Project Analyst

In 2023, Bhutan graduated from the UN list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Over the past decades, the country has made remarkable progress in reducing income and multidimensional poverty, aligned with its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the impressive progress, the country is grappling with critical socio-economic challenges such as large-scale emigration of the productive and skilled labor force, youth unemployment, declining fertility rate, increasing trade deficit, and shrinking fiscal space. These challenges take place amidst a slow post-pandemic economic recovery and against the broader backdrop of structural challenges, such as limited economic diversification, a still-nascent private sector, absence of robust regulatory and institutional framework. 

Bhutan’s 13th FYP (2024-2029) sets out the ambitious target of doubling the size of the country’s economy within the next five years and then doubling it again over the subsequent five year, reaching USD 10 billion by 2034, a target year that Bhutan plans to reach the high-income status. To achieve this, Bhutan must maintain a nominal GDP growth rate of approximately 11.9% annually for the next 12 years. Recognizing the challenges and potential opportunities in Bhutan’s 21st-century economy, the Royal Government of Bhutan aims to accelerate and foster a robust economic recovery and growth.

It is in this context that the Royal Government of Bhutan partnered with UNDP to initiate a project titled, "Accelerating Decarbonization: Closing the Energy Gap through Market-Driven Solar Power Solution, " funded by Mitigation Action Facility (MAF). The project aims to establish a private sector led solar energy market by installing 30 MW of solar PV systems, strengthen the enabling environment, energy finance and investment to develop part of the country's solar energy that has a potential of 12 GW. The project will contribute to Bhutan's sustainable development, reduce emissions, and improve energy access while upholding its carbon-neutral commitment. 

S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Experimentation, Accelerator lab and seek guidance from Portfolio Manager, Governance Unit and will be based in Thimphu. 

The Project Analyst will be responsible for coordinating the project formulation during the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP) funded by MAF. S/he will support the project's day-to-day activities at the location and ensure timely achievement of project preparation targets (both quantitative and qualitative) as per the UNDP and MAF guidelines, workplan and templates. S/he will work closely with the UNDP Country Office staff, a consortium of consultants/firm in the project formulation, the private sector, and project stakeholders, including the beneficiaries to ensure timely and project formulation to be submitted to the MAF. 

Her/his specific responsibilities will include:

Project Planning, Implementation and Monitoring 

• Facilitate project's day-to-day activities, including managing and monitoring on-ground partner/s to ensure the achievement of targets as per the UNDP and MAF guideline, workplan and templates.
• Support the MAF task team and consultants/firm in conducting field visits, data collection, consultations and meetings.
• Contract management of the consultants/firms for receiving deliverables and timely payments.
• Assist in effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan and escalate them to management for timely intervention. 
• Organize meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings, exposure visits, evaluations, interviews, etc. and document the same for effective monitoring of the project.
• Coordinate travel schedule and visa clearances from Government agencies for the field missions by the consultants and staff.

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Liaise and develop strong partnerships with all relevant stakeholders including the Government, private sector and other partners (relevant local institutions, academia, and CSOs) to ensure smooth implementation of project activities.
• Co-ordinate dissemination of high-quality knowledge and visibility of the project activities among the relevant stakeholders.
• Provide regular communication on relevant project issues with the stakeholders with a focus on sustainability and exit strategy towards the end of the project.

Knowledge Management, Communication and Reporting

• Draft narrative reports for periodic reporting as per templates, workplan and guidenlines.
• Maintain organized records of project data, photographs, and other relevant documents in the appointed folder.

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

• 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:

Business Management           

• Partnerships 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. 
• 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.

Administration & Operations             

• Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings) - Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
• Documents and records management - Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Partnership management     

• IFI Partnerships - Knowledge and understanding of IFIs (strategies, approaches, processes and systems)
• Private sector engagement - Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector

Procurement  

• Contract management - Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations