Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting- edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public- private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
Managed by BPPS, the Seoul Policy Center (USPC) was established in 2011 as the UNDP Seoul Policy Center for Global Development Partnerships following an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and UNDP signed in Nov 2009. The Center’s functions and activities were set out to include: (1) To serve as the immediate interface with the Government on all aspects relating to the evolving Republic of Korea – UNDP partnership; (2) To serve as knowledge center for comparative experiences and approaches of new development partners in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable human development; and (3) To facilitate and promote learning, networking, policy dialogue and consultation among new development partners and to contribute to capacity development in developing countries. USPC’s profile has continued to evolve since its inception.
While undertaking incremental improvements where needed, the new triennial work programme (2023-25) will continue to be anchored in its original mandate and build on the Centre’s existing vision as facilitator of global knowledge exchange and country-level application on innovative and tested-and-proven development solutions for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Center will carry out the related policy research and analytical work to more strongly contribute to corporate thought leadership on development cooperation and SSTC priorities and related global development debates through 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. Cross-cutting issues such as digital transformation and inclusive approaches to leave no one behind (e.g. gender, youth) will be considered for all substantive areas.
Scope of Work
Under the leadership of the Green Recovery and Transition Team Lead, the position will include four main areas of work:
Project Management Support
- Ensuring successful implementation of SDG Partnerships projects and other programmes in the green recovery and transition portfolio, ensuring timely and successful delivery of all the agreed activities, making necessary adjustments and managing risks, including reporting, providing quality assurance support, and communication. Sectors will include sustainable forestry as well as other areas linked to green recovery and low-carbon transition: circular economy (waste management, plastic, wastewater), climate mitigation and adaptation, energy (renewable energies, energy efficiency), carbon markets, air pollution, digitalization and technology;
- Designing new SDG Partnerships projects and related programmes for USPC as part of the extension of the Green Recovery and Transition’s portfolio;
- Supporting USPC staff, UNDP Country Offices, as well as Korean and international project partners**;**
- Support communication work (webnotes, social media posts, presentations) related to the Green Recovery and Transition Team’s portfolio.
Knowledge Management & Knowledge Product Creation on Green Recovery and Low-CarbonTransition
- Authoring & editing various knowledge products on Korea’s policy tools that are shared through SDG partnership projects;
- Conducting research & analysis on relevant areas of USPC’s green recovery and transition (climate, energy, environment, forestry, circular economy) work; and produce briefs, presentations, reports for USPC staff and community of practice**;**
- Support USPC’s knowledge products creation.
Organization of various knowledge-exchange & representation events for USPC
- Designing and implementing innovative concepts for USPC’s knowledge exchange activities including promotion of South-South and Triangular Cooperation;
Providing substantive support and administrative and logistical services (if needed) for organizations of online and off-line workshops, study visits, policy dialogues, advocacy events, missions, etc.
Support of cross-cutting activities for USPC
- Support the functions of the Green Recovery and Transition Team Lead including but not restricted to: preparation work related to USPC steering committee, USPC annual work plan design and reporting, USPC inputs into results-oriented annual reporting (ROAR), BPPS integrated work plan, internship recruitment, requests from GPN, BPPS and other UNDP entities, drafting official emails in English language and Korean languages, various administrative and budgetary requests.
- Support the facilitation of partnerships between UNDP and relevant development actors, particularly Korean organizations and IOs located within the ROK; assist with preparing high-quality and timely inputs into Centre Directors meetings and speaking engagements;
- Support the organization of flagship events such as but not limited to Seoul Debates and the Human Development Report Launch;
- Support outreach and communications activities on relevant USPC activities;
- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent will be working directly under the supervision of the Green Recovery and Transition Team Lead.
Competencies
Core
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
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking – Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
Business Direction & Strategy: System 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.
Business Development: Knowledge Generation – Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.
Business Management: Results-based Management – Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management – Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
Business Management: Monitoring – Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.
Programme and Policy: Nature, Climate and Energy – Green Economy and Green Growth.
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful N-PSA
Min. Education requirements: Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environment, Energy, Climate or Social Sciences and/or any other relevant field is required. Or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience: Up to 2 years (with masters degree) or minimum 2 years (with bachelors degree) of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support on topics related to environment, climate or low-carbon development are required.
Required skills:
- Proven experience and familiarity with environmental issues (including climate, energy, circular economy, plastics, carbon pricing, air pollution).
- A track record of effectively managing multiple tasks and setting priorities.
- Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages, video conferencing platforms (e.g. Zoom), social media.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
- Prior work experience with international organizations is desired. Familiarity with UNDP is an asset.
- Experience with Korean development policy, effective development cooperation and SSTC is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in project management and events organization is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting and peer-reviewing research papers is an asset.
- Demonstrated capacity to write clear and well-constructed reports and knowledge products is required.
- Experience and familiarity with digital issues is an asset.
Language Requirement: Fluency in English and Korean is required.
How to apply
Please refer to the official posting and apply at: bit.ly/USPCcareers