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 Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is a small multi-disciplinary unit located in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. The mission of the HDRO is to advance human development through the expansion of opportunities, choice, and freedom. The Office works towards this goal by conducting original analysis and research, commissioning top quality background research, and advocating practical policy changes. It works with others to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, support to national and regional analysis as well as outreach and advocacy work.
One of its best-known outputs is the global Human Development Report (HDR), first launched in 1990. These independent Reports are intended to challenge policies and approaches that constrain human development, promote innovative concepts, and advocate practical policy changes. In each Report a different development theme is examined in depth using available data and new analyses relevant to the chosen topic resulting in both an assessment of status as well as a series of policy recommendations for the future. HDRO’s pioneering metrics, not least the Human Development Index, have become a global standard setter in measuring development progress.
HDRO is uniquely positioned within the UN system as an independent research office that combines the credibility and convening power of the United Nations with the freedom to challenge prevailing narratives and explore frontier issues. It works with multi-stakeholder partners globally to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, support to national and regional analysis as well as outreach and advocacy work.
Under the guidance of the Research and Strategic Partnerships Advisor and the direct supervision of the Research & Partnerships Specialist, the Analyst works on accomplishing the relevant work plans to produce the Global HDRs and other knowledge products produced by HDRO, while also contributing to the development and coordination of research and strategic partnerships that strengthen the substantive quality, reach, and policy relevance of HDRO’s work
Scope of Work
The analyst will contribute to the delivery of HDRO’s strategic research and partnerships agenda, supporting work that advances human development analysis and strengthens the partnerships that underpin HDRO’s intellectual, institutional, and financial sustainability. The role will help connect research, partnerships, resource mobilization, and external engagement, ensuring that HDRO’s analytical work is informed by diverse expertise, communicated effectively, and positioned for wider uptake and impact. The analyst will work under the Research and Strategic Partnerships Advisor and the direct supervision of the Research & Partnerships Specialist, and will collaborate closely with HDRO colleagues, UNDP teams, external partners, and expert networks
Duties and Responsibilities
Research and knowledge development
- Contribute to research and intellectual work on a wide range of human development issues, through data collection, literature reviews, drafting of research notes, and synthesis of policy-relevant findings
- Contribute to the preparation and quality assurance of HDRO publications, including through background research, drafting inputs, evidence synthesis, data review, preparation of tables, charts, and figures, fact-checking, and preparation of supporting materials.
- Support analytical work related to human development indicators, datasets, and metrics, including data compilation, quality checks, statistical analysis, and presentation of findings
Institutional partnerships and external engagements
- Support the development and coordination of strategic partnerships that strengthen the substantive quality, visibility, and financial sustainability of HDRO’s work, including the design, implementation, and follow-up of joint workplans and cooperation arrangements, coordination of collaborative research and outreach activities, and engagement with key institutional counterparts.
- Support the operationalization of partnership arrangements in line with UNDP policies and procedures, including coordination of activities, tracking of deliverables, preparation of required documentation, follow-up with relevant counterparts, and support to reporting and internal coordination processes.
- Support the planning and implementation of events with key partners, expert networks, UNDP teams and other stakeholders
Partnerships cultivation and resource mobilization
- Contribute to partnership cultivation and resource mobilization efforts, including partner mapping, preparation of briefing materials, concept notes, donor updates, presentations, and support to fundraising opportunities aligned with HDRO priorities.
External engagements, consultations, outreach and dissemination
- Support the planning, preparation, implementation, and follow-up of consultations, seminars, workshops, roundtables, launches, and other events organized by HDRO, including coordination with speakers, partners, participants, logistics, agendas, materials, and post-event follow-up
- Contribute to presentations, briefing notes, data visualizations, infographics, and other communication materials to support dissemination and policy uptake of HDRO work
Cross-cutting support to HDRO
- Contribute to the overall work of HDRO and undertake other related tasks as required.
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 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.
- Business Development Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
- Partnership Management Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding
- Business Development Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need
- Business Development Human-Centered design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process
- Business Management Communications: 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. • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- An advanced University Degree(Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or another relevant social science discipline is required, OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Training in data analysis, statistics, or applied research are desirable
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in combining policy-oriented research and analysis with partnership engagement in the fields of development, economics, or public policy is required
- Experience working with international organizations, governments, research institutions, or multi-stakeholder partnerships
Required skills and competencies:
- Strong understanding of international development policy, human development concepts, and emerging policy agendas
- Good understanding of the human security paradigm and its relevance to contemporary development challenges.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to policy-oriented research, analytical writing, and production of global reports or other high-quality knowledge products.
- Proven ability to engage and coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including governments, academia, donors, civil society, and international organizations.
- Experience supporting the planning, coordination, and delivery of consultations, conferences, workshops, launches, and other events.
- Experience working with data, indicators, and evidence synthesis to support policy analysis, reports, or strategic decision-making.
- Excellent writing, drafting, and editing skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to different audiences.
- Strong motivation to contribute to the advancement of human development research and policy frontiers
- Effective team player, that demonstrates commitment to UNDP values and displays sensitivity and adaptability.
- Collaboration and working in teams, exchanging information and ideas with others to reach common goals and making a substantial contribution to the team's work
- Good communication and inter-personal skills/experience.
Desired additional skills and competencies:
- Experience in partnership development, donor relations, or resource mobilization within international organizations, research institutions, or the development sector.
- Practical quantitative research skills, including data analysis, management of indicators and datasets, and ability to use analytical tools to support evidence-based policy work.
- Proven knowledge of the United Nations Development Programme and the UN system and familiarity with multilateral processes
Language(s)
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowlege of another UN language would be an 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
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.
