Project Specialist (Efficient Water Governance, Irrigation Modernization, Digitalization and Knowledge Exchange) [Open to internal and external applicants]

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

The project “The Project for Strengthening Water Resource Governance and Resilience to Climate Change in the Aral Sea Region” funded by the Government of Japan, aims to transform water resource management in the Aral Sea region through an integrated and innovation-driven approach that strengthens governance, modernizes infrastructure, advances digital solutions, and supports communities to adopt climate-resilient and water-efficient practices.

The project is aligned with Uzbekistan’s national and regional priorities on water security, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and green transformation, including the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy, the Aral Sea Region Development Strategy, the Water Sector Development Concept 2020–2030, and related policies on climate adaptation and sustainable development. It contributes to strengthening institutional coordination, improving water governance, introducing modern water-saving and digital technologies, and increasing the resilience of farmers and communities in Karakalpakstan.

UNDP will leverage its long-standing presence in the Aral Sea region, global expertise in integrated water resources management, climate resilience, and digital innovation, and strong partnerships with national and regional institutions to support the design and implementation of practical, scalable, and sustainable solutions. The project will be implemented in four pilot districts of Karakalpakstan—Kegeyli, Chimbay, Karauzyak, and Bozatau—and is structured around four interlinked components covering institutional strengthening, digitalization, resilient water infrastructure and on-farm solutions, and regional knowledge exchange and advocacy.

The Project has 4 main interconnected components as follows:

• Component 1. Strengthening national institutions and enhancing regional and local capacities for improved water management in the Aral Sea Region of Uzbekistan.
• Component 2. Digitalization for improved water management systems.
• Component 3. Strengthening capacity and enhancing water infrastructure for farmers, smallholders, and households to build climate resilience and promote water efficiency for food security in the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan.
• Component 4. Promoting regional level knowledge management, advocacy, and communication.

The Project is implemented in four pilot districts of Karakalpakstan: Kegeyli, Chimbay, Karauzyak and Bozatau.

To support these efforts, UNDP seeks an experienced international specialist to provide high-level technical and strategic support on water governance, irrigation modernization, digital transformation, and knowledge partnerships; contribute to implementation of the project’s technical components; support development of UNDP Uzbekistan’s water-related programme pipeline; and serve as a resource person on water-related issues for the UNDP Country Office.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Technical Advisory

• Provide strategic and technical leadership to the project on integrated water resources management, irrigation modernization, climate-resilient water governance, and adoption of innovative water-saving solutions in the Aral Sea region, ensuring alignment with national priorities, UNDP programming frameworks, and international good practice.
• Serve as a resource person on water-related issues for UNDP Uzbekistan by providing high-quality technical advice, contributing to internal and external policy dialogue, supporting engagement with government, donors, academia, and development partners, and helping position UNDP as a credible thought partner on water resilience, irrigation, and climate adaptation.

Project Implementation, Diagnostics & Innovation

• Lead technical assessments, diagnostics, and analytical work on water governance, irrigation efficiency, infrastructure performance, water losses, institutional arrangements, and investment needs in Karakalpakstan, the Aral Sea region, and the wider Amu Darya basin, and translate findings into actionable recommendations, concept notes, and implementation roadmaps.
• Provide technical support for the design and implementation of project activities under Components 1, 2, and 3, including policy and institutional strengthening, digitalization of water management systems, introduction of innovative irrigation and monitoring technologies, and capacity-building for government counterparts, farmers, water users, women, and youth.
• Advise on the development and operationalization of digital and data-driven solutions for water management, including GIS-based systems, monitoring platforms, remote sensing, decision-support tools, and other technologies that improve transparency, efficiency, and climate resilience in water allocation and irrigation management.

Knowledge Management, Monitoring & Reporting

• Identify, assess, and help adapt relevant international, regional, and national best practices, policy approaches, and technological solutions in water governance, irrigation modernization, climate resilience, and water-use efficiency to inform project implementation and strengthen UNDP Uzbekistan’s water programming.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, presentations, knowledge products, and progress updates; document lessons learned and replicable models; and contribute to monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management of project interventions, including recommendations to improve quality, sustainability, and strategic impact.
• Support the design and implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework for water-related interventions, including refinement of indicators, baselines, targets, data collection methodologies, and analysis of results to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, reporting, and adaptive management.

Strategic Partnerships & Pipeline Development

• Support UNDP Uzbekistan Country Office in identifying, shaping, and advancing a strategic pipeline of water-related initiatives and partnerships, including preparation of concept notes, technical inputs to project documents, donor engagement materials, and recommendations for scale-up and resource mobilization in the water sector.

Cross-Cutting Themes: Gender & Social Inclusion

• Ensure gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches are integrated across water-related assessments, technical designs, capacity-building activities, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge products, with particular attention to the participation, needs, and leadership of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in water governance and climate resilience interventions.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Specialist on Efficient Water Governance, Irrigation Modernization, Digitalization and Knowledge Exchange will work under the supervision of the ECA Cluster Lead, support the Programme Coordinator and in close coordination with the project team, government counterparts, and in close consultation UNDP ECA Cluster. The incumbent will provide high-level technical advisory support, strategic input to project implementation and business development, and quality assurance on water-related programming and partnerships.

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

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking Business Management Data Required Skills and Experience Education: Experience: Required skills: Desired skills: Languages: 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 Scam alert UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
  • Portfolio Management
    • Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
  • Digital Awareness and Literacy
    • Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value.
    • Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
  • Data analysis
    • Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making
  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Water Resources Management, Irrigation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Natural Resources Management, or a related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • Minimum 5 (five) years (with a Master’s degree) or 7 (seven) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in water resources management, irrigation modernization, agricultural water management, or closely related fields is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in integrated water resources management, irrigation efficiency, and introduction of innovative water-saving technologies in arid, semi-arid, or climate-vulnerable contexts.
  • Experience in capacity-building and facilitation with government and community stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), water governance frameworks, and irrigation modernization, with a focus on improving water-use efficiency and climate resilience in water-stressed regions.
  • Proven track record of experience in deploying innovative digital and data-driven solutions for agricultural water management, including precision irrigation, GIS, remote sensing, and decision-support monitoring tools.
  • Strong experience in the full project lifecycle, including conducting technical assessments, feasibility analyses, and developing implementation roadmaps and project pipelines/concepts for water and irrigation investments.
  • Extensive experience collaborating with international development organizations, IFIs, government institutions, and donors on policy dialogue, partnership building, and sustainable agriculture, with a strong preference for regional experience in Central Asia or transboundary contexts.
  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of Uzbek or Russian is desirable.