Research and Partnership Analyst (Home based) [Open to All 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

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS personnel provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate, Energy, Waste and Chemicals Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy Waste and Chemicals work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;
• Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including Food Systems;
• Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS;
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
• Sustainable Energy;
• Extractive Industries;
• Chemicals and Waste Management;
• Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches.

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

UNDP has developed its new Strategy for Food Systems to focus its vision and enhance its support to transform Food Systems.

Food Systems are fundamental to the sustainable development of the 170 countries UNDP supports. Food Systems are often the largest contributor to their economies; food and nutrition is fundamental for citizen health; and Food Systems have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. Yet, Food Systems are in crisis and need to be radically transformed to become sustainable. UNDP, building on its experience, has for the first time consolidated its Food Systems support and vision into this Strategy. The challenges and need for change related to Food Systems have been highlighted by a suite of reports by many research and international organizations and think tanks. The production practices and consumption patterns of food and agricultural commodities are taking these systems on an unsustainable trajectory with multiple impacts on human development, the environment, and economies; from ecosystem degradation, conflicts over land and natural resources, reduced capacity and resilience to climate and other shocks, persistent poverty, food insecurity and related people displacement and migration, to malnutrition including overweight and obesity. There is a clear need to work in a systemic and integrated manner to transform the Food Systems towards sustainability.

UNDP´s Vision for Food Systems 2030 is, through partnerships, to transform food and agricultural commodity systems into resilient; equitable; healthy, inclusive; environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable systems. Working on Food Systems will contribute to not only recovery from the COVID19 crisis, by creating sustainable and resilient livelihoods for many along the Food and Agriculture Commodities supply chains, but also to preventing further zoonoses from emerging in the future. This will require a change in the current paradigm of agricultural production focusing on maximizing productivity to a new paradigm based on diversified agroecological systems which work simultaneously on achieving economic, environmental, social, and health outcomes, with smallholders as a key part of the solution in their role as the engine of economic development. A Food Systems practice has been established within UNDP’s Nature Hub, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with Food Systems related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP’s Food Systems strategy.

A Food Systems team has been established within UNDP´s Nature Hub, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with food systems related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP´s strategy. As part of its work on systems change, the Food Systems team developed the Food and Power Initiative (FPI) and the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA).

The Food and Power Initiative (FPI) is an emerging global programme, launched in 2024, which aims to support countries and stakeholders to better understand, navigate and address the power dynamics of food systems transformation. Through this collaborative, multi-partner initiative, UNDP seeks to raise awareness on the importance of addressing power asymmetries for a sustainable and equitable transformation, to strengthen the role of marginalized communities in decision-making, and to support policymakers to better navigate power dynamics to adopt and implement public policy reforms. As it moves towards the development of country support, FPI seeks a learning and research analyst to to maintain and build out the Community of Engagement, to participate in relevant Working Groups facilitating cross-sector collaboration, and to provide research and analytical support to the development of knowledge products and country level interventions towards a more equitable and resilient food system

The Conscious Food Systems Alliance is a global alliance that supports people from across food and agriculture systems to cultivate the inner capacities that activate systemic change and regeneration. CoFSA was publicly launched in late 2022 and have built a vibrant community of over 600 members, advancing thought leadership and practical interventions on the ground. CoFSA supports inner transformation as a key lever of change at all levels of the food system: from community-led initiatives and local actions that promote deep connection with Nature, to transformative experiences for policymakers to catalyse mindset shifts in governance, to healing interventions supporting farmers’ wellbeing and psychological resilience. In 2026, CoFSA is co-hosting a Global Conscious Food Systems Summit with the Royal Government of Bhutan, advancing a new paradigm for food systems transformation that recognises the vital role of culture, values, spirituality, happiness and inner development in catalysing systemic change. CoFSA seeks a Research and Partnerships Analyst to support the development of knowledge products in relation to the Summit, and to convene the Researchers circle before, during and after this flagship event.

UNDP seeks an individual with expertise spanning these intersecting thematic areas, to support the integration of these two initiatives which work on intersecting areas as part of the food systems portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Food Systems Team is looking to engage a Research and Partnerships Analyst to perform the following tasks for the Food and Power Initiative and Conscious Food Systems Alliance:

1. Conduct Research, Content Development and Knowledge Sharing

• Conduct in-depth background research and analysis to support the FPI and CoFSA programmes, including staying up to date on emerging research on the topics of power asymmetries/political economy/inner change for food systems transformation.
• Develop high-quality case studies, reports, and blogs that document developments and key lessons learned, to support the implementation of workstreams and contribute to thought leadership in the field.
• Moderate the FPI Community of Practice, including maintaining resource library, admitting new members, and related tasks.
• Support the design and facilitation of learning events, such as workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions, to enhance organisational learning and collaboration.

2. Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

• Implement learning, monitoring, and evaluation processes, to assess the impact of the programmes, including local actions and partner initiatives.
• Act as a bridge between the two initiatives, ensuring integration where relevant and supporting knowledge sharing.

3. Food and Power Initiative Partnerships

• Coordinate the thematic Working Groups and Advisory Committee for FPI, and in particular supporting the sharing of learning between country level and global level activities.
• Carry out outreach for new FPI members, mediate the admission process for new members, and act as the focal point for FPI Members.
• Participate in Working Groups of relevant networks, including the One Planet Network, UN-Nutrition and other relevant groups and processes

4. Facilitate knowledge sharing

• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.

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

Institutional Arrangement

• The incumbent will work remotely from his/her home-base;
• The incumbent will be supervised by the CoFSA Lead Technical Advisor (primary) and the Food Systems Advisor (secondary).
• The incumbent will take part in the Food Systems Community meeting and liaise with the UNDP Food Systems team members, other UNDP staff both at global and country office level, partners agencies focal points and donors.
• The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must secure access to a reliable internet connection.
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

Competencies Core

• 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 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

• Communications: 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. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Partnership 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.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Green commodities

Digital

• Data Analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

• An advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in Anthropology, Development Studies, Agriculture, Economics, Environment Science, or other related fields; or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields, in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree are required to have minimum of two years of professional work experience in sustainable development project management support-related functions (planning, communications, reporting, research).

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Demonstrable interest and understanding of the role of inner capacities, inner change and power dynamics in driving systems change.
• Experience supporting projects on food systems transformation, agriculture, or rural development that integrate inner change, mindset shifts, power dynamics & political economy.
• Experience convening and moderating communities of practice, including organizing online and in-person events.
• Experience developing knowledge products that integrate insights on power, inner change, and food systems transformation.
• Experience coordinating multi-partner initiatives with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working with UNDP and/or other UN organizations.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language such as Spanish or French is desirable

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.

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.

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