Inclusive Growth Associate Officer

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. It helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, and institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peacebuilding, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. UNDP advocates for change, and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

UNDP Cambodia Country Office works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors and the private sector to support the progress toward the Cambodia SDGs.

The Country Office, based in Phnom Penh, has a four-unit structure – Operations Unit, Policy and Innovations Unit, Result- Based Management Unit, and Programme and Results Unit. The incumbent will be a member of the Programme and Results Unit and is expected to work as a project team member for the Civic Engagement Project and Strengthening Transparency and Accountability Project. The Programme and Results Unit is mainly responsible for the implementation and oversight (programmatic and financial oversight) of the Country Office’s projects and initiatives.

Over the past two decades, Cambodia has realized striking rates of economic growth before the COVID-19 pandemic (of around 7% per year), accompanied by a persistent decline in poverty levels and improvements in human development. As such, growth has been exceptionally inclusive, with initially rising levels of income inequality falling back in recent years. Yet as poverty has fallen, vulnerability has risen, and a large proportion of the population is now living just above the poverty line. Going forward, a series of pressures stemming from Cambodia’s progression as a Middle-Income County (MIC), will also place stress on its development model and give rise to new economic and social challenges.

UNDP is supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia to deal with the uncertainties associated with the triple planetary crisis, by strengthening socio-economic resilience and social protection, fostering climate resilience and access to clean and affordable energy in isolated areas, and promoting circular economy. The Country Office is also supporting the country to prepare for LDC graduation, including through technical support for fiscal space expansion and alternative financing for SDGs. There is a need to support the diversification of economic growth and tune the development model to ensure more inclusive, resilient and green development, but also to strengthen and expand development finance to achieve the Cambodian Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) - Inclusive Growth, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support effective and timely project implementation under the inclusive growth portfolio, particularly in the areas of digital economy, private sector development and SDG financing.
- Support the project team in developing strategies implementation plan and roadmaps for the project and ensure that project activities are fully aligned with the project objectives and the targets;
- Support the Assistant Resident Representative, and the Project Manager in preparation of quarterly and annual work plans for project activities and preparation of project board meetings;
- Contribute to the preparation of Concept Notes, and Terms of Reference (TOR), for project activities and workshops;
- Support preparation of project-related meetings including project board meetings;
- Contribute to the monitoring of project implementation.

2. Support the strategic planning, monitoring and reporting of the inclusive growth portfolio.
- Support the ARR and Inclusive Growth team in the portfolio horizon scanning process including conducting mini-research on socio-economic, political signals and trends that have implications on the portfolio implementation; facilitation of internal meetings; and compilation of the signals and trends with inputs from the inclusive growth team.
- Support the ARR portfolio management process in the annual planning, monitoring and reporting process. The tasks involve consolidation of inputs for the annual work plan and preparing quarterly updates and annual reports in coordination with the inclusive growth team.
- Support the ARR and coordinate with the inclusive growth team in providing input to the planning and reporting process of the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-28 and annual joint work plan of the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-28.
- Prepare briefing/ background notes for the country office management prior to important external meetings.

3. Support communication activities of the Inclusive Growth portfolio
- Maintain and update the Inclusive growth communication plan.
- Prepare project briefs, portfolio briefs, thematic briefs, social media posts and other communication materials as needed with the support of the Communications Unit and Inclusive Growth team.
- Compile Scout media coverage of UNDP’s work in inclusive growth portfolio.