About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit

About Institute (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. 

UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics research institute. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centres of the United Nations University. Today, it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as open-access original research. More information on UNU-WIDER and its current work programme are available at .

UNU-WIDER is implementing a large research, capacity development, and policy engagement programme in South Africa, called ‘Southern African – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED)’ in close collaboration with the National Treasury of South Africa and the South African Revenue Service. SA-TIED brings together world class researchers and policymakers to address socio-economic challenges in South Africa, and across the broader southern African region. A key focus of SA‐TIED is its partnerships with the policy‐making community. The main aim of the programme is to generate robust empirical evidence and use it as a basis to encourage informed debate amongst people involved in policy processes across the participating organisations and civil society to bridge the gap between research and policy‐making. The programme played an important part in making anonymised administrative tax data available for research purposes at a Secure Data Facility at the National Treasury (NT-SDF), which is now a key asset in the programme. The availability of administrative tax data for research has enabled groundbreaking avenues of research, has provided new perspectives on the South African economy and has dramatically improved the quality and breadth of evidence used to inform policy. For more information on SA-TIED, please visit

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Director, the general responsibilities of the Head of Policy Research, SA-TIED are to:

1. Play a key role in the management and day-to-day implementation of the ‘Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED)’ programme

• Act as UNU-WIDER’s senior representative in South Africa and in the SA-TIED programme.

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of the SA-TIED programme, in close collaboration with the UNU-WIDER personnel in South Africa, and UNU-WIDER’s management in Finland, including acting as day-to-day team leader of the UNU-WIDER team in South Africa and working alongside programme partners.

• Oversee and manage relations with local partners in academia and policy, including the two primary SA-TIED partners in South Africa – the National Treasury of South Africa and South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) – in close collaboration with the UNU-WIDER Partnerships and Programme Officer in South Africa and the UNU-WIDER Head of Partnerships and Programme Unit.

• Contribute to programme reporting and the establishment of annual work plans, including the design of the research, capacity development, and policy-bridging activities of the programme in close exchange with the academic and policy leads of SA-TIED’s workstreams.

• Provide strategic guidance to the SA-TIED steering group, to ensure coherence of the programme’s research activities through establishing a close dialogue with the academic and policy leads of SA-TIED’s workstreams.

• Design, implement and manage own research projects, commission research, and build collaborative networks to advance the overall aim of the SA-TIED programme.

• Identify emerging policy trends and coordinate with workstream leads to ensure programme responsiveness.

• Approve budgetary expenses and certify research deliverables related to the SA-TIED programme in line with UNU-WIDER’s Delegation of Authority framework.

2. Policy uptake, Research, and Capacity Development

• Make significant contributions to institutionalise policy-bridging within the programme with the aim of facilitating policy uptake of its research.

• Advocate for evidence-based policymaking and actively enhance the programme’s visibility among its stakeholders and target audiences.

• Synthesize research findings and translate research into actionable policy recommendations.

• Conduct policy analysis and advise on policy issues relevant to the economic development of South Africa, and other developing countries and emerging economies when appropriate.

• Help implementing the communications and dissemination strategy of the SA-TIED programme.

• Publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, reports, or policy briefs and actively represent the Institute by presenting research findings and policy recommendations when appropriate.

• Provide significant input into streamlining the programme’s capacity development initiatives.

3. Institutional Development and Partnerships

• Contribute significantly to fostering strategic collaborations with key government stakeholders, academic partners, and civil society for the benefit of the SA-TIED programme.

• Collaborate with UNU-WIDER’s management in shaping and implementing the Institute’s strategic and programmatic plans in South Africa, including establishing closer links with other UNU-WIDER programme activities, both globally and within the Southern African region.

• Support fundraising activities for the SA-TIED programme during its current and possible future phases.

• Contribute more broadly to UNU-WIDER’s overall research programme through creating synergies between the work conducted in the SA-TIED programme and UNU-WIDER’s research teams in Helsinki, Maputo and other locations where UNU-WIDER may establish its presence in the future.

• Engage in international policy processes and agendas of relevance for UNU-WIDER research programmes in South Africa and UNU-WIDER’s broader research programme.

• Engage with the UN Country Team in South Africa and represent UNU-WIDER in broader UN conversations and meetings.

4. Team leadership for UNU-WIDER colleagues based in South Africa

• Provide leadership to the UNU-WIDER team based in South Africa through formal supervision and/or mentoring.

• Supervise UNU-WIDER academic staff in South Africa and support their professional development, including setting and monitoring team objectives, identifying training and/or development needs and ensuring performance management as relevant.

5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Key performance indicators

• Continued high-quality programmatic presence of UNU-WIDER in South Africa through the successful implementation of the SA-TIED programme

• High-quality SA-TIED programme delivery around policy-bridging, research activities, and capacity development

• A high level of successful partnership building with SA-TIED partners and other programme stakeholders

• Effective management of UNU-WIDER academic staff based in Pretoria in ways that strengthen the SA-TIED programme

• Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU-WIDER as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, government departments, donors, the UN, and civil society in South Africa

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

• Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

• Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

• Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

• Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

• Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

• Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

• Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

1) Education and certification

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, development studies, or a related discipline.

• A PhD in economics, public policy, development studies, or a related discipline is a strong asset.

2) Required skills and experience

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience, including managing research programmes in academia, policy research, or related institutions, together with supervisory functions.

• Extensive experience in programme management within research or policy environments.

• Proven track record of working at the intersection of research and government.

• Experience in working in South Africa with academic and policy partners, and strong knowledge of local institutional settings.

• Demonstrated ability to translate research into actionable policy

• Deep understanding of South Africa’s policy frameworks and socio-economic development issues.

• Familiarity with international development agendas and evidence-based policymaking.

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

• Highly self-motivated, innovative, and organised, yet detail-oriented, with a professional and conscientious attitude and the ability to independently prioritise.

• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

• This position is based in Pretoria and thus willingness to work long-term in Pretoria is a strict requirement.

3) Language Requirements

• Speaking fluent English is a strict requirement

• Excellent drafting skills and fluency in both oral and written English is a requirement.

• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see:

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Apply via the apply link;

• fill out the  (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);

• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and

• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the for more information.

Application Deadline

1 March 2026

Submissions must be received by [23:59, UTC +2] on the deadline; late entries will not be accepted.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

If you have supervisory function, you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU 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 UNU.

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