Job Description

The incumbent will report to the Development Economist and work closely with the Strategy & Analytics team, management team, country office programme/project staffs, and external partners including government agencies, academia, and civil society organisations.
Ensure Data Management and Analysis

• Design and maintain structured databases for project and policy data.
• Support data cleaning, validation, and integration from multiple sources.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform policy briefs and reports.
• Develop visualizations and dashboards for internal and external use.

Provision of Research and Policy Support

• Conduct desk research and literature reviews on development topics.
• Draft policy notes, briefs, and background papers.
• Support the synthesis of lessons learned from UNDP projects and pilots.
• Contribute to the development of strategic insights for government partners.

Facilitate Capacity Building and Engagement

• Organize workshops and training sessions on data literacy and evidence use.
• Support stakeholder engagement processes, including consultations and roundtables.
• Promote the use of data and knowledge in public discourse and policymaking.

Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track progress of knowledge and research activities that can be used as M&E indicators.
• Prepare periodic reports and presentations for internal and external audiences.

Facilitate Knowledge Management

• Curate and organize knowledge products, including reports, presentations, and toolkits.
• Maintain a digital repository of project outputs, policy resources, and publications.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing across UNDP teams and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of knowledge platforms and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization, and as may assigned by the Supervisor from time to time.
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 Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking - Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP's mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
• Systems 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
• Negotiation and Influence - Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create 'win-win' situations

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management

• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• 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

Ethics

• UN Policy knowledge - Ethics - Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Data Science, Statistics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics, Mathematics, other Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or related fields is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university 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 data analysis, research, or knowledge management.

Desired skills

• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and research, with a track record of undertaking quantitative and/or evidence-based research
• Experience in managing and analyzing datasets.
• Strong writing and research skills, with a publication track record.
• Familiarity with SDG frameworks and development indicators
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience in application of statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, Stata).
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Certifications in data analysis
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and web-based management systems, and up-to-date, advanced knowledge of data management tools and database packages

Required Languages

• Fluency in English and Bahasa Melayu is required.

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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Skills Required