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
As the lead United Nations agency on international development, for six decades, UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories. UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet. The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.
The Bureau for Advocacy and External Relations leads and supports UNDP to build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding relationships. BERA communications enable strong political and financial backing by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global, regional, and national development priorities. BERA leads efforts to optimally position UNDP within the UN Development System, with Member States and in the inter-governmental and inter-agency fora. It identifies strategic opportunities to partner with agencies through multi-stakeholder and bilateral platforms. It provides intelligence, advises on relationships with key political constituencies, incl. UN Member states, G77 and China, WEOG, EU, Executive Board and develops strategies. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of political positioning, partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.
Duties and Responsibilities
The UN Coordination and Coherence Analyst work under the leadership and direction of the Team Leader for UN System Affairs supporting Group’s responsibilities for UNDP’s strategic positioning within the UN Development System and helping to advance engagements and partnerships with the UN entities.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Support BERA/UNSAG interventions for enhanced external relations and advocacy with other UN Entities and intergovernmental partners, with a focus on UN coordination and coherence
- Provide support to the development of corporate strategies to inform UNDP’s engagement in inter-agency and intergovernmental processes, including QCPR.
- Develop, maintain and nourish close relationships with select Member States and UN entities to further advance UNDP’s engagement and advocacy efforts.
- Provide support for UNDP’s participation in, and follow-up to, intergovernmental and inter-agency meetings and conferences.
- Support monitoring, analysis and evaluation of inter-governmental discussions/negotiations related to UN reform, coherence, and related issues, including on UNDS repositioning and the UN80 initiative.
- Support strengthening feedback loops and consultation processes between the organization’s country and regional presence and UNDP representatives in UN working mechanisms to ensure reflection on best practices and lessons learned in the formulation of interagency policy and guidance documents.
- Contribute to team efforts in coordinating UNDP’s participation in interagency working groups of an inter-disciplinary nature to ensure UNDP’s position is fully developed and reflected in the relevant discussions, outcomes, tools and guidance notes.
- Contribute to team efforts in supporting UNDP’s participation in the CEB and its sub-mechanisms (UNSDG, HLCP, HLCM) and in other UN inter-agency technical working groups or other meetings where necessary and support other UNDP-led initiatives in inter-agency fora; ensure UNDP's position is reflected in the relevant discussions, outcomes, tools, guidance notes.
- Support UNSAG’s engagement, contacts and processes with other UN system agencies, funds and programmes for overall cooperation and troubleshooting; Provide support, as appropriate, to the elaboration of UNDP positions at interagency meetings.
- Monitor and follow up on joint mandates/ legislation on operational activities in the outcomes of multilateral/intergovernmental bodies.
- Provide input into papers, talking points, reports and briefs, as required; and review and provide comments, as required, on UNDP and interagency UN draft documents.
- Contribute to team efforts in supporting UNDP’s implementation of the UNDS reform and engagement in UN80 work streams, including UN relationships and interagency dialogues at HQ, regional level and county level.
- Support UNSAG’s review and analyses of country-level involvement in UN coherence, including through managing and analyzing the data collected through the RR survey on the implementation of the UNDS reform.
- Collate and analyze inputs from HQ bureaus and units, Regional and Country Offices, assess what works and what does not work in UNDS reform and prepare appropriate guidance notes and analytical papers on UNDP’s position on future reform initiatives.
- Provide efficient secretariat support for inter-agency meetings and relevant cross-bureau working mechanisms, as required.
- Support, as necessary, other functions within the UNSA Group.
Preparation of analysis, summaries, reports and substantive briefs
- Monitor discussions and negotiations in relevant intergovernmental and interagency spaces, flagging potential risks and major positions to the Team Leader.
- Draft timely and high-quality background papers, briefing notes, talking points, analyses, and speech inputs for UNDP Senior Management on relevant issues, including informed political analysis of the intergovernmental and interagency issues at hand; and identification of potential challenges and opportunities for UNDP.
- Draft background documentation for the Executive Board deliberations on UNDS repositioning during its Annual Sessions.
- Coordinate UNDP’s inputs into the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of the QCPR.
- Facilitate preparation of the UNDP annual report on the implementation of the QCPR.
- Prepare periodic briefing notes on operational activities for development issues and recommended actions, for use by UNDP senior management.
- Prepare timely submissions of high-quality talking points and briefing notes as requested by senior officials; and draft and review inputs for speeches and reports as requested by senior management.
- Perform any other relevant duties as may be assigned.
Support UNSAG Leader’s overall management and corporate compliance/reporting responsibilities
- Support UNSAG Team Leader and the team in maintaining and strengthening close collaboration with partner UN agencies, funds, and programmes to ensure coordinated approaches and solution exchanges in areas impacting system-wide coherence.
- Support UNSAG’s efforts to advance, coordinate and maintain UNDP’s compliance with key intergovernmental mandates and interagency agreements as related to UNDS repositioning and subsequently UN80 initiative.
- Coordinate inter-bureau engagement in and ensure timely development of necessary background information for the respective Executive Board sessions.
- Coordinate and prepare inputs and recommendations across Bureaux/Offices on UN coherence matters, including annual reports on QCPR implementation, for UNDP senior management.
- Support and facilitate the functioning of the Anchor Group.
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge management
- Identification of sources of information and trends related to UN coordination and coherence.
- Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to Intergovernmental Affairs & UN Coherence.
- Maintenance of the common space on UNDS reform implementation.
- Organization of training to UN/UNDP staff on coherence issues as required.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
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
Business Direction and 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.
Business Direction and 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 - 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 solutions.
Business Management - 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.
Business Management – Communication
- 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.
Business Management - 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.
UN System Affairs - Intergovernmental Affairs
- Knowledge of intergovernmental bodies (General Assembly, ECOSOC, UNDESA, etc.), including respective mandates, ways of working, and negotiation processes.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Political Science or other related field 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:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree), or 4 years (bachelor’s degree), of relevant experience in development-related areas, multi-stakeholder engagement, international or multilateral organizations, UN operational activities for development, project management, or other relevant setting are required.
- Experience in providing comprehensive support to inter-agency, intergovernmental, or senior-level meetings is required.
- Experience in preparation of agendas, briefing materials and coordination of stakeholder inputs and documentation of outcomes is desired.
- Experience and sound knowledge of the UN development and inter-agency system, and United Nations processes relating to operational activities for development, development effectiveness, sustainable development, and other issues of system-wide coherence are desired.
- Familiarity with intergovernmental processes and some working knowledge of UNDS repositioning mandates and UN80 work streams is desirable.
- Experience in developing guidance notes or knowledge products is desirable.
- Experience in identifying and synthesizing best practices and lessons learned related to UN coordination, intergovernmental affairs, or system-wide coherence is desirable.
- Experience in collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to support policy development, organizational reporting, or decision-making is desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of other UN languages 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.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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.
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