SDG Associate, North East (NPSA5) – UNDP India

Apply Before 06/10/2022, 09:41 AM

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from democratic governance to poverty eradication, to sustainable energy and environmental management. UNDP’s programmes are aligned with national priorities and are reviewed and adjusted annually.

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

Degree Level Secondary School Leaving Certificate
Grade NB2
Vacancy Type National Personnel Service Agreement
Bureau Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration 1 Year
Education & Work Experience Bachelor’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 5 year(s) experience
Required Languages English and Hindi
Vacancy Timeline 2 Weeks

In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently. In a rapidly changing global environment, the work of UNDP and the broader UN family aligns with the Government of India’s new national development vision, India 2030, and builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP India’s country programme for 2018-2022 has three major focus areas:

• Inclusive growth
• Environment and energy
• Strengthening systems and institutions

These are supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, a pool of financial and technical resources for greater impact and scale, and South-South expertise.

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the India to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind – and we reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India.

UNDP operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity. It works internationally to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP was one of the main UN agencies involved in the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. To accomplish the SDGs and encourage global development, UNDP focuses on poverty reduction, democratic governance, energy and environment, social development, and crisis prevention and recovery. UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment, and resilience.

In India, NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for supervision and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in India. It is responsible for identification of national targets and assigning them to the Ministries/Departments concerned and for seeking the participation of State Governments for their participation in implementation and monitoring of the 2030 agenda through the localization of SDGs. UNDP has been extending technical support to NITI Aayog for the localization and integration of SDGs, Transformation of Aspirational Districts and the Atal Innovation Mission, to name a few. The North East Region (NER) promises great potential for harnessing the SDGs. To further fast-rack the performance of SDGs in the North-East Region, UNDP provides technical support to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and NITI Aayog for the preparation of a north east focused index called the NER District SDG Index and Dashboard which ranks districts of the all the 8 NER States on the SDGs. UNDP has initiated active support to all NE state governments in mainstreaming SDGs within their schemes and programmes as a part of an overall support to SDG roll out for visioning and planning.

As a part of the ongoing agenda, UNDP would like to onboard a SDG Associate for extending support service to UNDP North East in fast-tracking the global goals agenda in North East India. The SDG Associate will work closely under the supervision of Regional Head, UNDP, North East and will have a technical supervision of Policy Specialist– SDGs at the Country Office to fast-track SDG implementation in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of Regional Head North East/Policy Specialist SDGs, the incumbent will:

Assist in providing technical support to the North East Team and coordinate with internal/external stakeholders for the preparation of North East SDG Index and Dashboard:

• Support in the preparation of North East District SDG Index
• Coordination with state governments of the North Eastern states for data collection on the District Indicator Framework for preparation of NER SDG
• Index and compilation of data
• Assist in documentation and report preparation as required for the index
• Assist in organizing state level, regional level SDG Index workshops/consultations

Support the SDG localization and integration process within the NER context:

• Technical support in SDG related planning, implementation, localization and monitoring in the North East.
• Liaison with state government functionaries, other UN agencies, public and private sector entities.
• Support in organizing SDG consultation and workshops
• Coordinate activities with the SDGCC’s in Northeast Region

SDG Documentation and Coordination:

• Provide inputs and feedback on SDG related knowledge products
• Ensure preparation and dissemination of SDG centric knowledge products

Support in SDG Localization and Integration Agenda of the Country Office

• Assist in the fast-tracking of the SDG Agenda in States and Union Territories
• Preparation of concept notes and proposals
• Preparation of knowledge products on various human development aspects related to Global Goals
• Contributes to the content generation of SDG Knowledge Hub on a regular basis.

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

• Strategic 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
• Collective Intelligence Design : Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solution
• Working with evidence and data : Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education or Bachelors Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Public Policy, Development Studies, Political Science, History, Geography, Sustainable Development or related field.

Experience:

• Secondary Education with 5 years experience or Bachelors with 2 years of relevant experience in policy advocacy and support state governments in planning, implementation and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals
• Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis
• Experience in planning, implementation and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals
• Experience in preparation of rankings/index development
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems
• Good facilitation and communication skills
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs promptly
• Ability to liaise and work with people of different background Ability to work well under pressure

Language requirement:

Excellent verbal and written in English and Hindi is required. Knowledge of any local language in North Eastern Region will be desirable.

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

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, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.