and advocacy support to anchor development effectiveness and the work of the Global Partnership to spur implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Policy Specialist will lead monitoring work within the UNDP Effective Development Cooperation team and serve as an integral member of the OECD/UNDP Joint Support Team, providing strategic policy guidance and technical leadership to advance the GPEDC monitoring agenda.

In particular, the Policy Specialist will provide:

Lead on all areas of GPEDC monitoring for the UNDP side of the Joint Support Team, including partner country engagement and roll out of GPEDC’s 5th monitoring round. Specifically:

• Lead GPEDC monitoring for UNDP side of the Joint Support Team. Manage a sub-team of 2-6 colleagues across diverse locations to deliver on GPEDC monitoring-related activities, including roll out of the 5th monitoring round and strong partner country engagement.
• Develop and implement strategies for increased and deepened engagement of partner country governments and stakeholders in Global Partnership’s activities, in support of the GPEDC Co-Chairs and Steering Committee members from partner country governments and through leveraging UNDP’s Global Policy Network, UN Resident Coordinator Offices and UNDP Country Offices.
• Lead efforts to renew the GPEDC monitoring framework and process, including by exploring ways to integrate the GPEDC monitoring exercise into existing country processes, activities and mechanisms. Liaise with relevant UN/DP offices to coordinate and encourage synergies between effectiveness-related workstreams.
• Lead and guide team members to provide, technical support on all aspects of the GPEDC monitoring framework and process, including for example providing senior-level technical guidance to National Coordinators at all stages of the monitoring exercise, and as needed adaptation of monitoring process, tools and framework as necessary.
• Lead analysis of country-level actions taken in response to monitoring findings and translate lessons learned into policy guidance for countries on the effective use of future monitoring results.
• Design tailored engagement strategies for partner countries to ensure a whole-of-society approach to the monitoring exercise and operationalization of effective development cooperation principles.
• Lead exploration of new and innovative ways to monitor effective development cooperation, including through use of AI.

Support country-led effective development cooperation efforts, including strengthening accountability and trust among partners at country level, including:

• Lead processes to coordinate across the UN development system at headquarter level and country level to support programme country governments to take action on the GPEDC monitoring results through inclusive country dialogues with partners. Work directly with National Coordinators to successfully conduct the Global Partnership monitoring exercise.
• Lead global reporting efforts on effectiveness, including SDG indicator reporting, inputs to the FFD Forum, HLPF and other relevant UN fora and processes. Coordinate within the JST and with UNDP Country Offices and other partners to optimize support for countries engaged in the monitoring.
• Lead and guide team members to conduct ongoing scanning and undertake mapping and analysis of country experience to facilitate peer learning and encourage action on monitoring results.
• Identify, facilitate and synthesize knowledge-sharing and in-person / virtual learning events for partner country governments and stakeholders on development effectiveness.

Lead policy development, knowledge sharing and advocacy related to effective development cooperation, including:

• Lead policy development and analysis on issues related to country-led effective development cooperation, including drafting policy briefs, concept notes, talking points and programme agendas.
• Support preparation of partner country governments’ led knowledge pieces on effective development cooperation and stories of progress for the Global Partnership’s website and communication channels.
• Lead on substantive inputs, particularly related to monitoring and country-level efforts to promote development effectiveness policy change, and organizational support to Steering Committee meetings as well as other meetings of the Global Partnership such as the Busan Global Partnership Forum.
• Contribute to global policy dialogue relating to effective development cooperation, including preparation of background documents, substantive inputs and analysis, briefing materials and speaking notes as requested.
• Support project management related functions, including preparation of programme/project documents, corporate monitoring and reporting, annual project reporting and donor reporting, among others.
• Support the Team Lead with policy work, team management and partnership functions as needed.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Policy Specialist will report to the Team Lead, Effective Development Cooperation, under the overall direction of the UNDP Geneva Office Director.

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.

• People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

• Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy - Systems 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.

Business Direction & Strategy - Negotiation and Influence: Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.

Data - Data Analysis: Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Business Development - Knowledge Generation:

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
• Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management - Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Development - Integration within the UN:

• Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work.
• Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

HR- Talent Management - Performance management: Knowledge of and ability to guide the application of performance management theory, systems and tools, incl. articulation of expectations, setting objectives and performance standards; conducting performance related discussions and performance coaching; ability to develop performance management and appraisal processes that minimize biases.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Statistics, Economics, Public Policy or related disciplines is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master´s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor´s degree) of work experience in international development, with at least 2 years working on development cooperation issues at country level.
• Experience directly advising/supporting national governments in development cooperation, development partnerships and sustainable development efforts is required.
• Experience undertaking country-level analysis relating to effective development cooperation and sustainable development is required.
• Experience of supervising staff is required.
• Experience working in advising/supporting national governments in development cooperation, development partnerships and sustainable development efforts in or with countries in fragile contexts is an asset.
• Experience providing support to a multi-stakeholder initiative(s) is an asset.
• Familiarity with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation is an asset.
• Experience leading the production of policy and programme guidance relating to effective development cooperation is an asset.
• Experience in multi-donor funded project management, including preparing background documentation and budgets for grant agreements and preparing donor reports is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language(s), especially French, is a strong asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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