As the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System, UNDP serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its work is carried out at the HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forming a contiguous spectrum of local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), which acts as its network of technical expertise on a wide range of knowledge domains.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) develops the policy guidance needed to meet the targets of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and is responsible for providing technical advice to Country Offices, advocating for UNDP corporate messages, representing UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engaging in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. Moreover, it works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau to support emergency and crisis response, ensuring that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

As one of the six Global Policy Centres managed by BPPS and following an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and UNDP signed in Nov 2009, the Seoul Policy Center (USPC) was established in 2011 as the UNDP Seoul Policy Center for Global Development Partnerships. The Center’s functions and activities were set out to include: (1) Serving as the immediate interface with the Government on all aspects relating to the evolving ROK–UNDP partnership; (2) Serving as a knowledge center for comparative experiences and approaches of new development partners in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable human development; and (3) Facilitating and promoting learning, networking, policy dialogue and consultation among new development partners, while contributing to capacity development in developing countries.

USPC’s profile has continued to evolve since its inception and the current triennial work programme (2023-25) further augments the Centre’s role as the facilitator of global knowledge exchange and the country-level application of innovative and tested-and-proven development solutions for the achievement of the SDGs. This is achieved through the flagship programme known as the ‘SDG Partnerships,’ which it complements through programmatic, partnership, and policy activities in the following substantive areas: (i) Development Cooperation Approaches and Modalities; (ii) Governance and Gender (including a focus on Anti-corruption and SGBV); (iii) Green Recovery and Transition (including a focus on Sustainable Forestry); and (iv) Private Sector Engagement and Development.

Against this backdrop, the development cooperation team is expected to provide support to the existing thematic portfolios of USPC through:

• Facilitating innovative multi-bi projects with Korean partners, which are funded through contributions from bilateral donors to multilateral organizations that are earmarked for specific development purposes (e.g., (sub-) regions, countries, sectors, or themes)
• Contributing to partnership development between the ROK and UNDP
• Conducting and disseminating policy research on development cooperation issues, especially on development policy of the ROK, effective development cooperation, South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), and green as well as digital ODA

The incumbent will be working directly under the supervision of the Centre’s Development Cooperation Policy Specialist.

The Policy Analyst, under the supervision of the Policy Specialist and in partnership with other members of USPC and the GPN network, will support these aspects of the development cooperation portfolio.

Support to Project Design

• Support the development and implementation of project proposals related to the ROK’s best practices.

Exploratory work on new partnerships

• Undertake analysis of and towards the ROK’s ODA strategies
• Conduct comprehensive analysis of the ROK’s ODA strategies to identify future trends, opportunities, and challenges in relation to the work of UNDP.
• Provide support in organizing and facilitating in-coming corporate missions.
• Support the development and implementation of non-vertical climate finance partnerships, vertical climate finance partnerships, including an ongoing partnership with KOICA, and carbon finance partnerships.
• Support the development and implementation of other ODA partnerships.

Policy research on development cooperation

• Support the organization of capacity-building workshops on GCF programming, and flagship events such as but not limited to Seoul Debates and the Human Development Report Launch
• Support drafting of policy briefs and papers on various development-related topics, so as to disseminate information on global best practices and positioning UNDP as a partner of choice for specific thematic issues.

Cross-cutting

• Manage the collection, cleansing, analysis, visualization, and usage of results management data.
• Support overall efforts of USPC to streamline its project and knowledge management approach vis-à-vis its country-level work and overall budget delivery.
• Support outreach and communications activities on relevant USPC activities including the preparation of USPC’s management for external events and other engagements.
• Support other administrative processes.

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

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: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• 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 Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Partnership management

• Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
• Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Digital & Innovation

• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.