Effective Governance Specialist

The Effective Governance Specialist supports the implementation of the BOLD initiative in the Asia-Pacific region, leading governance analytics and diagnostics, providing strategic policy recommendations, and collaborating with UNDP teams to strengthen national development strategies and public governance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct political economy analysis, underpinning national development strategy and implementation capacities.
• Conduct governance diagnostics and assessments that inform government strategy processes.
• Prepare technical papers, data-driven policy briefs, and background notes to inform policy recommendations at the country level.
• Contribute to regional knowledge products on human development, future-ready governance and socio-economic transformation pathways.
• Provide technical inputs to high-level policy dialogues led by the BOLD team.
• Support Country Offices in delivering BOLD analytical work, including country capability assessments and governance diagnostics.
• Assist in preparing presentations, data visualizations, and evidence packs for government engagements.
• Participate in technical missions, consultations, and workshops as required.
• Advise and support planning, monitoring, and delivery of BOLD activities at regional and country levels.
• Provide analytical and reporting inputs to donor updates, internal quality assurance, and project documentation.
• Coordinate with Country Offices, external research partners, and internal teams to ensure analytic consistency and quality.
• Support knowledge codification and documentation of methodologies, tools, and country experiences.
• Develop, maintain and update governance-related datasets, analytical tools, and templates used across the BOLD programme.
• Synthesize lessons learned from country implementation to inform regional guidance.
• Prepare technical guidance notes and policy briefs on governance analysis and diagnostics, and related topics.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Governance, Public Administration, Law, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in applied Governance policy reforms, political economy analysis, or development policy.
• Minimum 2 years of experience conducting or supporting Governance diagnostics, public sector assessments, and capability effectiveness.
• Demonstrable experience applying quantitative analysis, foresight, scenario methods, system thinking, and digital tools.
• Experience working with governments, international organizations, research institutes, or development partners.
• Previous UNDP or UN system experience is an asset.
• Previous experience implementing leading public sector reforms is an asset.
• Experience in leading research and analytical work on economic governance.
• Fluency in English is required.

Skills

• Governance Policy Reforms
• Political economy understanding
• Development Policy
• Governance Diagnostics
• Public Sector Assessments
• Capability Effectiveness
• Quantitative Analysis
• Foresight Methods
• Scenario Methods
• Systems Thinking
• Digital Tools Creation
• Public Sector Reform Implementation
• Economic Governance Research
• Policy Recommendations
• Strategic Policy Analysis

Languages

English