Research Analyst- IPSA 8 at UNDP – Bangkok, Thailand

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.

Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP

The Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP supports the oversight and accountability functions of the Executive Board and the management of UNDP, UNCDF and UNV. The structural independence of the Office underpins and guarantees its freedom to conduct evaluations and report evaluation results to the Executive Board. The IEO conducts independent evaluations and other activities according to its programme of work approved by the Executive Board. The work of the IEO includes:

• Conducting thematic programmatic and other independent evaluations, ensuring strategic and representative coverage of UNDP programmes and results against national, regional and global scales;
• Developing evaluation standards, procedures, criteria and methodological guidance for UNDP evaluations, and contributing to innovation in evaluation methodology and dissemination of good practices;
• Providing UNDP and its development partners with timely knowledge and lessons drawn from evaluations that can feed into development programming at global, regional and country levels;
• Assessing the quality of decentralized evaluations of UNDP, UNCDF and UNV, and monitoring compliance with best international evaluation and data collection standards, including the UNEG norms and standards, code of conduct and ethical guidelines;
• Communicating its evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations through multiple channels and maintaining a searchable, publicly accessible repository of all UNDP, UNCDF and UNV evaluations, and respective management responses and resulting actions;
• Supporting the development of communities of practice, and partnering with professional evaluation networks to improve evaluation utility and credibility;
• Supporting the harmonization of the evaluation function in the United Nations system, including contributing to the annual work programme of UNEG, participating in systemwide evaluations, and prioritizing joint evaluations with United Nations organizations; and
• Promoting national ownership and leadership in evaluation through country-led and joint evaluations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Research Analyst will provide direct support to the implementation of IEO’s evaluations and syntheses products being planned for 2024-2025. He/she will be responsible for supporting the preliminary research, data collection and analysis, working closely with IEO evaluation managers. The work of Research Analyst will be guided by IEO’s knowledge and data management strategy, as well as country programme, thematic evaluation and evaluation syntheses research and process manuals.

• Survey and gathering of UNDP corporate programme documents, results reports, country and financial data, and any other information relevant to the countries and programmes under review, as well as any externally available background material relevant to the themes, countries and programmes under review;
• Compilation of data and uploading of background material to IEO’s common document portal and systems such as ERC and AIDA.
• Initial desk reviews of material, preparation of analytical material, including infographics for use in the evaluation reports as well as for other IEO knowledge products;
• Translation and quality assessment of documents, as required; 
• Support to the IEO regional presence and provision of other general research support, as required by the IEO.
• The research analyst will work as a member of the knowledge and data management section, contributing to a strong and reliable research base at the IEO, in support of efficient and effective execution of evaluation activities and high quality evaluations.
• 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 research analyst will be supervised by the chief of section, knowledge and data management section, and will work in close collaboration with other units of IEO.

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 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
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

Thematic Area
Name
Definition
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 Management
Project Management
– Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management
Communication

– Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

– Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management
Working with Evidence and Data
– Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Digital & Innovation
Tech literacy

Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions.

Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it’s used as a “”means to an end””.

Evaluation  
Technical Evaluation Skills

• Experience in developing and communicating methodological guidance across complex evaluative approaches. 
• Proven understanding of theories of change and logic models and able to use a systems approach in order to identify, recreate and facilitate the development of theories of change and logic models for complex programmes, policies and initiatives; in order to facilitate evaluative thinking among stakeholders 
• Ability to develop high-quality terms of references for complex evaluations, demonstrating a strong ability to prioritize and focus evaluation questions
• Demonstrated ability to design complex evaluations, drawing on existing best practices as well as developing innovative approaches
• Excellent evaluation methods knowledge, including the ability to apply and interpret a range of evaluation methods and approaches, both quantitative and qualitative, ensuring that appropriate evaluation data collection and analysis methods are used. Understands and ensures the appropriate use of multiple and mixed methods.
• Capable of analyzing data from diverse sources, identifying trends and gaps in information, being able to ensure that data and information used in evaluations are appropriate, accurate, of high quality and collected and analyzed from an ethical perspective.
• Possess strong analytical skills, with an ability to elaborate credible findings, with evidence traced through the analysis into findings, which are then placed within their context. Uses analytical skills to synthesize data where relevant, and identifies unintended results.
• Has excellent reporting skills, with highly credible conclusions substantiated by evidence; and generating clear, realistic and feasible recommendations

Evaluation
Technical Capacity Development skills

• Experience in developing and communicating methodological guidance across complex evaluative approaches. 
• Understanding of UNDP’s governance approaches and programmatic work.
• Knowledge and experience in supporting Governments in Governance, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in developing and working within diverse partnerships

Required Skills and Experience
Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, or other relevant areas is required. OR

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, 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 
Upto 2 years (with master’s degree) or minimum of 2 years (with bachelor’s degree)  of relevant work experience in conducting research in the international development context with expertise in the use of machine learning applied to development is required. 
Required skills 
Experience in using computer and office software packages, web-based data management systems; Microsoft Office Word, Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, SharePoint, MS Project, NVivo  is required. 
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Proven statistical experiences and knowledge of software available for quantitative analysis, including databases, spreadsheets, and statistical packages and monitoring and evaluation tools is asset.
• Experience in python and/or R for data analysis is desired.
• Prior work experience at or familiarity with the work of UNDP and/or other UN entities is desired. 

Required Language(s) 

Fluency in English is required. 

Working knowledge of another UN language is highly preferred.

Disclaimer

 

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 

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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