Research Associate

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Job Description

Mission and objectives

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

Strong, accountable, and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems, and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Context

UNDP has entered a partnership with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir by bringing on board required technical sectoral expertise to the Department of Planning Development and Monitoring to work across departments to drive an integrated development agenda to promote faster achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the UT.
In line with the Indian model of SDG localization led by NITI Aayog, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir intends to establish a Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (SDGCC) under the Directorate of Economics & Statistics. UNDP proposes technical support to SDGCC in Jammu and Kashmir guided by the MOU signed between NITI Aayog and UT of Jammu and Kashmir and through the partnership model agreed by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
The team is expected to catalyze the actions around achieving the Global Goals by 2030 by performing the role of a think tank and solutions provider to the UT. SDGCC is envisaged as a think tank, for providing high quality, cutting-edge policy and integrated advisory services to the State and UT departments to accelerate economic, social, and environmental goals. It seeks to promote whole of the government approach by bringing together various departments and communities to create sustainable solutions to social problems. SDGCC will promote data driven decision making by undertaking high quality analytics based on granular data.
It will also establish tech enabled monitoring tools for greater effectiveness. UNDP proposes to engage a National UN Volunteer Research Associate to support SDGCC Jammu and Kashmir leading the activities related to Research and Documentation of the center. S/He will have multi-sectoral experience and possess programme management, partnership development, and coordination skills to manage the UNDP proposes to engage Research Associate to support SDGCC Jammu and Kashmir in research and aid the team in knowledge management.
The Research Associates will provide overall policy research support, preparation of background notes, coordinate with stakeholders and support organization of knowledge events and trainings.

Task description

The National UN Volunteer Research Associate will work under the overall guidance and supervision of Policy Analyst and in close collaboration with the UNDP Programme Officer and Project Team members and day to day supervision on the implementation issues with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. S/He will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives, in coordination with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the direct supervision of the Public Policy Analyst (Head), SDGCC Jammu and Kashmir, the incumbent will focus on achievement of the following results:

Provide technical assistance in implementation of SDGCC activities
Support in computation of district level SDG index for the UT, and report generation in coordination with advisors and specialists
Support in aligning Jammu and Kashmir’s budget with SDG Goals and targets.
Responsible for coordinating with the various departments, SDG wise, to help them collect data with focus on sex disaggregated and gender sensitive data and use the same for effective monitoring of progress on SDGs
Help identify different sources of Data portals and data collection mechanisms related to Departments, schemes, districts, cooperatives etc. and adapt them for the SDG Dashboard
Identify qualitative and quantitative data sources and set up mechanisms for timely and quality data reporting as well as capturing lessons learnt
Generate high quality monitoring reports using data analytics, at agreed intervals, including on specific themes that help review progress and programme strategy
Develop capacity of line departments for more responsive and accountable governance, through IT based tools
Assist in the organization of training programmes / workshops/webinars including coordination with the resource persons/participants, drafting of the proceedings etc.
Maintain regular contact with related institutions and network of researchers/experts and coordinate with the local partners for implementation of various projects on the field
Support in preparation of research training materials, tools for the SDGCC in different thematic areas and drafting of concept notes / presentation/briefs/ reports, as required
Compile and share relevant information and data of various interventions with managers of the designated portals
Perform any other tasks assigned from time to time by the supervisor

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in research and analysis, data analysis, monitoring, documentation and project management including operational management
Ability to organize and perform a variety of specialized tasks simultaneously related to Results Management, including administrative support to design, planning and implementation of program, managing data, reporting
Promotes and enforces ethics and integrity and creates precedence in good practice
Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment
Self-development, ability to take initiative, adopt a corporate approach to complex situations • Creates and promotes an enabling environment for open communication
Pro-actively follow up with others to advance tasks
Time management for tasks’ deadline
Strong IT skills, knowledge of office software packages
Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded, and reported
Ability to review a variety of data, identify and resolve operational problems
Interacting with others in a professional and respectful manner
Pro-active, taking initiative and creatively providing solutions to problems
Completing tasks efficiently and with minimum supervisory follow up