Background
The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian and development crises in recent history. The escalation of hostilities since October 2023 has caused unprecedented destruction and loss of life, exacerbating decades of blockade, recurrent conflict, and socio-economic decline. More than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed, 1.7 million displaced, and over 60% of housing units destroyed or damaged. Basic servicesโincluding electricity, health, water and sanitation, and educationโare near collapse, with hospitals overwhelmed, schools repurposed as shelters, and widespread outbreaks of disease. Food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels, with the entire population facing crisis or worse conditions. The war has also devastated Gazaโs economy, leading to massive job losses and worsening poverty, while undermining the delivery of essential services.
Against this backdrop, the United Nations Development Programme / Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) brings over four decades of experience in early recovery, reconstruction, and resilience-building in the occupied Palestinian territory. Since its establishment in 1978, UNDP/PAPP has invested more than $1.7 billion in infrastructure, livelihoods, governance, and resilience, with a proven track record in post-conflict recovery in Gaza, including large-scale rubble removal and livelihood restoration efforts after previous wars. UNDP acts as an integrator, convening multiple partnersโincluding UN agencies, civil society, and the private sectorโto link short-term humanitarian relief with long-term development pathways.
Recent and ongoing initiatives build on this foundation. The Gaza Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Programme (GERP) provides an integrated response across three pillars: restoration of essential infrastructure and services; inclusive economic recovery; and support for governance and social cohesion. A flagship component is large-scale debris and rubble removal and reuse, prioritizing safety, community engagement, and recycling for reconstruction.ย
Complementing this, the Gaza Economic Resilience Programme (ERP) (2023โ2026) focuses on longer-term economic transformation, targeting employment promotion, MSME development, and business-enabling reforms. ERP addresses structural barriers such as the blockade, restricted trade, limited access to finance and technology, weak business environment, and gender disparities, aiming to restore Gazaโs productive base and strengthen resilience. These programmes build on the legacy of the Deprived Families Economic Empowerment Programme (DEEP), launched in 2007, which pioneered linking social protection to economic empowerment. DEEP successfully engaged vulnerable households in sustainable livelihoods, shifting from aid dependency to active participation in economic development, and establishing models for microenterprise support, inclusive targeting, and poverty reduction.
Building on lessons from previous interventions (e.g., DEEP, ERP, and GERP) and drawing inspiration from the Temporary Basic Income (TBI) and socio-economic recovery frameworks, UNDP ois currently evolving the programme to best fir the current and future needs in Gaza, in close coordination with the Palestinian Government, with a focus on immediate humanitarian relief while laying the foundations for inclusive, green, and resilient development. Special emphasis will be placed on rebuilding Gazaโs ecosystem for livelihoods and private sector recovery, restoring dignity through jobs, and creating conditions for sustainable peace.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work:
The incumbent will undertake the ย following functions:
1.Substantively contribute to formulation and implementation of UNDP programme strategies and policies:
Contribute to analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country; and contribute collaborative inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCCA and UNSDCF) as well as to the preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document (CPD), Integrated Work Plan (IWP) and other strategic documents. Contribute to operationalizing UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Ensure implementation of relevant programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the effectiveness of the PAPP business processes.ย Analyze and synthesize proposals in assigned programme areas.2. Ensure effective management of the programme within the assigned thematic/sector areas focusing on quality assurance and risk management from formulation to implementation of the economic recovery programme.
Contribute to design and formulation of programme, translate UNDP priorities into local interventions, and oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners within the assigned programme areas. Ensure that design and formulation of programme considers societal digital technology risks and opportunities and other future signals. Oversee planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the assigned programme areas; and track use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Ensure digital technology solutions in programme implementation are managed towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDPโs digital standards. Ensure effective application of results-based management tools and track achievement of strategic results. Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle; and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact.ย Support trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming. Follow up on audit recommendations and ensure the implementation of management responses. Prepare and aggregate reports on activities, outputs and outcomes, including donor and corporate reports. Support to the rollout of new initiatives and programmes including through presentation of the project to PAC; finalize contribution agreements; and determine required revisions.3. Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, donors, private sector, and civil society in assigned programme/ thematic areas.ย Identify strategic programme areas of cooperation including for joint programming.ย Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify opportunities for initiation of new projects, and substantively contribute to Country office resource mobilization efforts.ย Support development of portfolios and Country office pipeline including through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals, and cross-sectoral coordination in assigned areas to bring resources for projects4. Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals. Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners. Provide substantive support in the development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners. Provide input so that policy advisory contributes to inclusive societal digital transformation and takes digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account.ย Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms. Organize training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters in assigned areasThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
In this context, the Programme Specialist will work under the guidance of the Head of Gaza Office and the supervision of the Head of Programme. S/he works in close collaboration with the programme team, technical advisors and experts, UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society to implement the economic recovery programme. S/he provides quality technical support to partners in his or her area of work. The incumbent will supervise two project Managers.
Competencies:
Core:ย Achieve Results LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agilityย LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsย Act with Determinationย LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย : Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals 2030 Agenda: Prosperityย Gender ย Women's economic empowerment Business Direction and Strategt System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system Business Management Monitoring & Evaluation
Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and keystakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of themanagement and results of strategies,programmes and activities based on set criteriaand benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies,systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make anindependent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcomingneeds and concerns. 2030 Agenda: ProsperityRecovery Solutions and
Human Mobility
Economic Recovery 2030 Agenda: ProsperityยRecovery Solutions and
Human Mobility
ย Economic Transition in post-crisis settings 2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Effectivenessย Project Quality AssuranceRequired Skills and Experience: Min. Education requirements
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required. ORย ย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, ย in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree Min. years of relevant work experienceย Minimum of 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development portfolios and projects in a related thematic area.ย Requiredย skillsย Previous experience of working on economic recovery programmes. Solid knowledge on result-based management and project implementation. Experience working in conflict or transition context.ย Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, ands experience in the handling of web-based management systems. Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset Previous experience on partnership and resource mobilization is an asset. Experience at the national level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is an asset. Proven experience in handling multi-sectoral coordination among professionals and regional teams is desired. Required Language(s)ย Fluency ย in English and Arabic is required โ both written and oral. Professional Certificates N/AONLY CURRENT PALESTINIAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN GAZA STRIP AND WILLING TO WORK AND TRAVEL THROUGHOUT VARIOUS CITIES IN THE STRIP ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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