Back SDG Integration Specialist

Over the past decade Sri Lanka has recorded steady economic growth, declining poverty, and improving social development, brining the country into Upper Middle-Income Country status.  At the same time, the debt burden, disaster risks, inequalities, regional and group-based disparities, uneven progress against reform commitments, unresolved tensions and fragmentation between identity groups, and governance reforms continue to challenge the country’s paths to sustainable development and people’s well-being.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a universal framework for action to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. Sri Lanka together with every Member State of the United Nations signed on to this ambitious and transformative agenda in recognition of persistent challenges despite growth and progress. The Government of Sri Lanka’s National Policy Framework places SDG achievement as a crucial focus, policy driver and means to address its development challenges.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets and 232 unique indicators set forth a high level of ambition: not only to finish the unfinished business of the MDGs, but also to pursue a broad, integrated approach to answering the biggest and most complex challenges of the 21st century. The Agenda calls for a fundamentally different model of economic progress that is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. It emphasizes the roles not only of governments but also of citizens, businesses, civil society and others, where everyone is a shareholder in solving common challenges. New pathways for sustainable and inclusive progress require systems thinking, which is why the Agenda includes the SDGs as an integrated package, i.e., interlinked across the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. Success depends on pursuing a whole-of-government and whole-of society vision with an eye to meeting the high ambitions and challenges of the goals. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has an important role in providing integrated support for SDG implementation  to UN member states and UN system efforts. UNDP’s four streams of work underlie its approach to accelerate progress and mainstream into national development efforts: Data and Analytics, Policy and Programming, SDG financing, and Innovation and Learning.

To strengthen the mainstreaming, acceleration and policy perspectives for integrating SDGs in Sri Lanka, the SDG Integration Specialist reinforces UNDP’s support to Sri Lanka’s national and local government efforts as well as UNDS efforts to create integration and convergence between SDGs for their accelerated achievement.

In collaboration with the teams in UNDP and UN Sri Lanka, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, including the SDG Finance and SDG Integration Teams, and UNDP’s wider Global Policy Network (GPN), s/he provides UNDP’s intellectual and strategic leadership as well as technical guidance and policy and programme advisory services on SDG integration in Sri Lanka within the UN system and among development partners, while actively partaking in the wider innovation and SDG integration for sustainable development discourse at the Asia and Pacific and global levels. Working to ensure quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services, as well as alignment with the UNDP Strategic Plan, Sri Lanka’s UNSDF and UNDP Sri Lanka Country Programme and the new UNDP SDG integration strategy, the SDG Integration Specialist advances the capabilities, credibility and recognition of UNDP’s work in this knowledge domain and associated community of practice.  The Specialist fosters strategic partnerships and alliances with different stakeholders requiring an approach work with energy and a positive, constructive collaborative attitude and a strong client orientation.

The SDG Integration Specialist is based in the UNDP Sri Lanka Country Office and reports to the UNDP Resident Representative, with a matrixed line to the Policy and Engagement Team Leader.

 

Provide advisory and specialized technical support on SDG themes and/or processes to UNDP, UN, national and local leaders, and other external counterparts including private sector and civil society

• Provide technical advice on cross-SDG themes and processes to national and local leaders and other counterparts, including on SDG development planning and financing, collaborative design, research/data analysis, ‘sense making’ of development trends, stakeholder engagement, and establishment of country platforms.
• Analyse problems and facilitate development of policy and programmatic solutions pathways for complex development challenges, focusing on multi-theme/SDG areas while defining their difficulty, scalability and entry points.
• Define and lead innovative policy research and conducting of participatory and multi-stakeholder sectoral reviews to identify SDG accelerators, promote SDG progress in Sri Lanka and enable Sri Lanka to contribute best practice to global debates on SDG implementation;
• Provide strategic direction and advice to UNDP management on integration of policy, data and analytics, innovation, and finance especially as related inclusive growth and social cohesion
• Provide technical and knowledge support on SDG integration to UNDP CO and the UN Country Team as needed;
• Develop policy documents, briefs and other strategic papers and materials for use in the development and presentation of key policy and programmatic positions on the SDGs;

SDGs based planning and programming in line with the National Development Plan

• Assist national partners with SDG-aligned national development strategy;
• Support national level advisory and steering committees and task forces on SDGs in Government and Parliament
• Provide guidance on statistical issues related to nationalizing SDG targets and indicators and monitoring SDG progress.
• Provide support to the nationalization of SDG targets and indicators, facilitate the development of  SDG baseline reports based on national data and assist in determining key trends that could be used as medium-term and long-term SDG targets;
• Provide strategic direction, guidance and quality assurance for the preparation of National Voluntary Report, country reports on SDGs, and other UNDP publications like NHDR;
• Provide strategic institutional support to the Government of Sri Lanka for cross-sectoral integration, costing and implementation of the SDGs;
• Support the Government to facilitate knowledge sharing platforms across sectors and ministries;
• Support to Government in the design and implementation of National SDG Innovation challenges;

