UNDP multi-country office in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam provides technical assistance, policy and technical advisory services to the Governments of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam in their efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); in partnership with development partners, financial institutions, private sector and civil society.

In Malaysia, UNDP’s programme priorities and partnerships are defined and operationalized through the Country Programme between Government of Malaysia and UNDP to support and contribute to the development priorities and results envisioned in the 5-year Malaysia Plan. Malaysia is currently implementing the Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 (12MP), which is anchored around three key themes namely resetting economy, strengthening security, wellbeing and inclusivity; and advancing sustainability to achieve economic growth and transform Malaysia into a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable country.

The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

Position Purpose

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Programme Analyst is responsible for management of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned. The Programme Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends; leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within his/her portfolio; and provides policy advice services.

The Programme Analyst supervises and leads the programme staff and coordinates activities of the projects’ staff. The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the CO, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP staff in HQs and Regional Hubs, technical advisors/experts, external specialists, government officials and partners, donors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation of the UNDP programme.

The Programme Analyst acts as advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of Country Office (CO) programme in the thematic/sectoral areas assigned. S/he works in close collaboration with other policy and programme portfolios and the Operations Team to ensure a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme. Cross-cutting coordination with CO Communications, Gender and other relevant experts will be required to increase the impact of the development interventions. The Programme Analyst leads in policy development, capacity building and strategic planning for new programme areas while ensuring consistency CPD priorities together with the advancement of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization and expansion of the country portfolio. The Programme Specialist develops innovative solutions while ensuring oversight and compliance of the vertical funds’ management for partnership building and resource mobilization.

The Programme Analyst ensures effective oversight on programme/ portfolio management, accountability, and achievement of the CPD results within the assigned outcome, and supervises staff assigned within the unit. The incumbent works in close collaboration with Bangkok Regional Hub, UNDP HQ, staff from other UN Agencies and national partners from the Government, civil society, and donors through multilateral and/or bilateral arrangements.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Implementation of programme strategies.
• Quality programme management and oversight.
• Strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
• Innovation and identification of development solutions, advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
• Integration of women empowerment and gender equality.

1.) Substantively contribute to formulation and implementation of UNDP programme strategies and policies.

• Contribute to analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country; and contribute collaborative inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCCA and UNSDCF) as well as to the preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document (CPD), Integrated Work Plan (IWP) and other strategic documents.
• Contribute to operationalizing UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies.
• Ensure implementation of relevant programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the effectiveness CO business processes.
• Analyze and synthesize proposals in assigned programme areas.

2.) Ensure effective management of the CO programme within the assigned thematic/sector areas focusing on quality assurance and risk management from formulation to implementation of the country programme.

• Contribute to design and formulation of CO programme, translate UNDP priorities into local interventions, and oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners within the assigned programme areas. Ensure that design and formulation of programme considers societal digital technology risks and opportunities and other future signals.
• Oversee planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the assigned programme areas; and track use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Ensure digital technology solutions in programme implementation are managed towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
• Ensure effective application of results-based management tools and track achievement of strategic results.
• Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle; and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact.
• Support trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming.
• Follow up on audit recommendations and ensure the implementation of management responses.
• Prepare and aggregate reports on activities, outputs and outcomes, including donor and corporate reports.
• Support to the rollout of new initiatives and programmes including through presentation of the project to PAC; finalize contribution agreements; and determine required revisions.

3.)  Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy. 

• Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, donors, private sector (if applicable to CO), and civil society in assigned programme/ thematic areas.
• Identify strategic programme areas of cooperation including for joint programming.
• Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify opportunities for initiation of new projects, and substantively contribute to Country office resource mobilization efforts.
• Support development of portfolios and Country office pipeline including through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals, and cross-sectoral coordination in assigned areas to bring resources for projects.

4.) Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.
• Provide substantive support in the development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Provide input so that policy advisory contributes to inclusive societal digital transformation and takes digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Organize training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters in assigned areas.

5.) Ensures integration of women empowerment and gender equality into programming and budgeting/resource allocation and supports the Gender Team’s efforts to uphold the CO’s Gender Equality Seal requirements focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Ensures that women empowerment and gender mainstreaming is integrated and applied in all programmes/projects from the design to implementation, including planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting in line with and using the corporate gender equality commitments, tools and strategies.
• Ensures that gender is mainstreamed in programme related documents such as: technical briefs, analytical reports, assessments, communication strategy, terms of references, call for proposals, requests for proposals etc.
• Ensures that the programmatic indicators targets are achieved in line with CO’s Gender Equality Seal requirements.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Programme Analyst will be responsible for the supervision, performance management and development of the Programme Associate and relevant project-funded personnel.