Research Associate in Global Governance in the Global Partnership Cluster of UNDP China

Background

China has become a major emerging player in global governance, able to share its valuable experience with the international community, acting at the same time as a bridge-builder between institutions and nations in the sustainable development era. China takes a proactive role in shaping new initiatives which complement existing global governance mechanisms. For instance, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been growing steadily. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) started operation in January 2016 and has already approved the first group of projects to be implemented. The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) approved its first loans in 2015 while the BRICS 2017 Summit was hosted in China.

Since the launch of UNDP China Global Governance Initiative in 2012, UNDP China has become a key partner of the Government of China in international development cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNDP is recognized as a bridge between China and the world – both in terms of understanding of development context, as a channel for international development assistance, and as part of and beyond South-South cooperation. Moreover, the Chinese government counterparts have characterized UNDP as a chosen partner for advising on development cooperation approaches and integrated development approaches in line with the SDGs. 

On the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly session in September 2016, UNDP and the government of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation on the BRI. This was followed by an Action Plan signed in May 2017 during the first Belt and Road Forum. In the meantime, the China Development Bank (CDB) was designated as an implementing partner of the Action Plan and a Joint Statement from May 2017 formalized this cooperation. This strategic partnership highlights UNDP’s firm commitment to facilitating sustainable development across BRI partner countries and putting the 2030 Agenda into action. In the list of deliverables of the 2nd BRI forum, the National Development and Reform Commission of China and UNDP co-initiated the Belt and Road Innovation and Development Platform project, authorizing the China Development Bank to execute in name of the Innovation and Development Centre under the project.

To support the work under this portfolio, the office is looking for a Research Associate to help the UNDP China CO to conduct evidence-based research and develop think-pieces under the global governance initiative and the Belt and Road programme in the BRI for sustainable development team of the Global Partnership Cluster (GPC).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Assistant Country Director and the Team Leader, the Research Associate is responsible for supporting the team in drafting and producing research and analysis on global economic governance - with focus on the BRI and Agenda 2030 - and low carbon development. He/she is expected to:

Provide policy support on global economic governance and low carbon development - with focus on the synergies between BRI and Agenda 2030

• Support the drafting of flagship report such as the UNDP Global Governance Report
• Update on China’s role in global economic governance and regional development cooperation with focus on BRI investments and projects and synergies with Agenda 2030.
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on China’s and BRI partner countries energy infrastructure needs.

• Conduct specific research on: green and blue economy and their connections with the BRI and the implementation of the SDGs; low carbon development, including carbon pricing, carbon tax, carbon trading schemes,
• Conduct researches on renewables technology and capacity building for low-carbon development.
• Analyze information on research institutes, identify reliable sources of information and contribute to the development of UNDP’s research networks on the areas above.
• Conduct background policy briefs for external and internal purpose and draft speeches for UNDP Senior Management under this portfolio.

Support to the team’s specific initiatives to enhance the policy impact of UNDP.

• Provide technical support to the preparation of specific initiatives and relevant events (e.g. the Global Governance Initiative and its Forum) such as collecting the background information, support revising the agenda, taking notes of preparatory meetings and generating summary reports.
• Provide policy and project support such as preparing project briefs, speeches, PPT presentations, to support ongoing events and partnerships such as visiting missions, donor agencies and national counterpart meetings.
• Provide support to the formulation and implementation of the team’s work plan as well as provide the operational support to the team’s daily housekeeping issues, such as contributing to the team work and periodically reports.

Competencies

• Excellent research skills and use of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies;
• Excellent writing skills and communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis;
• Excellent presentation skills with expectations to design and present slides for the team; Advanced Knowledge in PowerPoint is strongly Favored.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines and openness to change, and to receiving/integrating feedback.
• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and value and display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships and has result oriented collaboration with colleagues. 
• Curiosity and desire to work in a complex, international environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s Degree or Doctor’s Degree in Political or Social Sciences, Economics, International Development Studies or related disciplines.

Experience

• At least 1-2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing policy support and hands-on experience in policy making and project designing. 
• Understanding of China, politically and economically as well as its role in the global and regional development sphere with focus on the Belt and Road Initiative;
• Knowledge of global governance mechanisms and regional development cooperation with particular focus on economic issues and the Asia Pacific region.
• Strong knowledge of low carbon development topics including carbon pricing, carbon tax, carbon trading schemes, technology transfer and capacity building.
• Strong knowledge of energy infrastructure issues, including renewables and low-carbon technology.

Skills

• Sound knowledge of Microsoft office.
• Strong presentations and networking skills

Language

• Excellent skills in both written and spoken English required.
• Fluency of Chinese is an asset.

Final selection criteria

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number)
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price.

Documents to be included when submitting application

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal (download the format in the link provided: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1NmDdYXX3jrv8c1bUaEW4TA Code:s25f) together with your CV while submitting application. 

For people who apply from UNDP Jobs, please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications/skills will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.The final offer goes to the highest combined score winner.

 Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV while submitting application.

Final selection criteria

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number)
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price.

Documents to be included when submitting application

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal (download the format in the link provided:https://pan.baidu.com/s/1t3bj8sL1Xbw_U9erwADJYw (Code:rh3r) together with your CV while submitting application. 

For people who apply from UNDP Jobs, please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications/skills will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.The final offer goes to the highest combined score winner.