Policy Research Specialist on Inclusive Growth Priority Topics in Asia Pacific Region

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Sample of one unedited policy paper of 5-8 pages written by the candidate.

Travel

Official travel is not required. In the event of unforeseeable official travel required by hiring unit, UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

Office/Unit/Project Description

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, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021 and the Asia Pacific Regional Programme articulate the corporate requirement to bring timely and effective substantive and technical services to the country offices through strengthened practice architecture at the global, regional and country level. The Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH – with a multidisciplinary office in Suva, Fiji) provides the UNDP Country Offices in the region with reliable and easy access to quality advisory services and technical support based on UNDP’s mandate to address poverty and inequality challenges, promotion of inclusive growth and prosperity, achievement of the SDGs and promotion of sustainable development.

Within this context, the Regional Inclusive Growth and Prosperity Team – in close collaboration with the Global Policy Network Teams in the Bangkok Regional Hub, Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific (RBAP) Headquarters in New York, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) – focuses on development policy and planning to address poverty and inequality; livelihoods, jobs and macroeconomic policies, social protection, human development, public finance, data analysis, green and blue economy, and most recently the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addressing these priority agendas within the framework of SDGs, the BRH Inclusive Growth and Prosperity Team works closely with regional partners, mechanisms and forums around joint commitments, agendas and objectives, including ASEAN, ESCAP, other UN agencies and bilateral partners.

The Policy Research Specialist will deliver short, concise and strategic summary / policy briefs on priority inclusive growth topics in the Asia Pacific region based on research including, but not limited to areas of poverty and inequality; human development; macroeconomic transformation, employment and jobs; social protection; public finance; green and blue economy; LDC graduation and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that inform major regional level policy dialogue led by UNDP in partnership with other organizations. 2-3 candidates will be recruited for the roster and called on a drawn-down basis to respond to the emerging needs. S/he will work closely with the BRH Inclusive Growth and Prosperity Team, Regional Chief Economists, Country Office-based economists, staff in the Bangkok Regional hub, Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific as well as Secretariats organizing the respective regional events to ensure delivery of timely and coherent outputs that reflect UNDP’s strategic positioning as well as that of other partners.

Institutional Arrangement

The Policy Research Specialist will report to the Team Leader – Inclusive Growth and Prosperity Advisor, as well as China CO Chief Economist and RBAP Chief Economic Advisor depending on the designated responsibilities. Depending on the nature of work, Policy Research Specialist will also work closely with the GPN Teams, Economists via the AP Economist Network and other partners including those hosting the meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

1. Develop concise briefs synthesizing existing publications and as necessary, supplementing information gaps with additional background research on priority inclusive growth topics (as mentioned above under the objectives) and as they relate to the themes of regional policy dialogues, including through the use of latest evidence and datasets, cutting-edge research, regional frameworks and partnership documents as well as relevant good practices in the AP region and beyond.
2. Develop outlines and structure of the policy brief; and one-pagers synthesizing key evidence, key messages as well as practical recommendations for policy makers; and visually engaging presentations, incorporating inputs and feedback from partners.
3. Consolidate key points from policy briefs as inputs to technically sound statements, press releases and social media feeds to be further refined by the Regional Director’s Office, Communication Team as well as BRH GPN teams.
4. Maintain knowledge products and contacts of partners in the network.
5. Transcribe the technical content and proceedings of regional events into audience-friendly summary documents for internal and external use.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

• Master’s degree in economics, socio-economic policies, development studies, statistics or one of the specified areas.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in analysis of socio-economic issues in developing country contexts.

Required skills and competencies

• Knowledge of multidisciplinary fields of development concepts, especially in one or more of the technical areas of poverty and inequality; human development; macroeconomic transformation, employment and jobs; social protection; public finance; green and blue economy; LDC graduation and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;

Desired additional skills

• Experience in analyzing socio-economic data to compile concise and strategic background documents for use in high-level regional policy dialogue;
• Experience in supporting the preparation of regional meetings and events;
• Familiarity with UN especially UNDP corporate priorities, especially those related to inclusive growth.
• Experience working in the Asia-Pacific region is desired.

Desired competencies

• Ability to effectively plan, organize, monitor tasks and deliver outputs;
• Good inter-personal and skills;
• Proactiveness, patience and attention to details;
• Openness to change and ability to integrate feedback;
• Cultural and gender sensitivity; ability to work with people from different backgrounds;
• Ability to work independently and in a team; and to deliver high-quality work on time;
• Ability to network and leverage collaboration from stakeholders and partners.

Required Language(s)

(at working level)

• English