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Strategic Specialist

Kathmandu

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Kathmandu
  • Grade: Mid level - NPSA-10, National Personnel Services Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
  • Closing Date: 2025-02-08

Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
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.
 
SDGs Financing and Engagement Facility aims to provide necessary policy and capacity development support to the federal and province governments to create enabling environment to support the acceleration of SDGs as well as smooth and sustainable graduation of LDC. The Facility has three interlinked objectives - 1) policy and capacity building support to federal and province governments for integration of SDGs and LDC agenda in policies, planinig, budgeting and monitoring and reporting, 2) Support MOF and other stakeholders on innovative finance instruments to address the SDGs financing gap as well as for sustainable graduation 3) Prepare and launch of the National Human development report. 

Under output 1, the EF will support federal and province governments for the preparation of SDGs reports from inclusion lenes focusing  on Leaving No One Behind principles, using the data from the 2021 Census and recent survey such as NLSS and NDHS. For this, EF will work with the National Planning Commission and the National Statistics Office to produce the SDGs report at federal level and with the province government for the province government reports. Under output 2, the EF will work the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, and private sector to create enabling environment to develop and launch of innovative finance instruments. Under the third output, the EF will work with the National Planning Commission to produce National Human Development Report 2025, following UNDP’s standard process for ownership, quality, participation of all stakeholders.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of DRR, the Strategic Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Economic Advisor. S/he will work in close coordination and collaboration with the relevant government entities and UNDP program and operations teams. 

Strategic partnership and Coordination 

  • Ensure coordination with relevant government offices and officials at federal level for better collaboration, partnership and for greater ownership for SDGs financing, acceleration as well as for sustainable LDc graduation. 
  • Ensure strategic partnership and coordination with relevant UNDP projects and UN partner agencies on LDC and SDGs agenda
  • Explore partnership opportunity with the province governments for integration of SDGs in province governments policies, planning, monitoring and budget planning
  • Ensure partnership with NPC and other relevant stakeholders including private sector, CSO, academia and sub-national government in the preparation of NHDR 2025 
  • Carry out field visits to the program areas as necessary, liaise with the stakeholders and government officials and monitor the project activities;

Technical oversight and management of the Engagement Facility 

  • Ensure that all activities for the EF are designed under each output are prepared in a timely manner and implemented in accordance with stated outcomes and performance indicators;
  • Ensure project resources are effectively used to achieve set project outputs and outcomes
  • Organize joint meetings of government and UNDP as required for strategic engagement ;
  • Provide necessary technical oversight and quality assurance of various activities, outcomes and logical framework; 
  • Prepare Terms of References to delivery the planned activities 
  • Ensure timely submission of technical and progress reports.

Expert policy advice and technical inputs on SDGs financing, database, reporting 

  • Devise key strategies for implementation of the project, in close collaboration with the Policy Advisor, Inclusive Economic Growth;
  • Provide technical and advisory services to the federal, provincial and local government on SDG financing, SDG based budgeting and data for SDGs, LDC graduation 
  • Prepare policy briefs, concept notes, communication materials related to SDGs and LDC graduation agenda. 

Ensure mainstreaming of Gender & Social Inclusion (GESI)

  • Ensure that GESI is well captured and mainstreamed in all policy work and knowledge products under the EF.
  • Provide technical support to the partners in integrating GESI in planning, programming, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. 
  • Work closely with the GESI advisor to ensure GESI related results 
Competencies

Core competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
  • Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
  • Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management competencies: 

  • UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business direction and strategy       

  • System 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

Business development           

  • Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business management          

  • Partnerships Management - Ability to 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
  • Project Management  - Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
  • Resources management - Ability to plan, monitor, organize, and control human and financial resources of a bureau, team or project

2030 Agenda: Planet 

  • Nature, Climate and Energy - Chemicals and Waste management: practical application

2030 Agenda: Peace 

  • Governance - Inclusion and Participation

2030 Agenda: People              

  • Gender - Gender Mainstreaming
     
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, development studies, or another relevant subject is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum five (5) years (with Master´s degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in development planning, financing, SDGs and LDC graduation 
  • Experience on project management
  • Good knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures or experience of completing UN assignments 
  • Solid understanding and Knowledge of Nepal’s policy framework and financing instruments for SDGs.   
  • Experience in working with the government on SDGs costing, financing and data base, LDC graduation agenda. 
  • Better Knowledge and experience working with provincial and local governments on SDGs 

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in oral and written English and Nepali.
Disclaimer

 

 
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.

 
Non-discrimination

 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

 
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