Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The UN Global Disability Fund (UN GDF) Multi-Partner Trust Fund, hosted by UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), supports the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) through country programmes and partnerships with governments, UN entities, and organizations of persons with disabilities. Guided by its Strategic Operational Framework 2025–2030, the Fund currently supports over 40 programmes annually, working closely with UN Country Teams to promote disability-inclusive development. Through its Catalyst Hub, the Fund also provides technical support, knowledge resources, and expertise to UN Country Teams and partners to strengthen disability inclusion in policies and programmes. The GDF operates within UNDP corporate systems and procedures; all programme, financial and operational processes are inline with and follow UNDP policies.
Position Purpose
Under the direct supervision of the Technical Hub Coordinator, the Technical Programme Support Specialist will be responsible for coordinating capacity-building and technical support to country programmes, with a particular focus on three of the Fund’s priority thematic areas: Urban Development, Climate Change, and Health Equity. The incumbent will ensure quality assurance of programme processes and provide technical guidance to validate outputs related to knowledge generation and capacity-building activities. The Specialist will also regularly report to the Technical Hub Coordinator on emerging technical and capacity gaps at the programme level and propose targeted solutions to address them.
The GDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, GDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Provide technical support to programme design and implementation
- Support UN Country Teams and partners in the design and implementation of UN GDF programmes, ensuring alignment with CRPD principles and UN GDF standards.
- Provide technical inputs during programme design, inception phases, and implementation of joint programmes.
- Participate in regular programme check-ins to ensure activities are implemented according to UN GDF standards.
- Identify technical gaps in programme implementation and propose targeted solutions.
- Liaise with UN GDF member entities and thematic focal points to strengthen technical coherence across programmes.
2.) Strengthen partner capacity and coordinate capacity-building initiatives
- Coordinate capacity-building activities for programme partners, UN entities, and organizations of persons with disabilities.
- Coordinate induction trainings during programme inception phases, including orientation webinars and guidance sessions.
- Develop and update training materials, ensuring translation and accessibility standards.
- Identify capacity gaps across countries and organize thematic webinars and training sessions with relevant experts.
- Contribute learning resources and materials to UN GDF training and knowledge platforms.
3.) Monitor programme implementation and ensure quality assurance
- Support monitoring of programme implementation and promote the application of UN GDF quality assurance standards.
- Monitor programme implementation to ensure compliance with UN GDF standards and cross-cutting approaches.
- Provide guidance to programmes on participatory processes, including engagement with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs).
- Support quality assurance of programme outputs, tools, and knowledge products.
- Provide inputs to programme monitoring reports and internal performance reviews.
4.) Promote learning, knowledge development, and cross-country exchange
- Support the development of knowledge products and facilitate learning across programmes to strengthen disability-inclusive programming.
- Identify emerging lessons and good practices across programmes and support their documentation.
- Organize cross-country learning exchanges, communities of practice, and thematic webinars.
- Develop guidance notes, tools, and knowledge resources addressing common technical gaps.
- Contribute to UN GDF reporting and knowledge products highlighting programme results and lessons learned.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
Competencies
- Core Competencies:
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 & 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 Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Development & Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
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.
Business Management & Customer Satisfaction/Client Management:
- Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs.
- Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
2030 Agenda: Peace & Governance: Disability inclusion
2030 Agenda: Peace & Governance: Inclusion and Participation of Marginalised Groups
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Policy, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Urban Development, Development Studies, Human Rights Law, Disability Studies, or a related field is required, OR
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years (with master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in international development cooperation, including experience supporting the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) across different country contexts and thematic areas.
- Demonstrated experience in programme design, development, and implementation related to the rights of persons with disabilities within international cooperation and developing country contexts is required.
- Proven experience in capacity development and technical support related to human rights and disability inclusion is desired.
- Experience in applying gender-transformative and intersectional approaches in development programming is desired.
- Experience with civil society organizations, particularly organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities is required.
- Experience supporting programmes related to climate action, sustainable cities and urban development, and health equity is desired.
- Experience in quality assurance is desired.
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of another UN official language is desired.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
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