Job Description

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.

Organizational Context

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Office / Unit/ Project Description

The Policy Unit leads UNDP India’s research and advocacy on Global Goals and the national development agenda, with a special focus on environment and climate change, skill development, inclusive growth and strengthening systems for SDG localization.

Scope of Work

Main Purpose:

The position will support the Senior Economist and the Policy Unit in advancing UNDP India’s strategic priorities through the formulation and implementation of integrated policy initiatives and programmes. It will contribute to strengthening linkages between policy and programme priorities, supporting partnerships and resource mobilization, and promoting knowledge and evidence to inform UNDP’s development interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities

1- Support the formulation, development, and design of new integrated policy initiatives in UNDP priority areas through:

• Preparing substantive inputs to key strategic and policy documents, which direct and guide UNDP interventions on climate change, livelihoods, health, gender, and localization of SDGs.
• Collaborating closely with the country office programme teams and external counterparts to identify new policy ideas in line with the UNDP’s priorities, initiate project concepts; lead the consultations on project formulation;
• Coordinating closely with technical advisors at the UNDP/Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), governmental and other institutions to ensure an effective formulation process leading to the approval of the projects;
• Ensures a strong relationship between UNDP India’s programmatic work and policy initiatives, with oversight on quality of published policy documents.

2- Provides oversight and management of initiatives in UNDP Policy Unit through:

• Effective application of Result Based Management (RBM) tools in project management; establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Performance of the functions of project manager in Atlas as defined and participation in recruitment processes for projects;
• Proactive financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions; timely escalation of issues and challenges, follow-up on audit and other recommendations;
• Preparation and contribution to the regular reports on outputs and outcomes as required.

3- Engages in partnership building and resource mobilization through:

• Coordination of activities and communications with all relevant stakeholders to build new, and strengthen existing relationships with partners and relevant government counterparts;
• Identification of capacity building and institutional development needs and implementation of appropriate interventions to enhance capacity and skills at the local level for programme/project development and resources mobilization;
• Scanning of funding windows and any other potential sources, preparation of substantive briefs on possible opportunities for project finance and co-finance in particular with a focus on private sector, financial institutions and Government cost-sharing;
• Representing UNDP in relevant meetings and for a when directed by the supervisor;
• Contribution to the UN’s work in India and actively participate in the UNCT Result Groups and fora.

4- Ensures facilitation of knowledge generation and management through:

• Formulating and developing best lessons learnt products and tools;
• Leading the preparation of knowledge products with relevance for UNDP’s policy priorities;
• Identifying, synthesizing and sharing lessons learnt and good practices directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Identifying sources of information related to policy-driven issues; and quality contribution to knowledge networks regionally and globally to support the provision of quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

5- Supports the Senior Economist (in his/ her capacity as the head of the Policy Unit) in people management, knowledge management, partnership building/ resource mobilization, and any other task as assigned by the supervisor.

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

Institutional Arrangements:

• Reporting To: Country Economist
• Reporting to this position: - N/A

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

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business management

Results- based management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

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 Management

Monitoring

Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Business Management

Risk management

Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management

Communication

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

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Economics , Development Studies, Social Sciences, Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field is required; or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields 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 (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Economics, Development Studies and Social Sciences.

Required Skills

• An understanding of India’s development challenges, the federal structure, and key development policy debates is essential
• Proven track record in providing policy advice and technical assistance on Public Policy at mid- or senior management level is required.
• Excellent writing skills/experience with the ability to condense technical reports to simple text for a general audience is required.
• Experience of designing and carrying out data-driven research, an understanding of research methods, and an awareness of the public policy research landscape and its key players is required.
• Strong and proven ability to analyze and visualize data-backed research in easy-to-grasp ways is required.

Desirabel Skills:

• Significant working experience in Government or relevant multilateral institutions is desired
• Experience of leveraging and understanding different data sources, including economic data (both secondary and primary), government reports and surveys, and understanding trends from economic indicators is desired.
• Sound knowledge of UN/UNDP rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and practices. Strong writing skills, including drafting financial policies and processes is desired.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in Hindi and English is required.

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

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