Project Analyst (Home based)

Background

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. 

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate, Energy, Waste and Chemicals Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy,Waste and Chemicals work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses: 

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;

Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including Food Systems; 

Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; 

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; 

Sustainable Energy; 

Extractive Industries; 

Chemicals and Waste Management; 

Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. 

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

UNDP has developed its new Strategy for Food Systems to focus its vision and enhance its support to transform FACS. 

Food Systems are fundamental to the sustainable development of the 170 countries UNDP supports. Food Systems are often the largest contributor to their economies; food and nutrition is fundamental for citizen health; and Food Systems have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. Yet, Food Systems are in crisis and need to be radically transformed to become sustainable. UNDP, building on its experience, has for the first time consolidated its Food Systems support and vision into this Strategy. The challenges and need for change related to Food Systems have been highlighted by a suite of reports by many research and international organizations and think tanks. The production practices and consumption patterns of food and agricultural commodities are taking these systems on an unsustainable trajectory with multiple impacts on human development, the environment, and economies; from ecosystem degradation, conflicts over land and natural resources, reduced capacity and resilience to climate and other shocks, persistent poverty, food insecurity and related people displacement and migration, to malnutrition including overweight and obesity. There is a clear need to work in a systemic and integrated manner to transform the Food Systems towards sustainability. 

UNDP´s Vision for Food Systems 2030 is, through partnerships, to transform food and agricultural commodity systems into resilient; equitable; healthy, inclusive; environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable systems. Working on Food Systems will contribute to not only recovery from the COVID19 crisis, by creating sustainable and resilient livelihoods for many along the FAC supply chains, but also to preventing further zoonoses from emerging in the future. This will require a change in the current paradigm of agricultural production focusing on maximizing productivity to a new paradigm based on diversified agroecological systems which work simultaneously on achieving economic, environmental, social, and health outcomes, with smallholders as a key part of the solution in their role as the engine of economic development. The Project Analyst, will play a crucial role supporting these initiatives by analyzing data, coordinating projects, and ensuring alignment with UNDP Food Systems strategy.  A Food Systems practice has been established within UNDP’s Nature Hub, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with Food Systems related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP’s Food Systems strategy. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide support to project management and coordination:
   • Support the coordination of key initiatives within the Food Systems portfolio and serve as a global coordinator to promote integrated programming around food systems and commodities, ensuring the timely delivery of workplan activities in targeted regions and countries.
   • Support the design and execution of current and future private sector engagement initiatives within Food Systems portfolio; 
   • Lead the organization of relevant meetings, oversee and quality assure minutes taking with key actions needed and follow up on necessary actions as applicable; 
   • Prepare draft briefings, speeches, presentations for senior management, and proide ad-hoc technical inputs for Food Systems-related requests from HQ, RBx and Country Offices.
   • Liaise with the Communications team and partners when needed and provide inputs for communications products;
   • Draft and provide inputs to annual or other periodic reports;
   • Contribute to the other project management and administrative tasks, as needs be.

     2. Contribute to resource mobilization

     • Contribute to the creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy
     • Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify opportunities for initiation of new joint activities, develop proposals and substantively contribute to Food Systems Team resource mobilization efforts.
     • Contribute to maintain and/or strengthen constructive relations with existing partners and proactively forge new relationships with relevant stakeholders;
     • Lead the preparation and contribute to funding proposals and donor briefings;
     • Prepare and review donor-oriented presentations and materials.

       3. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy

       • Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the initiatives and projects implemented;
       • Lead  the  organization and coordination of  events and workshops as relevant and requested by project managers;
       • Contribute to the Food Systems Community, including by moderating the sub-groups on private sector engagement and other relevant groups. 

         The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

         Institutional Arrangement

         • The incumbent will work remotely from his/her home-based;
         • The incumbent will be supervised by the Food Systems Global Project Manager.
         • The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.
         • The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection.
         • Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

           Competencies Core Achieve Results LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  Act with Determination  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

           Cross-Functional & Technical competencies  Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Project Management 

           • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Partnership Management Relationship Management
             • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations , trust and mutual understanding.  Business Management Communication
               • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience;
               • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. Business Management Risk Management
                 • Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks. 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 key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and 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 an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Digital  Systems thinking & transformation
                     • Understand that complex problems need a non reductionistic , holistic approach
                     • Ability to explore challenges from multiple persperctives by zooming ina and out with a focus on relationship and flows rather than individual elements; understand how certain dynamics and conditions are driving and influencing and issue.
                     • Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping systems and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information; power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it.
                     • Being able to identify  interventions point to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for desirable effects.
                     • Understand that change is no linear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence. Business Direction and Strategy Systems 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

                         Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA Min. Academic Education

                         • An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Political Science,  Management or Business Administration, Food and Agriculture, or other related discipline is required, or
                         • A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the same fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Min. years of relevant Work experience 
                           • Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the field of international development, project management and/or business administration is required. Required skills
                             • Experience coordinating projects/initiatives with different partners/ agencies involved.
                             • Expertise in food and agriculture and/or systems change.
                             • Experience in conducting research, data collection, analysis and interpretation .

                               Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

                               • Experience in organizing events and/ or workshops is an advantage. 
                               • Experience in organizing complex and/ or high-profile events is a further advantage.
                               • Experience supporting  resource mobilization is an asset.
                               • Experience at the UNDP or UN agencies is an asset.
                               • Experience in current and future private sector engagement initiatives within Food Systems portfolio is an advantage.
                               • Experience in preparation of funding proposals and donor briefings is desired.  Required Language(s) (at working level)
                                 • Fluency in the English language is required.
                                 • Knowledge of Spanish and/or French is an advantage.

                                   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. 

                                   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. 

                                   Right to select multiple candidates

                                   UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  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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