Poverty reduction and growth are the highest
priorities of the Royal Government of Cambodia as reflected in its
National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2011-2013. In line with these
priorities, UNDP Country Programme Action Plan (2011-2015) adopts an
integrated poverty reduction approach in order to accelerate progress
towards the Cambodia Millennium Development Goal One (CMDG1). Addressing
growth, poverty and equity requires acting simultaneously at the policy
and macroeconomic levels and through direct interventions focused on
the poorest segments of the population. This involves developing policy
options for growth that benefits all, supporting human capital
development and institutional capacity in selected sectors of importance
to promote economic diversification, and scaling up schemes to improve
the incomes of the poorest of the poor. This approach is aimed at
contributing to strengthening national and sub-national capacities to
develop a more diversified, sustainable and equitable economy.
Building
on the successes of the Insights for Action Initiative (2005-2010),
UNDP’s Linking Policy with Practices for Accelerating MDG1 (LPP) project
(2011 – 2015) has been established with the aim to (i) provide
evidence–based policy options for inclusive, equitable and sustainable
growth, (ii) support human capital development and institutional
capacity development in selected sectors of importance and (iii) scale
up effective anti-poverty practices for inclusive and equitable growth.
LPP project is responsible for the preparation of key UNDP flagship
policy advocacy reports such as Cambodia Human Development Reports and
national forums such as Cambodia Economic Forums.
Working
under the supervision of the Policy and Research Coordinator of LPP and
the strategic advice from Policy Specialist – Economic Development, the
National Development Economist will be responsible for taking the lead
and managing a portfolio of upstream economic policy research. S/he will
work closely with the Policy Specialist – Economic Development and
National Economic Livelihood Specialist as well as other national and
international team members from other components under LPP to ensure the
successful implementation of the programme.
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Summary of Key Functions:
- Provide policy advice and support to LPP project and UNDP poverty reduction programme on economic and development issues;
- Support the identification, coordination and quality control of policy based research;
- Advise and facilitation of knowledge building on economic and development issues;
- Facilitate, and in some cases conduct, high quality targeted policy-based researches;
- Advocacy and promotion of UNDP/LPP initiatives;
- Build and maintain partnership/network and support resources mobilization through promotion of UNDP/LPP strategy;
- Support LPP project implementation approach/and management tool; and,
- Carry out other relevant duties as requested.
1. Provide policy advice and support to LPP project and UNDP poverty reduction programme on economic and development issues
- Provide analysis and strategic advice
- Provide
periodic analysis of economic (ex: macro-economic policy and their
impact on poverty reduction, growth, and equity, etc) and development
issues and alert the new emerging opportunity;
- Prepare substantive economic briefing notes on demand for the Policy and Research Coordinator and/or UNDP management,
- Analyse
the latest socio-economic developments relevant to Cambodia, and
contribute to the preparation of the UNDP brief policy papers,
- Maintenance
and quality of an up-to-date user friendly socio-economic data base on
Cambodia to facilitate the on demand preparation of UNDP/LPP briefings,
reports, official statements, presentations, etc.;
- Provide
strategic advice and ensure that UNDP/MDG1 priorities (mainly
implemented through LPP project) are in line with national policies and
priorities and are strategically positioned; and,
- Provide
technical inputs to other components of the LPP work plan where
appropriate, namely in Scalability Initiative, Human Capital and Social
Protection.
2. Support the identification, coordination and quality control of policy based research
- Contribute
to the arrangements and coordination for the identification of suitable
topics, research, development, production, publication, and
dissemination in close collaboration with relevant Government entities,
CSOs and UN Agencies;
- Contribute to the preparation of
UNDP’s National Human Development Report in close collaboration with
relevant Government entities, CSOs and UN Agencies;
- Provide
analytical and programmatic support to design of strategic research
proposals including TORs, concept note, work plans and budgets;
- Coordinate
and ensure the quality of the production of the reports and
policy-based research publications under LPP project portfolio on
poverty reduction, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human
development, and other high priority development issues in Cambodia;
and,
- Contribute to the preparation of UNDP Discussion Paper series and LPP related publication.
