Policy Specialist

The Policy Specialist provides high-level strategic guidance to the Country Office Senior Management, focusing on key policy areas related to the green transition and socio-economic reforms. This role is pivotal in developing analytical reports and briefings to keep Senior Management informed of critical policy developments, as well as potential project vision, ideas and proposals to advance the CO contribution to the Armenia’s sustainable development.

The Policy Specialist works closely with both internal teams and external partners to evaluate emerging trends, legislative changes, and other key factors, interpreting their potential impact on the Country Office Programme. Additionally, the Specialist proactively identifies new opportunities for UNDP involvement, designing concept notes and project proposals for innovative initiatives.

The Policy Specialist supports UNDP’s corporate initiatives and processes, contributing to strategic planning, reporting, and knowledge-building efforts across the organization.

The role also encompasses supporting corporate analysis and reporting efforts by gathering and analyzing data, consolidating inputs from various teams, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of all reporting materials.

Working under direct and overall supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Policy Specialist coordinates closely with the Socio-Economic Development Team Leader; the Climate, Resilience, and Environment Team Leader, as well as other Country Office teams.

• Acts as a key focal point for policy advice and dialogue with the government, civil society, expert community, and international partners on a broad range of socio-economic and green transition issues.
• Provides advisory and technical support to UNDP management, the Socio-Economic Development and Climate, Environment, Resilience Portfolios, focusing on development challenge analysis, design of possible durable solutions, project conception, proposal development, and support to resource mobilization.
• Coordinates and conducts data analysis and evaluates evidence, outcomes, and research findings to extract relevant lessons from projects and programmes, helping shape policy and programme formulation in respective areas.
• Performs in-depth analysis and research on the country’s social, economic, and environmental landscapes, contributing substantive inputs to UN-wide and UNDP programmatic documents (e.g., CCA, UNSDCF, ICPE, CPD, UNDP Strategic Plan and other strategic documents).
• Monitors social and economic development trends and statistics to forecast cross-sectoral impacts, including effects on vulnerable population groups, natural resources, and the environment. 
• Identifies holistic approaches and practical steps to mitigate negative impacts while turning challenges into development opportunities.
• Advises on potential areas for UNDP support, recommending adjustments to ongoing programmes to ensure alignment with national policies and priorities.
• Contributes to sub-regional, regional, and inter-agency initiatives, representing UNDP when and as required.

Provides analytical support to the UNDP Armenia Polycrisis Response and Recovery efforts:

• Advises and supports the Country Office programme in operationalizing corporate UNDP Crisis Offer. 
• Provides methodological and analytical support to facilitate the integration of refugees into Armenian communities, considering specific needs of both refugees and host communities.
• Advises and supports the Country Office in addressing natural and climate change-induced disasters in Armenia, and related areas of work with opportunities for productive engagement of the Country Office.
• Leads the development of high-quality analytical products to support Country Office in anticipating, preventing, responding to and recovering from crisis events, effectively addressing pressing needs at both human and institutional levels.

Building strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Supports partnerships with UN agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, the private sector, and civil society, aligned with UNDP’s strategic goals, country needs, and donor priorities.
• Analyzes and researches information on development financing, preparing substantive briefs on potential areas of cooperation with various stakeholders.
• Undertakes studies and research on emerging development issues that inform government and development partner priorities, providing periodic updates and briefs on the country’s development situation.
• Produces policy papers, research and analysis, project documents, and contributions to communications in the assigned areas of responsibility.

Provides policy advice and options to government counterparts, facilitating knowledge building and management with a focus on achieving the following results:

• Assesses the country’s cross-sectoral initiatives and their impact on poverty reduction, growth, and equity.
• Develops policy options in respective policy areas with prioritized attention to the most vulnerable groups.
• Contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice by identifying best practices and lessons learned.
• Produces knowledge and communication products in collaboration with the Country Office Communication Officer in the respective areas of work.
• Facilitates cross-portfolio initiatives and knowledge sharing between various Country Office teams. 

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 Policy Specialist works under the overall supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), in close coordination with the Socio-Economic Development Team Leader and the Climate, Resilience, and Environment Team Leader in cooperation with other members of the UNDP Programme Team. 
 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:

• 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.
• Business Management - Partnership management          
  • Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Business Development -Knowledge generation 
  • Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
• Business Development- Collective Intelligence Design    
  • Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.
• Partnership Management-Relationships 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 Direction and Strategy-Negotiation and Influence         
  • Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.
• 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.