Value Chain and Trade Development Analyst

UNDP’s approach uses a human centric approach to trade. By helping poor and vulnerable households and communities start, expand, and formalize small and medium-sized companies that can participate in cross-border  and regional trade and global value chains, this project expands people’s capacities, as well as promoting trade and reducing poverty. By helping trade policy makers to take advantage of the development opportunities presented by preferential trading arrangements and to better understand the socio-economic and environmental consequences of trade policies, this project strengthens the institutional capacities needed for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Trade and human development can therefore be mutually beneficial. 

Phase V of the regional AfT project (2022-2025) in Kyrgyzstan focuses in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth through promoting green value chains and increasing the competitiveness of economies. The Project promotes more resilient, secure and gender-responsive economic structures through economic diversification and adaptation to new market and consumer trends. 

The project works at the macro (policy), meso (institutions) and micro (MSMEs) levels which ensures comprehensive approach and increases the development impact. Two main components of the project include the following: 

• Supporting enabling environment for building economic resilience and inclusive and sustainable growth (macro- and meso-levels); 
• Supporting job creation and improving the efficiency and competitiveness of value chains in green sectors (micro-level).

The two cross-cutting themes of the project are gender equality and environmental sustainability.

• Implement project activities effectively and efficiently in alignment with the annual work plan (AWP) to achieve expected results.
• Develop detailed action plans for implementation based on the AWP.
• Assist the project team in developing and implementing the monitoring plan in close collaboration with the monitoring specialist.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation and progress of the project.
• Observe, measure, and evaluate results against target indicators; design and implement solutions for deviations.

 Reporting and Documentation

• Provide narrative contributions to quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project reports.
• Maintain and regularly update the project database, including statistical data, results, achievements, and success stories.
• Prepare annual reviews capturing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories in economic development.
• Ensure timely preparation of reports and maintain documentation for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) purposes.

 Research and Analysis

• Prepare and update statistical data on regional and national economic indicators, government strategies, and reforms related to economic development.
• Provide analysis of project impact, including data collection and integration into the project database.
• Contribute to research for developing concept notes, proposals, and strategies on economic development.

Technical Expertise and Advisory

• Develop concepts and Terms of Reference (ToRs) related to economic development interventions, such as strengthening business associations, trade support institutions, value chain development, SME support, and microfinance.
• Provide expertise in creating analytical and program-related documents, including ToRs, technical specifications, and reports on trade development/facilitation, value-added chains and sustainable trade/product development.
• Offer consultation and expert advice to UNDP partners as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building

• Liaise with local and national government bodies, civil society, academia, and target populations to ensure efficient project implementation and stakeholder alignment.
• Identify and support the establishment of strategic partnerships between private sector actors and trade support institutions.
• Organize and lead thematic training sessions, capacity-building activities, round tables, and meetings with project beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the UNDP Country Office and Area Offices for socio-economic activities.

Communication and Visibility

• Work closely with the media to promote project activities and achievements.
• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project successes, aligning with UNDP strategic communication guidelines.

Strategic Alignment and Integration

• Ensure cross-fertilization between different project components and alignment with other initiatives (e.g., Component I linkages).
• Work towards achieving UNDP’s strategic goals as outlined in corporate strategies, UNDAF, CPAP, and relevant national legislation.

Other Duties

• Provide inputs for regional activities through participation in meetings and information exchange.
• Perform additional duties related to economic development and other activities as requested by the supervisor.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement: Will work under direct supervision of Project Coordinator.

• 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.

• Business Development- Strategic Thinking           
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities, and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
• 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 Management- Operations Management            
  • Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, to convert the organization’s assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
• Business Management- Results-based Management      
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programs, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• 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. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
• Business Management- Project Management     
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnership management- multi-stakeholder engagement and funding  
  • Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.