Tiered Approach

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:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP provides integrated programmatic, policy and financing solutions to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP has created a 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. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchor Bureau of the GPN.

In this context, the newly established Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) Hub, a joint endeavor with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), provides leadership and advisory services to enhance UNDP’s impact on governance and peacebuilding, ensuring the integration of democratic governance and human rights into crisis response and recovery. The Hub aims to build an integrated portfolio collaboratively between the CB and BPPS and establish partnerships with various stakeholders including the UN System, IFIs, civil society, and the private sector.

Through Local Action, the GRP Hub seeks to contribute to peace and development, achieving a visible impact on communities and improving lives by delivering integrated solutions that harness global expertise and partnerships. The Local Action Unit works closely with local and regional governments as key development players, highlighting their role as public service implementers, as drivers of innovation and the closest institution to people.

Local and regional governments are already responsible of over 65% of the SDG targets, most of them linked to basic service provision from water, sanitation, mobility, climate action, health or education. Cities and territories are playing a big part on the implementation of SDGs, that are becoming a new tool for strategic planning and budgeting in the mid to long-term. Since 2015, local governments and their associations have been increasingly active in promoting the SDGs through advocacy, working with their local population and partners in transposing the spirit of Agenda 2030 in cities and territories. Local Governments have also started to use SDGs as a strategic framework to deliver better and more innovative public services linked to SDG targets and indicators.

Within this context, the SDG Local Action project is seeking to recruit a Communications and Research Analyst to contribute to the design of contents and communications tools to highlight the role of local and regional governments in implementing Agenda 2030.

The Communications and Research Analyst will also support participant local and regional governments exchange on SDG implementation, contributing to generate knowledge and replication of successful experiences to implement Agenda 2030 at local level. Finally, the Analyst will also support the communication and research needs of the Mayors Challenge project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications and Research Analyst will report to the Learning and Knowledge Generation Analyst, who works home based (CET time zone).

SDGs are genuinely interlinked with service provision at local level. To be able to deliver on Agenda 2030, local and regional governments are innovating on the way they plan, design and implement public policy. The Analyst will support UNDP cities and their partners to generate knowledge through the exchange of experiences, organizing international events and elaborating policy briefs and other communication materials. The Communications and Research Analyst will also liaise with the different UNDP project personnel globally to collect information, monitor and lessons learnt issued from the Mayors Challenge project.

The Communications and Research Analyst will support participant local and regional governments to communicate their stories, analyzing project data and providing narratives for targeted public segments: including local population, central governments and the international community.

Summary of functions:

1. Elaborate communications products for local and regional governments on SDG implementation solutions

Draft and design content for the project and UNDP social platforms and project newsletter;
Elaborate “SDG stories” about how local governments are implementing Agenda 2030;
Elaborate content for learning exercises targeting the participating local governments.

2. Conduct research on innovative delivery of public services by local and regional governments

Elaborate knowledge products on how local governments are contributing to SDGs by innovating public service delivery;
Elaborate policy briefs and easy communicable knowledge materials on the lessons learnt by participating local governments;
Promote exchange of experiences amongst local governments on how their peers are implementing the SDGs at local level.

3. Contribute to the SDG Local Action advocacy strategy to showcase the key role of local and regional governments for Agenda 2030

Develop advocacy, visibility and promotional material that are necessary for the project;
Analyze project data and link with SDG targets and Agenda 2030 narrative;
Maintain and regularly update the project repository/archive of all communications material including photos videos and audios;
Assist the Research Analyst to design and implement baseline surveys, public perception surveys, impact assessments/ tracking surveys including the development of survey report templates, design and layout of reports and related tasks;
Assist the Research Analyst in gathering information to prepare the project metrics reports;
Support the project team, including the UNDP Country Office staff in addressing their communications needs in regards to SDG local action.

4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s)

Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.

Competencies

Core Competencies

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 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
Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.

Business Development

Knowledge Generation:
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
- Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
- Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Communications

Campaign Management: Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change.
Creative direction and copywriting: Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way.
Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
Multimedia writing/editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (masters degree or equivalent) in Communications, Literature, History, Journalism, Social and Political Sciences, International Development or Urban studies is required; or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.

Experience:

Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in international development, communications or political and social issues, with at least one (1) year of experience working with urban related issues.

Desired Skills:

Proven experience in working with local governments and their associations is an asset;
Experience working on Agenda 2030 or other UN global agendas will be an asset;
Proven professional experience in communications, advocacy, knowledge management, or knowledge generation related to urban development issues is an asset;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and social media assets (Canva, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky or similar) is desired;
Proven track record of strong analytical, written, verbal, interpersonal, and intercultural communication skills is desired.

Required Language(s):

Fluency in English and Chinese language is required.
Working knowledge of any other UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity

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.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

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.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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Communications and Research Analyst (Home-based in Shenzhen, China) [Open to internal and external applicants]]