Programme Analyst - IPSA 9

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy and programme work, carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office (CO) levels, form a contiguous spectrum of deep, local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in 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 UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative is managed by the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS’s) Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), with resource persons embedded in the SDG Finance Teams in Amman, Bangkok, Istanbul, Panama and Pretoria.

The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative expands on the joint OECD/UNDP Tax Inspectors Without Borders Initiative (TIWB), which UNDP continues to support through one of its workstreams. Tax for SDGs has a particular emphasis on linking tax administration and tax and fiscal policies with the broader SDGs. Building on UNDP Country Office portfolios and already existing engagements with Ministries, UNDP will bring a stronger focus on the role of tax and fiscal policy in achieving Agenda 2030. The project places a particular focus on reducing gender and social inequalities in tax and fiscal policy as well as taking forward climate action and environmental goals, and health outcomes. Representing the views of developing countries in the global normative tax discussions is critical and to this effect Tax for SDGs will also work to bring evidence and perspectives from developing countries into the regional and international discussions on taxation.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Analyst will report to the Head of Tax for SDGs (based in New York)
Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP Tax and TIWB team will be required.
The position is home-based until COVID restrictions are lifted.
UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as return to place of recruitment upon completion of services.
Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
The work may entail duty travel. In case of such travel, travel expenses will be covered by UNDP in accordance with the UNDP rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is seeking a Programme Analyst for supporting management and the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative with the duties and responsibilities outlined below:

1) Programmatic Support

Support project implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement including with bilateral, regional and multilateral organisations, governments and UNDP Country Offices (COs).
Support the team in building strategic alliances and partnerships with governments, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy
Assist the team with the preparation and running of UNDP Tax and TIWB experts assignments;
Support planning, administration and logistics for organizing and coordinating meetings, workshops, missions, conferences and side events to strengthen strategic engagement with OECD, UN system partners and other stakeholders;

2) Policy and Technical Support

Conduct research in areas related to taxation, fiscal policies, development financing and illicit financial flows, in particular with linkages to the SDGs;
Support development of concept notes and other technical documents for implementation of different thematic areas of project like taxation and the environment, health taxation, digitalization of tax systems, taxation and gender;
Support the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative evaluations to measure outputs and outcomes from the project activities;
Contribute to sector and country level technical case studies to capture results of the project;

3) Knowledge Management

Support the effective usage of digital tools and processes to manage the data from the project activities;
Draft and edit a range of materials, including blog posts, brochures, presentations, and supporting documents for procurement activities;
Compile, analyse and present information on project activities as needed;
Attend and summarize meetings and conferences;

4) Communications and outreach

Draft and design newsletter, articles, press releases, reports, flyers, images, tweets, and social media content as needed;
Develop briefs and talking points for key events and meetings, as needed;
Support organizing meetings, conferences and side events to strengthen strategic engagement with UN system partners.

Perform other duties related to this assignment, as may be required by the Supervisor.

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 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

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

Change Management

Ability to prepare, support and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organisational change.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

SDG Integration

SDG Acceleration and Bottleneck Assessment

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

Strategic Policy Engagement

Strategic policy advice in the context of Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (FfD)

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

SDG Finance

Public Sector Finance (Tax and domestic resource mobilisation, public financial management and public expenditure)

2030 Agenda: Peace

Governance

Public Sector Reform

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

Masters’ degree in taxation, law, economics, finance, public policy or a closely related field is required.

Min. years of relevant work experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience of working in taxation is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Experience in programme coordination of a taxation project or on a related area
In-depth knowledge of current debates regarding taxation, fiscal policy and illicit financial flows
Experience of working with UNDP or UN Development System on matters related to public finance, taxation and fiscal policies
Experience in supporting multi-stakeholder partnerships for SDGs
Experience in writing concept notes, outcome reporting, and other written communication
Experience in organization of high-level events, communications and knowledge management

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English
Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian will be an advanatge.

Professional Certificates

N/A