POLICY CONSULTANT for PROGRAMME RESEARCH IN THE BRI for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TEAM of UNDP CHINA

Background

China has become a major emerging player in global governance, able to share its valuable experience with the entire 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 with many countries and international organizations engaged.

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 regarding understanding of development context, as a channel for international development assistance, and as part of and beyond South-South cooperation. 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, 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, 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. 

Towards this end, the office is looking for a Research Associate/Policy Consultant to help the UNDP Cjina CO to conduct evidence-based research and develop think- pieces under the Global Partnerships Cluster (GPC) and the BRI for Sustainable Develpoment Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Team leader of the BRI for Sustainable Development, the Policy Consultant is responsible for identifying and producing and/or commissionin research and analysis on global and regional development issues. He/she will assist the team to identify policy options in the areas of global and regional development studies, with a focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and of China’s role within it. He/She is expected to:

1. Support the BRI-related research  with a focus on Economic, Enviromental and Social Sustainablility Development

• Map and analyse key features of the investment environment of countries along the Belt and Road, including economic, legal, social, and policy factors;
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on China’s role in global economic governance and regional development issues with a particular focus on the Belt and Road investments and projects.
• Conduct background research pieces on global economic governance and regional development studies with focus on the Belt and Road for external and internal purpose and draft speeches for UNDP Senior Management under this portfolio.
• Perform statistical analysis, such as regression analysis using historical data along BRI;
• Map existing BRI investments and financing standards/regulations/polcicies along BRI countries for the forthcoming research report;
• Support the drafting of the report related the Belt and Road, including by contributing analytical inputs, charts and tables;

   2. Support the implementation of projects under the BRI programme

• Facilitate information-gathering, field study, and pre-project research of the seclcted project;
• Facilitate the coordination of country studies, events, forums and workshops under the joint program with the Chinese government and China Development Bank
• Support environmental and social impact evaluation on local BRI projects.
• Provide support in the preparation of program positioning, functions, budgets, and proposals on implementation arrangements –such as BRI Innovation and Development Center

  3. Support to the team’s specific initiatives

• Provide support to high-level delegation visits including drafting the briefing package and preparing the Note to File.
• 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.
• Assist policy advocacy and programme advisory tasks such as preparing project briefs, speeches, presentations, and strategy papers related to international development cooperation and brief visiting missions, donor agencies and national counterpart agencies.
• Maintain good partnership with the relevant UNDP internal units and national counterparts, as well as donors.
• Conduct the missions in China if needed.

 4. Other relevant responsibilities as assigned by the team leader. 

Competencies

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent writing skills and communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis;
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships and has result oriented collaboration with colleagues. 
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, and report on work.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines and openness to change, receive/integrate feedback.
• Qualitative and quantitative methodology skills acquired in the context of an MPhil or MRes programme.
• Excellent presentation skills. Teaching experience at the tertiary education level is preferred.
• Curiosity and desire to work in a complex, international environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Professional Experience:

• At least 1-2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in fianancial institutions, government institutions, universities or research think tanks, providing policy support and hands-on experience in policy making and project designing. 
• Research experience matured both in China and abroad;
• Thorough 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;
• Sound knowledge of global governance mechanisms and regional development cooperation with particular focus on economic issues and the Asia Pacific region.

Skills:

• Sound knowledge of Microsoft office.
• Excellent presentation and networking skills.

Language:

• Excellent skills in both written and spoken English required.

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/1yzgGppteBfHM71YU2d1E9A (Code: 3zh2) 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.