Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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.
The Government of India’s flagship schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and KCC/MISS have become important tools to strengthen the resilience of Indian farmers. The schemes ensure maximum benefits for the farmers by providing financial risk protection against natural calamities and catastrophic events including pests, climate uncertainties and environmental shocks. Apart from providing comprehensive risk coverage for the entire crop cycle, PMFBY also enables direct claim transfer into farmers’ accounts through e-remittance. Additionally, to address agrarian distress, Kisan Credit Card/ Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) was introduced by the Government of India to provide cheap and hassle-free credit for millions of farmers and to ensure continued investment into agriculture to bring in mechanization, modernize agriculture practices and eventually enhance productivity.
UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended Outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”. UNDP leverages its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare (MoA&FW) through setting up of a Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) for the implementation of PMFBY and KCC, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures and support mechanisms for Agri-value chain financing, risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India. The PMU will also focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and KCC and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.
Within the overall framework of UNDP’s ongoing programme with MoA&FW, institutional strengthening support is extended to MNCFC by setting up a TIC (Technology Implementation Cell) which will provide Remote Sensing and Geospatial support to MNCFC for the successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). This will involve carrying out operational activities and R&D activities for using satellite and other collateral data and models and GIS tools for the national crop insurance programme.
MNCFC has been assigned with the responsibility of mainstreaming the geospatial technology solutions under PMFBY’s national initiatives i.e. YES-TECH, WINDS and CROPIC and support other tech interventions like a) Smart sampling locations to States, b) Yield dispute resolution, c) Area discrepancy analysis, d) Crop situation assessment etc.
The Data Associate (Statistical) – Technical Implementation Cell will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director, MNCFC. The Data Associate (Statistical) will be responsible for all development and maintenance activities of desktop and web applications related to PMFBY, in addition to creating a visualization and analysis platform for a wide range of data.
Direct Reporting To: Remote Sensing Tech Specialist, NPSA-10
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure Risk-Based Modelling and Premium Cost Determination
- Perform risk-based modelling and determine the premium cost and sustainable subsidy structures.
- Undertake crop modelling and prioritization for the crops to be insured and assist the crop insurance product specialists in selecting farming areas for piloting.
Ensure Data Collection and Analysis
- Collate and analyse data related to cultivated areas, production and yield of key crops, types of soils, percentages of agriculture under irrigation and rainfed, vulnerability of crops toweather and climate risks, farming system and types, and income levels of farmers.
- Develop a database on crop insurance Underwriting and claims, Crop Premium Subsidy Management, Digitized Land Record database, Notified Crop, Premium rates and coverage; CCE yield dataset etc. that can process and generate reports to monitor insurance take-up and supervise insurance operation.
- Assist implementing agencies/State TSUs in developing their own database system to improve financial monitoring and reporting capacity.
- Database Development and Maintenance
- Provide maintenance services and troubleshoot when problems occurred.
Ensure Communication and Support
- Create effective, visually engaging presentations within constraints of project deadlines.
- Perform any other tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the Remote Sensing & Geo-Spatial Specialist and Remote Sensing Tech.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Digital & Innovation
- Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real- Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
- Data privacy and digital ethics: Knowledge of ethical usage of digital technology (e.g. AI, robotics, automation) and data. Ability to assess ethical implications when using, combining or sharing data, when building or implementing AI systems, and when advising on robotization and automation etc. Ability to design privacy protocols to ensure data is protected and used for legitimate purposes without unnecessary privacy risks.
- Data Engineering: Ability in programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R, be adept at finding warehousing solutions, and usingETL (Extract, Transfer, Load) tools, and understanding basic machine learning and algorithms.
- Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.
- Behavioural insights: Knowing when it is appropriate to use behavioural insights, having theoretical knowledge and basic understanding of principles of human behaviour; being aware of both the benefits and limitations of Behavioural Insights and adhere to ethical standards and guides when using them; Being able to define specific behavioural goals (what to change), explore and understand barriers and contextual factors to desired behaviours, use principles from behavioural science to generate ideas for nudges and interventions,use experimental methods to improve ideas (prototyping) or evaluate impact (trials). Use these results to develop a scaling strategy for interventions that work or inform policy design.
Business management
- Digital awareness and literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
- Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required.
- A University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Applied Statistics/ Applied Economics/Agriculture Economics/Agriculture Statistics/ Data Sciences / Business Analytics/ Business Administration, or equivalent will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
- Minimum of 7 years (with High school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant demonstrable experience atthe national or international level in analysing large datasets, specifically related to non-life insurance sector is required.
- At least 4 years of experience and in-depth knowledge of Agriculture Insurance, product design, indemnity-based insurance, index-based insurance products, national policies and existing schemes, regulatory laws related to crop insurance, related concepts, policies, and practices is required.
- Demonstrated Experience in in preparing presentation and creative visualization is required.
- Proven ability to tailor and present information to diverse audiences using a variety of communication delivery methods (e.g., written, electronic, oral, interpersonal), including documentation is required.
- Experience in leading consultative meetings and provide training at national and state level with partners and senior stakeholders to identify priorities and manage the timely delivery of project activities is required.
- At least 2 years of demonstrable experience in relevant role with government projects
- Candidates with prior experience in managing team of 4-5 persons.
- At least 2 years of prior experience of providing technical advisory services in the insurance sector.
- Relevant experience at the national level working with Governments and private entities in the insurance sector and/or reinsurance sector.
- Progressively responsible roles in providing strategic inputs to senior management for new projects to achieveorganizational objectives.
- Proven experience in working with and managing projects with multiple stakeholders including Central and/or State Government / national/ international/ public private organizations.
- Broad based knowledge across cross cutting thematic areas such risk management, current rural insurance and finance schemes, outreach to insurers and implementing agencies, procurement procedures, environmental and social safeguards.
- Knowledge of legislative, legal and regulation structure in place with respect to crop insurance in India.
- Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and requirements of the post with excellence.
- Demonstrated experience and capability to handle strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Hindi is required.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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