Effective leadership and coordination of UNDP SDG integration services, including contributions to knowledge management, community of practice networking, content development and curation of tools and resources to build capacity around integrated SDG engagement for governments and national counterparts

• Serve as the lead technical expert and provide coordinated technical support for UNDP’s SDG integration offer contextualized for Sri Lanka
• Support multi-disciplinary engagement and collaboration across SDGs, including provision of an in-house ‘secretariat’ capability for UNDP-facilitated multi-stakeholder country support platforms, and pilot SDG initiatives, which scopes and deploys technical engagements drawing from UNDP and UN networks of SDG advisory expertise;
• Deliver UNDP’s SDG integration services—to UNDP CO Teams, UN agencies, and Government and other external partners, working with UNDP global and regional teams as relevant—in collaboration with technical experts from within and outside UNDP to demonstrate intersectional policy advice and integration capabilities. Quality assure the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of such SDG advisory services;
• Apply learning and provide institutional capacity development support on integrated SDG approaches to the Government of Sri Lanka, private sector, civil society, and UNDP and UN officials.
• Facilitate a coherent narrative, communications and operational methods for integrated development approaches within the SDG Framework, as well as information management of UNDP’s integration offers and Inter-Agency investments in collaborative SDG engagement;
• Support core CO functions which carry out the SDG integrator role, e.g. identification of external expertise, programme design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization.

Representation, advocacy, and partner engagement for effective institutional positioning of UNDP’s SDG integration offer in Sri Lanka

• Advise on strategic policy, programme and institutional collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka, funding partners, UN Agencies and other stakeholders;
• Mobilize external partnerships and strategic alliances behind large scale integrated SDG solutions
• Support donor coordination efforts and facilitate partnerships to enhance development cooperation for the SDGs.
• Provide technical support to joint resource mobilisation to accelerate SDG progress.
• Provide technical advice to the setting up of SDG funding facilities to provide resources and capacity towards SDG integration and acceleration.
• Maintain high-quality collaborative networks with UNDP and non-UNDP experts across knowledge domains through regular and ad hoc substantive work, especially with think tanks and CSOs
• Facilitate National Dialogues and provide technical support and leadership in the establishment and functioning of multi-stakeholder platforms, including with private sector, civil society, academia to deepen partnerships and engagement with the SDGs;
• Present and showcase UNDP knowledge on integrated SDG solutions and engagement processes at high-level fora, and ensure that UNDP’s SDG integration capability is contextualized in relevant and impactful ways in multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral arenas; Coordinate and support SDG integration awareness-raising events and campaign;
• Provide support with South-South cooperation and knowledge-exchange for SDGs facilitated around Baku principles;

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

In this section list all core competencies as well as the most relevant technical/functional competencies the role will require along with the appropriate level.  A Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through the following link: https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

 and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches - Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Self-management/Emotional Intelligence

• Stays calm and maintains composure under stress or during a crisis, keeping disruptive emotions under control
• Adapts flexibly to changing situations, overcomes obstacles and recovers quickly from set-backs
• Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively
• Is realistic about own limits using support mechanisms as needed and maintaining an appropriate work-life balance

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Ability to turn raw information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to stated need

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise - In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Have effective interpersonal and negotiations skills and ability to coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Gender

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Education:

• Master's or a doctorate degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, international development or related fields

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant professional experience on social, economic and development-related issues in either public (national, bi-lateral or multilateral, including UN) or private sectors (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate) with increasing level of responsibility in the relevant technical area
• Demonstrated in-depth experience in providing policy advice and developing programmatic solutions, tools and methodology to support countries in their implementation of the SDGs
• Demonstrated deep understanding of the Sri Lanka socio-economic and political context;
• Experience working with MDGs and/or SDGs;
• Proven leadership experience working in development organisations and settings at national level, while building wide-ranging strong partnerships;
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills and proven ability to mobilize support and resources from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders)
• Ability to analyze and synthesize data, and understand and explain trends and complex issues drawing connections between development issues (governance, inclusive growth, poverty, environment, etc.);
• Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills
• Strong computer skills, including mastery of all applications of the MS Office package;

Language:

• Excellent writing and oral skills in English and knowledge of local languages

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension