Job Opening: UNDP Seeks Research and Reporting Specialist
Job Opening: UNDP Seeks Research and Reporting Specialist
Position ID: 18207
Posting Date: May 15, 2024, 02:51 PM
Application Deadline: May 30, 2024, 05:59 AM
Schedule: Full-time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: IPSA-10
Contract Type: International Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Governance
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Education & Experience: Master’s Degree with 5 years of experience
Required Language: Fluency in English (both oral and written)
Application Period: 2 Weeks
Mobility: No mobility required
Table of Contents
About UNDP
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At UNDP, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion as core principles. We believe that diversity is not only an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, but it is also a powerful asset that drives innovation and creativity. Inclusion is fundamental to our mission because it ensures that all personnel feel empowered to contribute to our goals. Our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion is centered on fairness and increasing the representation of underserved populations. Individuals who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Zero-Tolerance Policy
UNDP maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, abuse, any form of harassment, and discrimination. We are committed to creating a safe and respectful working environment for all our employees. All selected candidates will undergo thorough reference and background checks to ensure adherence to these standards and principles.
Our Mission
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization dedicated to ending the injustices of poverty, inequality, and climate change. We work with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries to develop integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet. Our work is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the belief that development is about expanding choices for all people, everywhere.
UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP)
The UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) derives its mandate from United Nations General Assembly Resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978. This resolution called upon UNDP to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people by identifying their social and economic needs and by establishing concrete projects to address those needs.
Programme Overview
Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025
The Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025 envisions a world in which all Palestinians can enjoy a dignified life and fulfill their own vision of a unified, peaceful, and free society. The PPF is centered around the concept of “Transformative Resilience,” which encompasses three key elements: a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership.
Job Opening: UNDP Seeks Research and Reporting Specialist
Priority Areas
Over the next three years, UNDP/PAPP will leverage its experiences and achievements to make critical contributions to the priorities defined by the Palestinian national development plans and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Our interventions will focus on three programmatic priority areas:
- Democratic Governance and Quality Services: Strengthening institutions and processes that promote inclusive governance and ensure the delivery of quality services to all citizens.
- Inclusive Economic Opportunities: Creating economic opportunities that are accessible to all, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and reducing economic disparities.
- Sustainable Natural Resources Management: Promoting the sustainable use and management of natural resources to ensure environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change.
Sawasya III Programme
UNDP/PAPP is currently implementing the third phase of a multi-year Rule of Law and Access to Justice programme known as Sawasya III. This programme operates in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It is a joint initiative with UN Women and UNICEF aimed at comprehensively promoting and advancing the rule of law, justice, security, and human rights in the State of Palestine.
Sawasya III is a five-year joint programme (2024-2028) designed to reinforce equal access to justice for all Palestinians. The programme seeks to support the Palestinian government in establishing a protective, inclusive, and responsive justice system that honors human rights and promotes gender equality. It is tailored to address the specific needs in various areas of the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem, Hebron 2, and the Gaza Strip.
As part of the third phase of the programme and backed by a consortium of development partners, with numerous national and international actors, Sawasya III supports government institutions and civil society working in justice, security, and protection to strengthen access to efficient, equitable, and accountable services for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Partnership with UN Women and UNICEF in this joint programme underpins the gender and child rights components throughout the justice chain and within relevant public services.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
The Research & Reporting Specialist will work in close collaboration with the operations, communications, and other programme staff in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza Strip, UNDP, UN Women, and UNICEF to ensure that reports are developed and delivered, and knowledge management processes are established to allow for timely access to information and its results.
The Research & Reporting Specialist is expected to:
1. Monitoring and Reporting
- Provision of regular updates: Ensure continuous monitoring of project activities to assess overall project implementation with respect to project objectives, outputs, and indicators. This includes the collection, analysis, and reporting of relevant data.
- Troubleshooting and corrective measures: Provide effective troubleshooting and suggest corrective measures to be undertaken. Arrange technical assistance for implementing partners based on monitoring results, where necessary.
- Timely reporting: Ensure that timely reporting arrangements are in place and implemented to meet the reporting requirements of donors and stakeholders.
- Consolidation of reporting processes: Systematically consolidate reporting processes to deliver high-quality annual and mid-year progress reports.
- Beneficiaries’ stories: Collect and draft stories from beneficiaries impacted by the Sawasya Programme to highlight the programme’s impact and success stories.
- Data analysis: Analyze data related to the project at the national level to provide insights and inform decision-making.
- Data presentations: Produce high-quality data presentations, data maps, and statistical spreadsheets for internal and external consumption, including for government and other UN agencies.
- Stakeholder communication: Effectively showcase progress and impacts to external stakeholders through well-crafted reports and presentations.
2. Programme Implementation Support
- Evaluation input: Provide input for the Joint Programme Manager on the needs for evaluation based on donor agreements.
- Coordination: Coordinate with the Programme team and stakeholders to ensure smooth conduct of the reporting process.
- Data and strategic inputs: Offer high-quality data and strategic inputs to inform and improve future interventions.
- Synthesize best practices: Support the process of synthesizing best practices and lessons learned linked to programme implementation.
3. Knowledge Building and Sharing
- Support to project staff: Provide effective support to project staff in identifying, documenting, and synthesizing lessons learned and best practices, which will be integrated into broader knowledge management efforts.
- Knowledge management strategy: Contribute to the implementation of the Evaluation Knowledge Management and Learning Strategy.
- Knowledge flow management: Manage the flow of knowledge and synthesize relevant information to support the annual programme board meeting.
- Research reports and evaluations: Establish and maintain a system for updated documentation of research reports, papers, and evaluations.
- Knowledge product development: Identify gaps and strategize the development of knowledge products in close collaboration with the Sawasya III team.
- Talking points and briefing packets: Draft talking points and briefing packets for senior staff attending programme events to ensure they are well-prepared and informed.
4. Additional Duties
- Other responsibilities: Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Research & Reporting Specialist will report directly to the Sawasya Joint Programme Manager. They will work in close collaboration with the operations, communications, and other programme staff based in various locations, including Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza Strip, and with partners in UNDP, UN Women, and UNICEF.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects with lasting impact. Demonstrate the ability to achieve results and meet project goals.
- Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks and develop new ideas to solve complex problems. Show creativity and innovation in problem-solving.
- Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons and diversify experiences. Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change while managing multiple competing demands. Show flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
- Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate tasks and barriers to achieve greater results. Demonstrate determination and perseverance in achieving project objectives.
- Engage and Partner: Navigate complex landscapes with political savvy and champion inter-agency collaboration. Show strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity. Promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
- System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system. Consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
- Knowledge Generation: Ability to turn raw information into useful knowledge. Actively share knowledge and enhance the collective understanding of team members.
- Communication: Convey clear, concise messages tailored to the audience. Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform, and model data to inform decisions. Analyze data to understand patterns, relationships, and insights.
- Legal Research: Ability to conduct in-depth legal research, including the retrieval and interpretation of information to support legal positions and decisions.
- Legal Analysis: Ability to frame issues, identify applicable legislative and regulatory frameworks, and deliver comprehensive analyses. Provide sound legal advice and recommendations.
2030 Agenda Focus
- Rule of Law, Justice, and Security: Contribute to the 2030 Agenda by promoting the rule of law, justice, and security. Ensure that justice and security institutions are effective, accountable, and inclusive.
Requirements
Education:
- Advanced degree: A Master’s Degree in International Relations, Law, Political Science, Journalism, Statistics, or related fields.
- First-level degree: A first-level degree in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience:
- Minimum experience: A minimum of five years (with a Master’s degree) or seven years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in international affairs, security, humanitarian or development sectors, or journalism.
- Donor reporting experience: Familiarity with the requirements of annual reporting to donors, including preparing detailed reports and presentations.
- Project management support: Demonstrated experience in providing project management support, including monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
- Analytical skills: Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information and produce high-quality reports.
- Technical skills: Advanced computer skills, including proficiency in spreadsheet and database packages.
Preferred Experience:
- Field experience: Field experience, particularly in conflict or post-conflict settings, is highly desirable.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for justice sector projects is an advantage.
- UN experience: Experience working with the United Nations or other international organizations is desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in English: Fluency in both oral and written English is required.
- Knowledge of Arabic: Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage and will be considered favorably.
Professional Certificates:
- N/A
Additional Information
Disclaimer:
- US Permanent Residents: Applicants who are US Permanent Residents (US Green Card holders) are required to relinquish their Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship before employment with UNDP. Please note that UNDP does not provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship.
- Application retention: UNDP may retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.
- Zero-tolerance policy: UNDP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, including sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
- Equal opportunity employer: 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.
Scam Warning:
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, do not disclose any personal or financial information to anyone during the application process.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via the UNDP job portal. The application should include a cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates. The application period will remain open for two weeks from the posting date.
Keywords
Keywords: research, reporting, monitoring, evaluation, international relations, governance, justice, human rights, data analysis, project management, knowledge management, UNDP, Sawasya Programme, diversity, inclusion, gender equality, sustainable development, Palestine, legal research, communication, donor reporting, programme implementation, analytical skills, policy strategy, knowledge sharing.