3. Advise and facilitation of knowledge building on economic and development issues
- Support the launch of LPP products;
- Take stock of the knowledge products under LPP;
- Ensure
the product produced under LPP are widely disseminated to the right
audience, discuss/debate and influence the policy option;
- Prepare presentations and briefs on reports and research to (national) stakeholders to continue discussion and influence policy;
- Assist
on the preparation of policy dialogues on socio-economic, and poverty
reduction issues with the Government, donors, civil society, private
and UN Country Team as well as UNDP program staff to generate national
policy dialogues and influence policy decisions contributing towards the
overall advocacy work to support the achievement of CMDGs in the
country;
- Facilitate and collaborate with UNDP, UN Country
Team, other donors and civil society knowledge network in sharing
information on UNDP policy research;
- Continuously
identify relevant knowledge, experience and best practices and
facilitate their sharing within the Country Office, with the Government
counterpart and other stakeholders; and,
- Contributions to
knowledge networks and communities of practice, especially within the CO
office and project partner to share experience/knowledge based on the
work under LPP.
4. Facilitate, and in some cases conduct, and facilitate high quality targeted policy-based researches
- Effectively manage the formulation and implementation of research proposals;
- Coordinate and assist in managing research initiatives and research missions under LPP project;
- Participate in reviewing and improving the quality of substantive research drafts; and,
- Prepare field based case studies for various research initiatives.
5. Advocacy and promotion of UNDP/LPP initiative focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Contribute
to policy dialogues on socio-economic, and poverty reduction issues
with the Government, donors, civil society and private sector and
contribute towards the overall advocacy work to support the achievement
of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the country;
- Support to formulation and implementation of poverty strategies and policies towards the achievement of the MDGs; and,
6. Build and maintain partnership/network and support resources mobilization through promotion of UNDP/LPP strategy
- Contribute
to formulation and implementation of advocacy and communication
strategies towards the achievement of the UNDP/LPP project outputs and
UNDP country programme outcomes;
- In close collaboration with the communication team, prepare response to the queries of media/other as need;
- Prepare
the necessary project related documents to relevant Government
counterpart authorities, UNDP Headquarters, implementing and executing
agencies on the design, implementation and substantive results of
UNDP/LPP research and other substantive initiatives;
- Consult
regularly with other development partners, academic and research
institutes, and other stakeholders when needed to help achieve LPP
outputs and objectives; and,
- Build and maintain
partnership through networking with stakeholder to generate their
interest in the area of work under LPP project as well as UNDP programme
as a whole and in contributing to the resources mobilization effort.
7. Support to the LPP project implementation approach/and management tool
- Identification of areas of support and interventions within the LPP focused areas;
- Provision
of information for formulation of work plans, budgets, proposals on
implementation arrangements and execution modalities;
- Assist preparing annual and quarterly project budget planning;
- Produce report against result to the Policy and Research Coordinator when required; and,
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Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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; and,
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
Functional Competencies:
Technical Expertise
- 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;
- Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals
- Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning; and,
- Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
Advocacy and Advancing a Policy-Orientated Agenda
- Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate; and,
- Maintains
a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to
promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy
efforts.
Building Strategic Partnerships
- Maintains
an established network of contacts for general information sharing and
to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
- Analyses and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders; and,
- Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.
Client Orientation
- Researches
potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports
back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
- Organises and priorities work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines; and,
- Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.
Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
- Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences; and,
- Maintains
a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to
promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy
efforts.
Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise
- Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise
- Analyses on going trends, evolving needs and emerging issues to identify appropriate responses for capacity building.
Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
- Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches; and,
- Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Results-Based Programme Development and Management
- Assess project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
- Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical point of integration;
- Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
- Analyses country situation to identify opportunities for project development; and;
- Participates
in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor
in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts
proposals accordingly.
Core Competencies:
- Self-development and initiative-taking;
- Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
- Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
- Creating synergies through self-control;
- Managing conflict;
- Inform and transparent decision making.
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- Master’s Degree in economics, development economics, political economy or related economic development field.
- At
least 3 years of relevant work experience at national and/or
international level in human development, socio-economic development
and/or sustainable livelihoods at theoretical, applied and field level;
- Experience
in developing and managing program-based approach; including pro-poor,
capacity development and gender mainstreaming;
- Relevant track record in participating on evidence based policy research on inclusive growth;
- Experience supporting and providing inputs into socio-economic and multidisciplinary research programmes on development;
- Demonstrated
ability to communicate effectively with partners at middle management
and working level; including government, academia, civil society,
private sector, UN and other development donors;
- Experience in providing advisory services, high quality liaison, negotiation and representation in local and national levels;
- Strong commitment to share knowledge and knowledge management skills;
- Proven qualitative and quantitative analysis capacity; and,
- Experience in usage of computers and office software packages (MS. Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.)
- Written and spoken proficiency in Khmer and English required
This post is openned for Cambodian National Only. |
