UNDP Jobs at Dhaka – Team Lead- Research Facility

Description:

Anchored in the 2030 Agenda, and government’s 7th Five Year Plan and Bangladesh Vision 2021, UNDP’s current Country Programme Document (2017-2021) aims to help Bangladesh (a) attaining inclusive and resilient economic growth with focus on gender mainstreaming in development process and outcomes; (b) strengthening social policies with emphasis on good governance, and addressing inequalities, caused by structural impediments; and (c) boosting resilience and environmental sustainability. UNDP will also promote South-South cooperation.

Attaining above, will require creative solutions, innovation, and high-quality knowledge generation.  With its more than four-decade long country operations in Bangladesh, together with vast regional and global outreaches, UNDP is uniquely positioned to undertake high quality research, especially in the country’s developments issues and policies, which can potentially contribute to informed policy making. In addition, systematic research can contribute to appropriate project design, monitoring and evaluation and achieving higher results. To that aim, UNDP has set up a Research Facility which is expected to augment UNDP’s country value addition and visibility of projects and help UNDP become a stronger policy advisor to its clients, backed by high quality research.

To further boost its knowledge activities, the Country Office seeks to recruit a “Team Lead, UNDP Research Facility” with solid academic background in development, and demonstrated skills in development policy research.   UNDP provides excellent learning opportunities with its multi-disciplinary and multicultural working environment. S/he shall report to the Project Manager. Disaster Response and Recovery Facility (DRRF) project duration is 2018-2022.

Responsibilities:

• Help identify development partners that can potentially engage with UNDP on key/emerging areas of mutual interest
• Review work plans, programme/project papers and reporting documents when commissioning large studies;
• Identify and/or develop/collaborate on research opportunities such as diagnostic surveys and impact evaluations based on UNDP’s needs and that of key policy partners;
• Monitor media, identify issues of interest for UNDP and provide updates on economic and social developments;
• Help assess the candidature of the expert researchers and consultants;
• Collaborate with colleagues to plan and participate in policy roundtables, webinars and so forth to advocate on UNDP’s relevant areas of interest;
• Carry out primary and secondary research and draft clear policy briefings based on findings to inform relevant decision-makers;
• Confirm quality assurance of commissioned task by collaborating with consultants;
• Develop a network of relevant contacts with key policy makers/ practitioners including in government, wider UN system, research institutions and NGOs;
• Provide research support in preparing concept notes/proposals that contribute to country programming;
• Produce publications such as reports, policy briefings and factsheets based on findings from UNDP (and relevant) studies and disseminate among relevant policy partners;
• Monitor the activities of the expert researchers and consultants;
• Support in developing ToR if hiring expert researchers and consultants for commissioned studies;

Requirements:

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• In depth country knowledge, especially on socio-political, regional/sub regional and global economic issues;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals, concept notes, feasibility studies, impact assessments etc;
• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing;
• Researches and analyses best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and project management tools;

Qualification & Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in a development related field (e.g. development studies, economics, statistics, social sciences, governance or other relevant disciplines);
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other research tools;
• Working experience in UN organizations/ International donor organizations/INGO will be preferred;
• A commitment to UNDPs approach and values;
• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary team;
• Willingness to learn from others;
• Consultative and empowering management style and willingness to learn from others;
• A strong commitment to gender sensitive, inclusive and pro-poor development works;
• Willingness to stay full time in any of the project towns and travel as required;
• 5 years of either substantive working experience in the relevant development specialization, or experience in a research or academic capacity;
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research, research methodology, reporting, & database management;
• Experience carrying out desk research and drafting/editing;

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