In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
As the lead United Nations agency on international development, for six decades, UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories. UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet. The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.
The Bureau for Advocacy and External Relations leads and supports UNDP to build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding relationships. BERA communications enable strong political and financial backing by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global, regional, and national development priorities. BERA leads efforts to optimally position UNDP within the UN Development System, with Member States and in the inter-governmental and inter-agency fora. It identifies strategic opportunities to partner with agencies through multi-stakeholder and bilateral platforms. It provides intelligence, advises on relationships with key political constituencies, incl. UN Member states, G77 and China, WEOG, EU, Executive Board and develops strategies. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of political positioning, partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.
The Intergovernmental Engagement Specialist works under the leadership and direction of the Team Leader for UN System Affairs supporting UNDP’s engagement with Member States and other actors, including from UN Secretariat and other UN entities.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
In this section list up to five primary functions/accountabilities of the position (Typically one sentence each) and examples of duties that must be performed to successfully accomplish key responsibilities
- Facilitates the preparations of EB inter-bureaux planning meetings.
- Develops and ensures timely finalization of EB-related documentation, including key messages, main positions of MS groups, Intelligence Note, and others as necessary.
- Develops and maintains close working relationships with key MS, in coordination with relevant BERA teams and Regional Bureaux. Engages with UN entities on key related matters.
- Advises on and facilitates targeted engagements with MS at the senior/technical levels and by all relevant UNDP bureaux, in collaboration with relevant UNDP Bureaux.
- Leads on timely intelligence gathering, flags/shares with relevant UNDP bureaux/offices, ensures intelligence exchange with relevant BERA teams, and advises on potential course of action.
- Keeps UNDP/BERA senior management abreast of the preparations for and the evolvement of EB sessions and decision negotiations, including through relevant highlights for UNDP senior leadership and preparations for respective EG discussions.
- Advises on and supports UNDP country-level management awareness of and engagement in EB sessions, as necessary.
- Supports the provision of thematic/topic-specific briefings to MS, as requested.
- Ensures close coordination with the Executive Office, the EB Secretariat, and other UNDP bureaux/offices.
- When requested, coordinates UNDP’s engagement and participation in the Joint Meetings of the Executive Boards.
- Advances the establishment of a sound, well-maintained tracking system on MS’s positions.
- Gathers and evaluates intelligence from key MS groups and follows up on relevant mandates and legislation from intergovernmental bodies.
- Flags opportunities for strategic positioning in the intergovernmental fora and interagency space.
- Ensures the integration/ reflection of political analyses in respective position papers, advisory notes, engagement strategies, and briefs for senior management.
- Facilitates sharing of political analyses with the management at the HQ and country levels, as appropriate and as agreed by BERA management.
- Develops and implements audience-centric strategies to interface with and manage ongoing relationships with Permanent Missions, key political constituencies, and other intergovernmental stakeholders.
- Identifies and analyses engagement opportunities and risks; contributes to policy proposals and position papers for UNDP engagements in relevant intergovernmental and interagency fora and with key MS groups, and with key UN entities as required.
- Advises on and supports targeted engagements through intergovernmental and interagency spaces, including by proposing innovative approaches.
- Develops and maintains close working relationships with key MS, in coordination with relevant BERA teams, and advances technical-level relationships with key actors in UN Secretariat and UN entities.
- Prepares, coordinates and reviews reports, speeches, briefing notes and talking points for senior management on a periodic basis and upon request.
- Leads on UNSAG engagements in preparations of UNDP’s participation in the UN GA meetings; ensures required follow-up; monitors and advises on key GA resolutions.
- Closely monitors relevant segments (including Operational Activities Segment) and negotiation processes within ECOSOC, engaging with both MS and relevant counterparts in UN Secretariat and other UN entities. Advises on potential implications and respective engagement strategies.
- Provides political mapping of MS positions ahead of the key intergovernmental events/ initiatives/ meetings/ sessions, recommending most effective engagement approaches and niches for UNDP positioning, as well as flagging key risks and implications.
- Monitors, analyses and evaluates intergovernmental discussions in relevant intergovernmental fora. Identifies interconnections with interagency discussions and initiatives. Contributes to and/or develops political analyses ahead and after the key intergovernmental events/ initiatives/ meetings/ sessions.
- Monitors key developments within the GA and flags major opportunities for UNDP engagement, with the necessary follow-up. Keeps close contact with the Office of the President of the UN GA
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Public Administration or other Social Sciences related field is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years (with Bachelor’s) or 9 years (with Master’s) experience in UNDP and/or within the UN System, or any government, inter-governmental and other related experience outside of the UN system with strong knowledge of the UN system or any government, inter-governmental experience.
- Strong knowledge of the UN system (including UNDS) is required.
- Proven record of inter-agency and/or intergovernmental engagement and/or experience in diplomatic relations, political analysis and advocacy are required.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with Permanent missions, government representatives and diplomatic stakeholders.
- Intergovernmental affairs expertise such as in executive board sessions, committee meetings or intergovernmental negotiations.
- Exceptional drafting skills with demonstrated experience in preparing briefing notes, talking points, position papers.
- Ability to communicate complex political issues clearly and concisely.
- Strong relationship management and networking skills.
Languages:
- Proficiency in oral and written English language.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is a strong asset.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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.
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.