Public Policy Expert

The UN General Assembly, and all its 193-member countries, in September 2015 adopted a global development vision entitled Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 2030 Agenda was designed as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.  It lays out 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, to stimulate global action over the next 15 years on issues critical to humanity and the planet. India committed to these SDGs at the September 2015 UN Summit and the SDGs officially came into force on 1 January 2016. The Government of India has actively engaged in nationalizing the SDGs from early 2016. NITI Aayog, the National Institution for Transforming India, has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the efforts on SDGs with ministries and states, indicative of “whole of government” approach. The NITI Aayog has prepared an Action Agenda (3 Years) and is preparing medium term perspective plan (7 years) and long term (15 years) goals for the country through a 15-year vision document for a period up to 2030, which will be co-terminus with sustainable development goals. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has prepared a Draft National Monitoring Framework consisting of 306 Indicators. At National level a High-Level Steering Committee has been constituted for refining the indicators which will emerge as backbone on the development interventions of the country. 

The UNDP India Country Programme Document CPD (2018-2022) signed with the Government of India (GoI) aims at transformative change and development impact at scale. In line with this, UNDP has initiated active support to many state governments in mainstreaming SDG’s within their schemes and programmes as a part of an UN system wide to SDG roll out for visioning and planning in India. In view of India’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda, Uttarakhand too has set ambitious targets for itself for achieving the SDGs within the state and has already formulation its SDG Vison 2030 document.

Centre For Public Policy & Good Governance 

Centre for Policy & Good Governance (CPPGG) Uttarakhand has been set up to assist in bringing about governance reforms through studies, training, knowledge sharing and promotion of good ideas. CPPGG is deemed to act as the think tank in the State which will help in improving the research & analytics for preparing a better planning & policy framework. The think tank is presently functioning as an autonomous body with a governing council headed by Chief Minister and Chief Secretary and has experts from various prestigious institutions as the members. The institution is mandated to identify the bottle necks in the growth trajectory of the State and firm up solutions to address the same. UNDP will support the State Government in technical empowerment of the CPPGG, Uttarakhand by recruiting sectoral experts in mutually agreed sectors which are beneficial for the economic growth of the State and manage the policy development for fostering economic growth and inclusive development through SDGs, under the leadership and guidance of Department of Planning. 

UNDP therefore is looking for a public policy expert to be a part of the PMU in CPPGG and work closely with relevant government departments, technical agencies, UN agencies, civil society organization and academic institutions to provide the requisite impetus to the state government’s initiative in rolling out the SDGs and accelerating economic growth.

UNDP: Technical Support for Implementation of Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance for Economic Growth and fast -tracking SDGs.

Supervisor: ACEO/Representative, Centre for Public Policy & Good Governance /UNDP State Head, Uttarakhand

Summary of Key Functions:  

1.Policy, Research support to CPPGG

2.Policy Advice and Programme/ Project Delivery Support

3.Knowledge building and management

4.Implementation of resource mobilization strategies

5.Work plan coordination and implementation oversight

1.Policy, Research, Analytical and Strategic Support to CPPGG:

•Develop policy initiatives for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas, in collaboration with the State government bringing in perspectives and knowledge from various state offices of UNDP.

•Conduct research and analyses and prepare analytical briefs in support of CPPGG/ UNDP strategic priorities and work plan in Uttarakhand.

•Provide substantive inputs and analyses towards the preparation and coordination of briefing notes and background materials on matters pertaining to CPPGG/ UNDP strategic priorities, work plans and working methods in close coordination with the Additional CEO, CPPGG.

•Direct and conduct policy analysis, both descriptive and econometric, using survey and census data, to inform CPPGG’s activities and improve the analytical content.

•Develop analytical tools and processes to contribute to the diagnosis and monitoring of economic and social trends in the state and their expected impact.

•Identify strategic programme areas of cooperation, and key areas for capacity building and institutional strengthening and collaboration.

•Conduct data analysis, and coordinate case evidence and research findings to distil relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform policy formulation and guidance.

•Develop relevant analysis and guidance on emerging issues of state, national and global significance and contribute to new research.

