Location : New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline : 09-Oct-13
Additional Category Millennium Development Goals
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-4
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Nov-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : 1 Year
Expected Duration of Assignment :Renewable
Background
In the years up to 2015, the world needs to remain focused on securing as much progress as possible on the current set of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, discussions have already begun on the goals and targets that could build on and succeed the MDGs as part of the Post-2015 agenda (P15A).
Discussions on any P15A start with an analysis of the present MDG agenda and its underlying approach, as well as assessment of what has worked and not worked. Any development framework for P15A must also take into account how the context for development has changed since the MDGs were agreed. It will need to consider climate change and environmental vulnerability, recent crises and volatility arising from economic globalisation, the changing nature of global governance, patterns of inequalities between and within countries, as well as trends relating to technology, demography, urbanisation, and migration, among others.
In the outcome document of the 2010 MDG Summit, Member States requested the Secretary-General to initiate annual reporting on the activities, consultations and analytical work that needs to take place to inform the inter-governmental debate on the P15A. In this vein, the Secretary-General put in place a One UN Secretariat for the P15A, for the UN to be fully coordinated in supporting Member States as they move towards one P15A.
It will be critically important that the vision for a Post-2015 framework – and any ensuing goals and targets – be informed by the perspectives of people from all parts of the world, including poor people. In setting out his vision for developing a P15A, the Secretary-General announced that the United Nations will advocate for and facilitate a bottom-up and inclusive approach defined by national and local priorities. Within the UN system, the UN Development Group (UNDG) is the logical place for such an effort, and as Chair of the UNDG, UNDP has been mobilising support around an initiative that aims to make sure that any successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is informed by the perspectives of stakeholders from all over the world, including those that are poor and excluded.
Through this 'Global Conversation', more than 750,000 people in over 194 countries have contributed their views so far. The views have been pulled together in a preliminary report ' The Global Conversation Begins', with a final report to follow in September. The main perspectives coming from the consultations are that the issues covered in the current MDG framework remain highly relevant but need to be refined, deepened and broadened. Inclusive growth and jobs, governance, environmental sustainability and peace and security are recurring issues that people are calling for to be included in a future framework. People have also emphasized the importance of quality in addition to access, as well as the inter-linkages between different goals reflecting the fact that people do not live their lives in silos.
These messages have been taken up in the reports of the High Level Panel (HLP) on Post-2015 and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). So far the discussions in the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals (OWG) have also confirmed the logic of substantive convergence of the SDG-track with the overall Post-2015 process. For the opening of the General Assembly in September 2013, the Secretary-General will review all these inputs and set out his vision for the way forward.
Although September will be an important milestone, the Post-2015 process will continue through 2014 and 2015. Several processes, meetings and events taking place will have an impact on the Post-2015 process and the final outcome. Some of these will be looking at the implementation side, including issues of financing, partnerships and data. Examples are the discussion on the Global Partnership for Development, which is currently on the agenda of the Development Cooperation Forum in 2014, and the post Busan follow-up. Such implementation-focused issues have also been raised by many of those who have participated in the agenda-setting process through the Global Conversation, with a request for continued avenues for consultation and engagement.
A first ground breaking conference will be organized in October in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Korea. This conference will bring together experts and practitioners to look at lessons learned from the MDG and other frameworks, and formulate recommendations for the future. These recommendations will provide a timely input for the Post-2015 process, acknowledging the reality that once a Post-2015 framework has been agreed upon, country implementation will determine its success. Ensuring that a global framework is actionable at the country level is therefore paramount.
Duties and Responsibilities
The policy specialist is responsible for bringing solid substantive advice and technical expertise to the P15A, to support the UNDP's technical contributions to the P15A process. She/He will make an important contribution to the implementation of UNDP's new strategic plan. Moreover, she/he is expected to provide policy guidance to the UNDP-Korea MDG Trust Fund and support the communication with ROK on the partnership it has with UNDP.
More concretely her/his support to UNDP will focus on:
- Preparing analysis, briefings, and reports for the UNDP Post-2015 Team on current development affairs and discussions related the P15A, including the inputs for UN Task Team;
- Following the engagement with various stakeholders, particularly civil society and mapping the position of stakeholders regarding the different building blocks of the P15A;
- Disseminating knowledge around the P15A through UNDP's knowledge platforms, substantially contribute to knowledge networks and promote internal participation in the discussions;
- Communicate the results of the Global Conversation and other UNDP led processes on the P15A to external audiences;
- Provide support to P15A activities and events by providing relevant information and knowledge about UNDP's experiences and lessons learnt, propose and help engage participants, ensure the dissemination and analysis of the conclusions/results and determine the implications of the discussion for UNDP's contribution to the P15A;
- Provide policy guidance and substantive input into the drafting of key documents;
- As part of the Secretariat for the Post-2015 Task Team, help prepare meetings and documents and following up on conclusions where necessary;
- Provide guidance to the UNDP-Korea MDG Trust Fund and support the communication with ROK on the partnership it has with UNDP.
The Specialist will report to the Head of the Post-2015 team, while liaising with the Head of the MDG cluster as it relates to the ROK Trust Fund.
Impact of Results:
The goal of the policy specialist is to have a noticeable impact on UNDP's work on the P15A and the implementation of UNDP's the Strategic Plan in this area, as well as a strong thematic contribution to the wider UN process on P15A.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies::
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness
,by modeling the UNDP's values, normative framework and ethical standards; - Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Thematic:
- Strong expertise in implementation modalities including partnership;
- Experience in providing technical assistance;
- Track record in producing analytical and evidence-informed think pieces and knowledge products;
Functional:
- Proven ability to apply various relevant development concepts and tools to the specific context.
- Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence decision makers in UNDP programme countries and other international development organizations
- Strong analytical, dialogue, consultation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products
Knowledge Management and Learning:
- Ability to integrate knowledge with broader policy and operational objectives;
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others in own unit and across boundaries; acknowledge others' contributions; promote collaboration and facilitate teamwork across organizational boundaries;
- Open to new ideas; shares own knowledge; applies knowledge in daily work; builds partnerships for learning and knowledge sharing;
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
- Familiarity with current Knowledge Management technologies, including Web and Enterprise 2.0 etc.
Judgment/Decision-Making:
- Mature judgment and initiative;
- Proven ability to provide strategic direction in service area;
- Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling policy issues, challenges and sensitive issues at HQ level, regional and country level.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's degree in social sciences, development studies or a related area;
Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years of experience of international development, programme development, partnership building, analytical work in development issues;
- Experience in producing and analyzing think pieces and other knowledge products;
- Experience in working with large and complicated processes with multiple different actors;
- Experience with the UN system would be an asset;
- Excellent understanding of the key thematic issues in the debate, particularly in the areas of poverty reduction, sustainable development and the P15A.
Language:
- Fluency in oral and written English and Fluency in other UN languages is an asset;
- Fluency in Korean is highly desirable.
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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