Research Associate (Human Development) - (Open to Indian Nationals Only) - New Delhi

Duration of Initial Contract :UNDP India in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has initiated the International Centre of Human Development (IC4HD) in New Delhi in a project mode. The mandate of the IC4HD is to ensure that human development concerns become integral to planning processes and policy making and to support the national governments and civil society organizations to actualize human development for people. The IC4HD is responsible for fostering innovations to make the critical move from analysis to action by training policy makers and development programme managers to make use of the knowledge base contained in the Human Development Reports into appropriate, context-specific policies and programmes. International Centre for Human Development (IC4HD) has been imagined as a global institution to bring human development thinking into the core of policy making. The International Centre for Human Development (IC4HD) presents an opportunity for UNDP to further its role as a thought leader by providing knowledge and quality services to ensure that human development concerns become integral to planning processes and policy making by supporting national governments and civil society organizations of the global South. The centre is co-located in New Delhi and Shimla at the Indian Institute of Advance Study (IIAS). Towards achieving its objectives, the Centre adopts the approaches of (a) providing policy advisory services (b) promoting south-south cooperation (c) conducting analysis of human development issues and (d) improving monitoring and evaluation. Working under the supervision of the Director, IC4HD, will be responsible for providing research support on human development and contribute to effective implementation of the project.

The Research Associate will perform the following tasks:

Performing background research (qualitative and quantitative) on human development issues;Provision of technical support on key project interventions, which include providing support to COs preparing National Human Development Reports in the Asia Pacific region and any other publications;Supporting design, implementation and analysis for different activities of the Centre;Provision of research assistance activities for all the initiatives of the Centre;Provision of support on preparation of different types of executive documents derived from the advisory activities provided by the Unit to the COs;Maintain and regularly update lists for national and internationals experts, resource persons and institutions working on human development;Organize and arrange support for events and initiatives organized by the Centre;Any other task assigned by the supervisor.Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Treats all people fairly without favoritism. 

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda - Research and Analysis:

Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise;Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches;Analyses ongoing trends, evolving needs and emerging issues to identify appropriate responses for capacity building;Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages.Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:   Fundamental Knowledge of own Discipline:Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally. Building Strategic Partnerships Identifying and building Partnerships:Develops positive ties with civil society and other stakeholders to build/strengthen UNDP’s mandateMaintaining a network of contacts:Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners. Establishing effective Client Relationships:Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.Good knowledge of the key concerns and challenges facing policy makers and development practitioners in the area of human development;Highly effective at securing relevant information through desk research; effective at applying web search tools and conventions;Motivated, energetic, thorough, and responsive to the needs of the e-group members;Excellent drafting skills;Excellent analytical, organizational and presentational skills.Education: 

A minimum of Post-graduate Degree in Economics, Political Science, Sociology or related field.Experience:

Minimum 3 years of experience in carrying out desk research. Knowledge regarding human development, social policy, inequalities and exclusion is desirable;General experience in information technology tools.Language:

Excellent command of English;Knowledge of other languages is an added advantage.Remuneration package is INR 70,389/- per annum (taxable).

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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