•Guide the CPPG team in applying policy and tools to crisis context to make them relevant for specific situations; and

•Conduct and maintain analytics on UNDP engagement at the field level to support strategic analyses.

2.Policy Advice and Programme/ Project Delivery Support:

•Under the guidance of the Additional CEO, CPPGG, support the integration of technical advice into programmes and projects that responds to needs of various state government departments including through the provision of capacity building.

•Apply integrated multi-disciplinary approaches to meet policy and programming needs in line with corporate guidance and standards.

•Effective application of Results Based Management (RBM) tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.

3.Strategic partnerships and implementation of resource mobilization strategies:

•Establish and develop networks with key state and national actors in the areas of capacity development and strengthening of institutions, social groups, etc.

•Develop implementation plan to foster strategic partnerships between CPPG/UNDP and external partner institutions, government, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals and priorities of UNDP, state government needs.

•Identify innovative approaches to leverage CPPGG’s strategic positioning and programmatic interventions in the state, drawing on UNDP’s best practices and benchmarks.

•Identify opportunities for innovative and strategic thinking and actions.

•Gather information on donors and other relevant development actors and preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation in the area of public policy governance, capacity building and institutional strengthening.

•Collaborate in the preparation of annual reports, strategic presentations, brochures and other communication material in the areas of governance, capacity development and institutional strengthening.

•Lead the implementation of partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes.

•Advice and guidance on issues related to strengthening institutional capacities.

•Monitor and provide substantive analyses with regards to the quality assurance of CPPGG inputs and where required draft formal communications, ensuring consistency of message, current topics and rapid response to stakeholder inquiries and information requests.

4.Work plan coordination and implementation oversight

•Under the guidance of the Additional CEO, CPPGG ensure coordination and following-up with colleagues on results and task-bound activities, including annual work planning, and ensure timely submission of required materials and quality assurance of said deliverables.

•Develop and implement a management tracking system and process to allow for effective management in the CPPGG work plan and key deliverables.

•Support the quality assurance of policy services and foster policy innovation in the specific thematic area by reviewing lessons learned and evaluations to enhance programme delivery.

•Coordinate the inter-unit inputs to, and the preparation of CPPGG’s work planning, budgeting, and reporting on results. 

•Any other task assigned by the Additional CEO, CPPGG

5.Knowledge building and management:

•Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and programme evaluation results as well as targeted interventions.

•Provide substantive support to publication and events on SDG issues or others.

•Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to state policy goals.

•Coordinate development of policies and institutions that will address the state problems and needs in collaboration with the state government and other strategic partners.

•Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

•Coordinate and perform knowledge extraction, analysis, documentation, codification of results/lessons learned in the specific thematic area, and verify that knowledge sharing, and content management is in line with guidelines and performed using corporate tools;

•Any other task assigned by the Additional CEO, CPPGG.

Technical Competencies:

•Knowledge of governance, public administration and development theories, principles and applications.

•Excellent knowledge about the policy development process, design and implementation of policy programmes, policy research and evaluation, and MIS and data especially in context of India.

•Broad knowledge of and familiarity with UNDP’s practice and policies of democratic governance.

•Extensive skills and competencies in conducting applied policy-oriented research.

•Knowledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

•In-depth knowledge on development issues in India.

Functional Competencies:

•Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.

•Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources.

•Ability to produce quality reports and publications in selected areas of governance, public administration and development management.

•Strong intellectual and operational capacity in providing and coordinating advisory services to stakeholders.

•Good advocacy, communication, interpersonal, negotiation and representational skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships.

•Strong analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

•Good working knowledge of information and computer technology, including MS Office products

•Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

•Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office.

•Ability to identify problems, propose solutions and work independently with limited instruction.

•Results-orientation and ability to develop strategic approaches.

•Demonstrated ability to juggle competing demands, to manage time effectively and adhere to deadlines.

•Ability to work effectively in diverse and multicultural teams.

Education:

Essential

•Bachelors Degree in Public Policy or Public Administration would be required.

Desirable •Masters Degree in Public Policy or Public Administration would be preferred.

Experience:

The candidates should have at least 5 – 7 years’ experience on policy research, policy development, advisory services on public policy.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Hindi is essential.