Background Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crises and to drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives, build resilient nations, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sustainable Development Goals represent the global consensus for the comprehensive and ambitious 2030 Agenda. The level of ambition and the need for resources to reach the targets necessitate innovations to increase efficiency, and partnerships for effective use of existing resources as well as growing them.
As a major effort to finance SDGs and in order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives. The Hub is an integral part of both the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), as well as part of the GPN. The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via the COs, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work.
Through SFH, UNDP’s Istanbul Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), one of the five Global Thematic Policy Centers of UNDP, acts as an enabler for the private sector and foundations to become more active partners in development, encouraging them through policy advice and technical services on how to contribute towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. ICPSD was established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Türkiye. The Center’s work to engage foundations and the private sector focuses on delivering policy advice and technical services in four thematic areas:
- Private Sector Engagement through South-South Cooperation for the SDGs
- Private Sector Engagement in Digital Transformation and Skills Development
- SDG Financing and Private Sector Development
- Resilience and Crisis Response.
Under its SDG Financing and Private Sector Development thematic area, the Center offers research, advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnership services to diversify sources of financing for the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on attracting private impact capital. The Center has been supporting UNDP Country Offices in Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Republic of Congo and Senegal SDG financing and private sector development activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Research Analyst will support UNDP ICPSD’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development portfolio for its strategic knowledge management objectives, and will provide research, content development and project management support in the design and implementation of projects and activities.
The Research Analyst will work under the general guidance of the Deputy Director, and the direct supervision of Impact Investing Programme Management Specialist – Portfolio Lead. The incumbent will be responsible for performing and contributing to the following:
1. Strategic Planning and Execution:
- Provide thorough analysis, and research the role of private sector in SDG financing.
- Conduct research and contribute to the preparation of high-quality policy and programme guidance materials for respective areas under the SDG Finance and Private Sector Development Portfolio.
- Contribute to the preparation and implementation of activity plans, schedules, and work plans.
- Coordinate with stakeholders, including team members, partners, and beneficiaries, to ensure alignment and timely execution of the activities.
- Monitor milestones and deliverables, ensuring they are met according to the agreed timelines.
- Plan, execute, and manage respective activities as per the work plan.
- Identify potential risks and challenges in the implementation of activities/project, and recommend mitigation measures.
- Provide support in resolving issues and conflicts that may arise during the implementation phase.
- Responsible for the design and implementation of activities in Morocco, Senegal, and the Republic of Congo under Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance (PISTA) support funded by the Italian Government and implemented by UNDP Rome Center in coordination and collaboration with the COs, Rome Center, RBx and SFH teams.
2. Coordination and Facilitation:
- Organize and facilitate meetings, workshops, and training sessions, including managing logistics and preparing related materials.
- Maintain documentation, including contracts, correspondence, and reports, in an organized and accessible manner.
- Support procurement and contracting processes, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
3. Outreach and Relationships Management:
- Identify, map, and conduct consultations with the relevant investors, market players, stakeholders, and development partners to understand their potential roles in the planned activities.
- Ensure active engagement of the various stakeholders, and their contribution to the project.
- Identify potential funding partners at the global, regional, and country levels, including donor governments, private sector, and foundation.
- Prepare project proposals, concept notes, presentations, pitch decks, donor progress reports and other materials as needed.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies CoreAchieve 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.
Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology
to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.
Business Management:
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.
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.
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.
Digital:
Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.
Data collection: Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).
Required Skills and ExperienceThis position is short-term at IPSA-8 level, and office-based in Istanbul, Türkiye. The expected duration of the contract is for six (6) months (up to 130 working days in a calendar period). The contractor can work no more than 130 working days in a calendar period.
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international relations/law, political science, international development, economic development, business/public administration, or related field is required OR
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of studies in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Applicants with 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 (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of research work experience in sustainable investments/finance.
Required Skills/Experience:
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
Desired Skills/Experience:
- Experience in the design and implementation of research and advocacy activities / projects in Morocco, Senegal, or the Republic of Congo.
- Experience in drafting and finalizing high quality materials for internal and external partners including proposals and work plans, concept notes, technical and financial reports.
- Experience in investment landscape analysis, and market research particularly for SDG-aligned investment opportunities.
- Experience in designing and implementing activities contributing to private sector development in emerging markets.
- Experience in UN/UNDP/International organizations.
Language(s):
- Fluency in English and French is required.
Disclaimer Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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