Research Analyst - Crisis & Resilience- IPSA 8 (Home Based)- 50% Part time

Remote | Home Based - May require travel

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
Grade: Junior level - IPSA-8, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
- Scientist and Researcher
Closing Date: Closed

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.

Office/Unit/Project Description

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
Crisis and Resilience Response

Under its Crisis and Resilience portfolio, ICPSD supports sustainable and durable solutions for conflict and fragile affected contexts. The Center, together with its partners and relevant stakeholders, is working on identifying and promoting private sector led good practices in developing countries to be replicated and scaled up to address the major development challenges such as humanitarian crises, disaster risk reduction, climate change, conflict affected economies. As part of the work under the thematic area the Center designs and implements activities to support the Country Offices, partners and stakeholders from both public and private sector through awareness raising and capacity building programs, knowledge products and technical assistance services.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Policy Coordinator, the Research Analyst will assist with the ongoing and planned activities through Crisis and Resilience. This includes supporting the overall management and coordination of thematic areas’ workplans and activities. The Research Analyst will also assist in the design and implementation of knowledge management activities of ICPSD under Crisis and Resilience, such as research, toolkit, and training development for initiatives of the Center. Additionally, the Research Analyst will support cooperation, donor mobilization, and technical advisory/assistance provided to other UNDP units, including Country Offices and Regional Bureaus.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of and reporting directly to the Crisis and Resilience Policy Coordinator, the Research Analyst will be responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

1.Conduct Afghanistan-related research and analyses for crisis and resilience portfolio:

Conduct research and quantitative analysis on the private sector for crisis contexts.
Support the preparation of high-quality reports, policy advocacy and design research projects around innovative solutions.
Prepare analysis and synthesis of proposals on the areas for support and interventions within these thematic areas.
Conduct the necessary internal procedures related to editing, design, and clearance of documents and advocacy materials.

2. Provide technical assistance and research for renewable energy projects:

Support the design for renewable energy projects with smart energy solutions and private sector components.
Lead on the technical assessments for solar energy investment feasibility studies by conducting engineering analysis.
Coordinate the energy-related research activities by providing methodological outline, questionnaire design and stakeholder engagement.

3. Participate in knowledge management activities

Participate in the design and formulation of ICPSD activities within the area of responsibility, translating ICPSD’s priorities into local interventions and partnerships.
Participate in the development, design and formulation of projects focusing on technical aspects, from formulation to implementation of the ICPSD activities.
Monitor and evaluate knowledge management activities under Resilience and Crisis Response, and prepare inputs for reporting.

4. Implementation, collaboration, and monitoring of project implementation

Coordinate and communicate effectively with the respective country offices to ensure continuous implementation of projects.
Collaborate closely with the relevant COs to align project activities with organizational goals and objectives.
Monitor the implementation of projects in collaboration with the related country offices, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Research Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Crisis and Resilience Policy Coordinator.

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 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
Business Management	Project Management	Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management	Partnerships Management	Ability to 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
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
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
Information Management & Technology	User Experienceand Business Analyst	Capacity to translate efficiently users needs into IT requirements around human-centered design

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education	Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business, Finance, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Renewable Energy or Energy Engineering, Environmental Management or other related field. OR A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience	Up to 2 years (with Master's degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor's degree) of relevant working experience with socio-economic and energy research.
Required skills and competencies	Experience in researching socio-economic topics in fragile and conflict affected contexts. Proven experience in research and analysis of energy access, economic development, and SDGs.
Desired additional skills and competencies	Experience in working with energy systems and infrastructure in Afghanistan or similar contexts is an asset. Experience in conducting quantitative analyses for industrial parks is an asset. Experience in conducting technical assessments for renewable energy projects is an asset. Experience working with an international organization, particularly familiarity with the UN/UNDP system.
Required Language(s) (at working level)	Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Dari/Persian is an asset.

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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This vacancy is now closed.