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 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is in the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources that will help them withstand crises and accelerate efforts to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.   This is accomplished by supporting countries with requisite resources to develop policies, leadership skills and institutional capabilities to sustain development results.

The Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is UDP’s largest regional bureau, covering 46 diverse countries, ranging from:  least developed to middle-income countries; land-locked to island nations; and, agricultural to mineral-based economies.  UNDP works with its national counterparts to help them implement national development priorities and achieve home-grown national development goals.   Its work is guided by global and regional normative development frameworks to which African countries are signatories --- including Agenda 2063 and the 2030 SDGs.

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, is organized around four interconnected strategic objectives—Prosperity for All, Effective Governance, Crisis Resilience, and a Healthy Planet—and enabled by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation, gender equality, and sustainable finance.  For Africa, these global priorities are operationalized through the Regional Programme Document (RPD) 2026–2029, which adopts a systems-based, portfolio approach designed to catalyze structural transformation, strengthen institutions, build resilience to shocks, and support nature-positive development aligned with Agenda 2063 and the AU Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP).

Development strategy and planning needs have moved beyond “coordination” and “integration” within the UN development system –and far beyond the centralized planning tools of the 1980s.  The current development landscape is forcing a rethink of how to achieve efficiencies, policy coherence and deep integration, while also addressing the challenges of 21st century development.  RBA’s Strategic Technical Advisors will be part of a new UNDP initiative that makes its programmatic and policy work more demand-driven and focused on results. 

At its core, this transformative initiative will strengthen existing capacities and augment skills by tapping into regional experts and professional networks. It will bolster UNDP’s ability to conduct more frequent and targeted anticipatory analysis and modelling of future trends and/or shocks that will improve the preparedness and agility of the development system, launch strategic, demand-driven deployments that will provide government officials with dispassionate policy advice on the design and implementation of development policies, as well as sharing instructive and pertinent global case studies; and emphasize the value and capabilities behind holistic, country-owned development solutions that connect strategic dots between policy, financing and governance. 

This initiative will not focus on everything. It will prioritize: 

  • Capacity development for longer term development planning and governance support, to support development planning and incorporate new tools for modeling, strategic foresight, digital/AI transitions, green and inclusive transition; as well as more traditional growth/jobs, macro, trade and governance support to manage economic reforms.
  • In line with UNDP’s new Strategic Plan and the focus to advance UNDP’s integrator function, this initiative will strengthen the integration elements (e.g. financing, climate, energy, digital/AI transitions, gender) in national development strategies and plans.
  • Rapid response support to crises and global/regional shocks that result in accelerating socio-economic downturns and the need to deploy rapid response assistance; institutional support; operational, data and administrative capabilities to support governments during such economic crises.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of RBA’s Strategy, Analysis and Research Team (SART), the  Technical Advisors will provide technical advisory services to countries in the areas of strategic planning, structural economic transformation, public finance management, development financing, access to energy, and trade.  They will also support RBA’s substantive work, in line with corporate priorities, through focused and timely research, routine regional and thematic analyses of emerging trends/opportunities, leveraging leading networks, and growing/deepening strategic partnerships with relevant multilateral, bilateral, regional and private sector institutions.

The Technical Advisors must be demonstrably proficient in one or more of the following thematic areas: 

  1. strategic planning --- to include the development, design, implementation and assessment of national/regional development plans; impact assessment; and alignment of national development plans. 
  2. structural economic transformation --- to include empirical macroeconomic analysis; public finance management; and national resource governance.
  3. development financing --- to include identifying and assessing innovative financing options; external debt management; development bond issuances; and lowering the cost of borrowing.   
  4. access to sustainable and affordable energy --- to include optimal energy mix, accessibility and equity; regional energy pools; and energy financing options. 
  5. regional trade --- to include regional value chains; fast-tracking the AfCFTA; and addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers. 

The  Technical Advisors will also provide briefings to RBA leadership, represent RBA in regional and global fora, identify policy options to enhance the impact of UNDP interventions across Africa, and maintain networks of relevant regional professionals.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

High-level policy advice

  • Prepares clear, practical and evidence-driven analyses of complex development challenges and provides high-level government officials with workable solution and policy options.
  • Undertakes regular review of key trends shaping national and regional development outcomes in African countries/regions.
  • Develop position papers for African and UNDP leaders on the impact of global geostrategic trends/shocks on the attainment of the SDGs in Africa.

Timely research and analysis

  • Analyze and aggregate relevant economic, financial and environmental data to inform the formulation of bespoke diagnostic tools.
  • Prepare and launch technical reports on challenges and opportunities in African countries, that will be used to inform national and regional development strategies.
  • Contribute to institutional reports (including global, regional and national HDRs) to strengthen UNDP’s position as a trusted and timely provider of applied research on topical policy and strategic issues.

Knowledge management

  • Leads networks of regional expertise to support RBA Country Offices in the design and implementation of development plans and the execution of development programming.
  • Oversees quality assurance for all knowledge products in specific areas of expertise.  Ensure that knowledge products are fully aligned with national priorities and UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
  • Leverage knowledge products to enhance UNDP’s positioning in the attainment and acceleration of the SDGs in Africa.

Strategic positioning

  • Provides authoritative, evidence-driven advice on emerging issues (to include potential opportunities and future trends) to African governments and UNDP officials.
  • Maintain strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders, government officials and other UNDP bureaus to enhance RBA positioning on key development issues.
  • In close collaboration with RBA’s regional and communications teams, expand the outreach of RBA programming and share the impacts of RBA engagements.

Deepen networks

  • Build and expand partnerships with relevant regional/global research and policy institutions to strengthen and amplify RBA’s policy advisory capabilities and services.
  • Ensure meaningful participation in relevant fora, workshops and conferences to improve UNDP positioning and promote effective knowledge transfers for RBA Country Offices and relevant staff.

Management and mentoring

  • Design and implement strategies to strengthen competencies and build technical skills in RBA Country Offices.

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

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 & Strategy       

  • Systems 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.
  • Strategic Thinking:
    • Develop effective strategies and prioritised 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    

  • 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.

Data 

  • Data Analysis:
    • Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making. 

Partnership management  

  • Relationship Management:
    • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Communications    
  • Storytelling:
    • Ability to convey information in engaging narratives through digital media to achieve communication outcomes.
Business Management    
  • Result-Based Management:
    • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
    • Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from internationally-recognized institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required OR;
  • A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree;
  • Earned doctorate from internationally-recognized tertiary institution in relevant field is preferred.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in project management, coordination, implementation of capacity-building initiatives or relevant related field is required. 

Required Skills:

  • Proven experience working with African regional institutions such as the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, civil society organizations and think tanks on a wide range of issues.
  • Proven experience in project management, coordination and implementation of capacity-building initiatives.
  • Proven experience and understanding of crosscutting development challenges in Africa, such as governance, youth, gender equality, etc.
  • Proven experience in strategic communications and partnerships.

Desired Skills:

  • Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations. 
  • Knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies. 
  • Proven experience working with African regional institutions such as the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and think tanks on a wide range of issues.
  • Experience in providing high level advisors on programme management to the senior management.

Languages:

  • Fluency in English (required). 
  • Knowledge of French or Portuguese (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. 

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

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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