JPO - Programme Analyst

The UNDP Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme

The UNDP JPO Programme equips outstanding young leaders with the skills and experience required to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make a positive difference in the world. As a pathway into the world of development, the programme offers young professionals excellent exposure to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development while providing a valuable entry point into the UN system.

During their assignments, JPOs benefit from the guidance of experienced UNDP staff members and are actively involved in supporting the design and implementation of UNDP’s programs within UNDP’s headquarters, regional or country offices.

Job Purpose

The objective is to support the development and realization of the Innovation agenda in the Arab States region.  The scope of work would focus on the UNDP’s new Country Accelerator Lab Network, consisting of 60 Labs in 60 countries, with 10 in the Arab States region. The Country Accelerator Lab Network is a key strategic initiative designed to develop a new set of competencies and deliver a new generation of solutions in line with challenges that the world faces today.  The regional Innovation team plays a key role in supporting the 10 new Country Accelerator Labs in the Arab States region around three core protocols: Solutions Mapping, Experimentation and Exploration.  The scope of the work would providing technical support to Labs in the region and facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing across the global network. In addition, the work would include conducting research on emerging trends to support the development of new services lines; supporting advocacy and communications efforts; and managing the regional innovation community in order to facilitate and support the work of the Accelerator Labs.

Content and methodology of supervision

As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following supervision modalities:

• Structured guidance provided by the supervisor, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose of gradually increasing the responsibilities of the JPO
• Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
• Effective supervision through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback throughout the assignment
• Easy access to the supervisor
• Participation in Unit/Team/Office meetings to ensure integration and operational effectiveness
• Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
• Completion of the yearly UNDP Performance Management Document (PMD)
• If more than one supervisor; clear agreement of the roles and responsibilities between the relevant parties

Training and Learning

As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following training and learning opportunities:

• Participation in a two-week long Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course in New York within the first 3 to 6 months of assignment
• Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
• Other training and learning opportunities, as presented in the UNDP JPO Orientation Programme

Information about the Office

The UNDP Regional Hub of Amman was launched in 2015.  For further information, please visit: http://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/rbas/en/home/operations/regional-hub-in-amman.html

The UNDP Innovation Facility, launched in 2014, supports initiatives that a) strengthen UNDP’s position as a leading advisor on innovation for development; b) enable national development actors to co-create value; c) increase understanding of the role and value of innovation for development; d) support social innovators both within the organization and from the broader development community; and finally, e) enhance UNDP’s own performance efficiency through innovative practices.  

The Innovation Facility, situated in UNDP’s Development Impact Group and headquartered in New York, coordinates the allocation of funding and the substantive support to Country Offices through Regional Portfolio Teams, based in Addis Ababa, Amman, Bangkok, Istanbul, and Panama, and HQ staff.

UNDP’s Innovation team for the Arab States region is based in Amman and supports 18 Offices across the region as well as colleagues in various professional areas based in the Regional Hub, including Governance & Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development, Environment & Energy, and Gender. Regional activities focus on innovative methodologies such Behavioral Insights, Games for Social Change, Data Innovation (including big data and micronarratives), and Alternative Financing Mechanisms

Support Country Accelerator Labs in the Arab States region

• Provide technical support to Labs, including support in their three protocol areas: Solutions Mapping, Experimentation and Exploration;
• Support Country Accelerator Labs in mapping regional and national ecosystems of actors, stakeholders and potential partners;
• Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across the global network, including peer to peer support and documentation and sharing oflearnings and insights from country-specific experiences;
• Help organize and implement knowledge sharing and network events with Accelerator Labs;
• Support other activities related to the design and operation of the Labs.

Contribute to development of new services lines

• Conduct research on emerging trends in innovation for development;
• Prepare sector scans, status papers on innovation for development challenges based on desk review and analysis;
• Support on-going search and evaluation of programmatic, academic, and funding partners;
• Support Country Accelerator labs to develop an pipeline of new initiatives,

Support advocacy and communications efforts

• Document good practices, cases studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing;
• Draft or support drafting of blog posts and other externally-facing pieces on  lessons learned and successes, with a specific focus on the Accelerator Labs;
• Prepare knowledge and communication products for advocacy and outreach, related to national, regional and global initiatives within UNDP’s innovation portfolio;
• Support dissemination of knowledge and communications products.

Manage the regional Innovation community

• Support facilitation and interaction of the #Inno4Dev community, including the new Accelerator Lab teams;
• Operate as a link between the global Accelerator Lab Network Team, the Regional Innovation Team, and Country Accelerator Labs.

Portfolio Management

• Manage and develop a repository of projects, experimentation and solutions from the Country Accelerator Labs, with supporting resources such as presentations, press releases, blogs, etc.;
• Manage regional innovation budget;
• Provision of assistance to any other tasks as required.

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work           

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow        

Level 2: Proactively identifies new opportunities and challenges

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement         

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Education

Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in a related field of expertise

Experience

• A minimum of two years of paid working experience in international development, social innovation or a related field
• Good command of information and communication technology

Languages

• Fluency in English, both oral and written
• Working knowledge of Arabic and French would be an asset 

Nationality

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of Finland and is addressed exclusively to NATIONALS OF FINLAND.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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