National Technical Specialist Roster - Sustainable human development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Country Office is establishing a roster of seasoned professionals to provide strategic and professional advice on sustainable human development and related thematic areas. The role involves providing technical advisory services, policy advice, advocacy, partnership building, and supporting project design and implementation aligned with the SDGs and China's development priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide top quality technical advisory services.
• Provide cutting-edge policy advice in the thematic area of the project and facilitate policy dialogues with partners, promoting UNDP thought leadership and advocacy work.
• Establish advocacy networks at the country level and linked to international networks.
• Contribute to relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns that are implemented with key partners.
• Contribute to the analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the context of the project and advise the UNDP CO management on issues related to the thematic area of the project.
• Contribute to the setting of technical standards based on regional and global best practices in the thematic area of the project.
• Deliver leading edge technical advice and thought leadership to sub national counterparts and lead analytical work to identify key policy issues/gaps to improve policies for the thematic area of the project.
• Develop the frontier development solution based on the local needs and provide strategic guidance on how to implement the proposed solutions.
• Support effective implementation of programme/project activities aimed at local economic development.
• Provide technical support, working in collaboration with the Project Manager, in planning and effectively implementing project activities within the scope of approved budgets, workplans and other project documents and in alignment with UNDP’s programmatic priorities and goals.
• Coordinate the work of the project team and other consultants.
• Provide timely and quality technical advice and guidance for the project implementation in line with UNDP’s rules and regulations, and UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures.
• Analyze and identify project risks and other implementation problems. Provide technical guidance on risk mitigation measures to address implementation problems.
• Coordinate and participate in quality control mechanisms, seeking to improve the technical quality of the project outputs, products, publications, and policy discussion papers and briefs.
• Support strategic partnership building and resource mobilization.
• Establish and maintain a strategic understanding of and engagement with all the relevant institutions, including establishing contact and developing strategic partnerships with other UN agencies, government institutions, donors, NGOs, IFIs, the private sector, academia, civil society, and other stakeholders and beneficiaries at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Implement resource mobilization strategies to achieve project outcomes that include facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions to strengthen relationships and raise funds.
• Identify new funding opportunities for furthering the project ideas.
• Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the UNDP country office.
• Training for the project personnel to enhance their capacities in the technical matters of the thematic area of the project.
• Identify, evaluate, synthesize, and document lessons learned and best practices directly linked to the project goals and activities.
• Develop knowledge sharing materials and respond to related queries.
• Contribute substantively to knowledge networks and communities of practice within the thematic area of the project.
• Support project design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects in the above sectors.
• Lead or contribute to the identification, formulation, and design of projects and programmes, including conducting needs assessments, stakeholder consultations, feasibility analyses, theory of change development, results framework design, and preparation of project documents in line with UNDP policies and procedures.
• Design and implement monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management processes, including the development of M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection methodologies, baseline and endline assessments, mid-term and final evaluations, lessons learned exercises, and dissemination of good practices to inform policy and programme development.
• 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 Development studies, or field related to thematic area is required, or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing technical advice, conducting research, formulating policies, and/or developing and managing complex projects in sectors applicable to thematic area(s).
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience in the relevant thematic areas from national and international public and private organizations, and at least two representative or outstanding achievements in the relevant field(s).
• Experience with project designing, implementing, monitoring and consulting, including the effective provision of substantive leadership and guidance to a development project is highly preferred.
• Experience in providing policy and/or programme advice and leading policy dialogues is an asset.
• Experience in fostering networks and partnerships and ability to provide coordination with national and subnational government will be an asset.
• Excellent report writing, supported by a proven academic publication record, preferred at least 3 academic publications (including at least 2 as first author) in reputable journals or academic presses in the relevant area.
• Fluency in the English and mandarin Chinese is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
• A relevant technical certification is a plus.

Skills

• Technical Advice
• Research
• Policy Formulation Support
• Project Design
• Project Implementation
• Project Monitoring
• Project Leadership
• Policy Advice
• Policy Dialogue
• Network Building
• Partnership Building
• Coordination with Governments
• Report Writing
• Academic Publishing
• Sustainable Human Development
• Development Studies
• Fluency in English
• Fluency in Chinese

Languages

English, Mandarin Chinese