Data and Digital Innovation Fellow

Background

I. CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

As the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System, UNDP serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its work is carried out at the HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forming a contiguous spectrum of local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), which acts as its network of technical expertise on a wide range of knowledge domains.

II. FELLOWSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) develops the policy guidance needed to meet the targets of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and is responsible for providing technical advice to Country Offices, advocating for UNDP corporate messages, representing UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engaging in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. Moreover, it works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau to support emergency and crisis response, ensuring that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

As one of the six Global Policy Centres managed by BPPS, and following an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and UNDP signed in Nov 2009, the Seoul Policy Center (USPC) was established in 2011 as the UNDP Seoul Policy Center for Global Development Partnerships. The Center’s functions and activities were set out to include: (1) Serving as the immediate interface with the Government on all aspects relating to the evolving ROK–UNDP partnership; (2) Serving as a knowledge center for comparative experiences and approaches of new development partners in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable human development; and (3) Facilitating and promoting learning, networking, policy dialogue and consultation among new development partners, while contributing to capacity development in developing countries.

USPC’s profile has continued to evolve since its inception and the current triennial work programme (2023-25) further augments the Centre’s role as the facilitator of global knowledge exchange and the country-level application of innovative and tested-and-proven development solutions for the achievement of the SDGs. This is achieved through the flagship programme known as the ‘SDG Partnerships,’ which it complements through programmatic, partnership, and policy activities in the following substantive areas: (i) Development Cooperation Approaches and Modalities; (ii) Governance and Gender (including a focus on Anti-corruption and SGBV); (iii) Green Recovery and Transition (including a focus on Sustainable Forestry); and (iv) Private Sector Engagement.

Against this backdrop, the development cooperation team is expected to provide support to the existing thematic portfolios of USPC through:

1. Facilitating innovative multi-bi projects with Korean partners, which are funded through contributions from bilateral donors to multilateral organizations that are earmarked for specific development purposes (e.g., (sub-) regions, countries, sectors, or themes)
2. Contributing to partnership development between the ROK and UNDP
3. Conducting and disseminating policy research on development cooperation issues, especially on development policy of the ROK, effective development cooperation, South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), and green as well as digital ODA

Duties and Responsibilities

III. DUTIES:

The Fellow will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Data Analysis and Visualization

• Develop and implement tools for cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing development cooperation data, including IATI-based data and UNDP internal data. The goal is to enhance data accessibility and utility, facilitating better decision-making within the scope of development cooperation.
• Promote data-driven insights by creating intuitive dashboards, reports, and visualizations tailored for UNDP staff, partner governments, and stakeholders, to illuminate development progress and the effectiveness of cooperation efforts.
• Conduct capacity building sessions aimed at enhancing skills within UNDP and among partners in utilizing these data tools for informed decision-making and improved project outcomes.

Supporting Effective Development Cooperation through Project Development

• Identify and conceptualize project ideas that are grounded in the principles of effective development cooperation. This includes leveraging data and statistical analyses to measure development outcomes and progress, ensuring alignment with USPC’s mandate.
• Facilitate discussions and workshops with stakeholders to explore innovative ways of using data for enhancing the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of development cooperation. These activities should aim at improving project design, implementation, and monitoring, within the framework of USPC’s focus areas.
• Assist in the preparation of policy briefs and reports that highlight the role of data and evidence in advancing development cooperation goals. This involves synthesizing findings from data analyses and project outcomes to inform both internal and external audiences

Support, Collaboration, and Capacity Building

• Provide ad hoc support for various activities as required, ensuring that these efforts contribute to the strategic objectives of USPC related to enhancing development cooperation.
• Collaborate with UNDP units, partner governments, and external stakeholders on initiatives that fall within USPC’s mandate, focusing on strengthening partnerships and cooperation for development outcomes.
• Participate in knowledge sharing and continuous learning activities related to development cooperation, both within UNDP and in the broader development community. Engage in forums, workshops, and networks to enhance the Fellow’s expertise and contribute to the team’s strategic goals.

Competencies

Competencies and attitude:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization.
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation.
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mindset.
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently.
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any field of study (preferably in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology or a related field);
  • Demonstrated experience in data analysis, visualization, or digital technologies may be considered in lieu of formal education.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and proficient use of Microsoft Office productivity tools.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI) and programming languages (e.g., Python, R) is highly required.
• Familiarity with open source LLMs and their applications is highly desirable.

Language skills:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of Korean or other UN languages is an advantage.