Research Analyst

Background

ATTENTION TO APPLICANTS:
To apply for this short-term assignment, kindly fill in and upload a signed . Only applications with a duly filled in and submitted Personnel History Form will be reviewed.

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
• Digital transformation and private sector engagement in 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 Türkiye, Iraq, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eswatini, Mauritius and Seychelles for SDG financing with knowledge products including impact investing ecosystem studies and SDG Investor Maps. 

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, partnership building and project management support in the design and implementation of projects and activities. S/he will be responsible for the design and implementation of the post-Maps activities building upon the outcomes of the SDG Investor Maps highlighting the gaps and needs within specific country contexts in coordination and collaboration with the COs, RBx and SFH teams. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of and reporting directly to the SDG Financing and Private Sector Development Portfolio Lead, the Research Analyst will be responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

Provides research and knowledge generation support, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support qualitative and quantitative background analysis and related research on SDG-aligned investments, impact investing ecosystems and SDG financing mechanisms.
• Provide support during the implementation of knowledge management activities of ICPSD in the SDG financing and private sector development area.
• Other research and information collection tasks related to SDG financing and private sector development area as required by ICPSD.

Provides administrative and logistical support, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide organizational support to the events including identifying and securing the venue, speakers and guests; outreach and drafting-distribution of invitations; managing event registration; and other related tasks. 
• Support the preparation of the document set for event participants (i.e. press kit, logistics note) and any other document deemed necessary.
• Prepare the logistics plan for each event and ensure its proper implementation in coordination with the travel agencies, hotels and other partners.
• Provide research support in line with the subject topic of the events (trainings, workshops);
• Provide administrative support to the organization of other national and international conferences, workshops, retreats.
• Prepare formal/informal translations.

Provides support to management coordination, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Assist in the preparation of notes, summaries, presentations for events and advisory activities.
• Represent of portfolio in events, organizations.
• Participate in project meetings, as required.
• Support the senior management with collection and compilation of information.
• Support the development of knowledge management products (methodologies, reports, briefs, etc.).
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed. 

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

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:

Business Development:

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.

Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and  share, particularly externally.

Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.

Business Management:

Result-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance  and demonstrable results.

Partnership 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.

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.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, international relations, political science, business administration, international development, economic development or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields 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:

• 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 relevant professional experience in sustainable investments, sustainable financing and impact investing area.

Required skills and competencies:

• Experience in drafting and finalizing high quality materials for internal and external partners including analysis, proposals and work plans, concept notes, technical and financial reports.

Desired additional skills and competencies:

• Experience working on activities or initiatives within African countries, particularly in the areas of SDG investments is an asset.
• Experience working on European Union policies, regulations, and institutional structures is desired.
• Working experience in design and implementation of research and advocacy activities and projects on the role of private sector in development particularly in the developing and the least developed country contexts is an asset.
• Previous experience in investment landscape analysis and market research particularly for SDG-aligned investment opportunities is an advantage.
• Experience with private sector engagement, investment and financing mechanisms is desired.
• Working experience in an international organization is an asset, particularly familiarity with the UN/UNDP system.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in English and French languages and excellent writing skills in both languages are required.