UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India Country Programme 2023-2027 aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The UNDP country programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”.

The Sustainable and Inclusive Growth portfolio is aligned to outcome 2 of the UNDP country plan. The focus of the portfolio is enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized communities across the country. Under the portfolio, there are several projects being implemented Across different thematic areas such as Skills, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods, Women Entrepreneurship and Youth Innovation, Accessible and Inclusive Social and Risks protection Mechanism, Care Economy with focus on

• Socio-economic empowerment and resilience building of marginalized and vulnerable populations through bridging the information gap, building managerial, financial, and digital capacities and improving access to opportunities.
• Support unlocking the full impact of public supports schemes– Agri Insurance & Credit, Social protection, Forest Rights and Entitlements, Skill India, NULM with improved Institutional Capacity, Service Delivery and Enhanced Coverage
• Confront the significant barriers and stigma faced by women and girls, enhance agency and promote inclusive workplace.
• Promotes responsible business behaviour as well as greater industry participation specifically SMEs in the skilling ecosystem.

The overall objective of the proposed engagement is to work closely with the Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Unit and extend expert input and support on skilling and employment aspects of the programme implementation. This will include providing research, proposal writing, collating, and verifying data, developing communication collaterals, leading online/offline events.

In this regard, UNDP would like to engage a National Programme Manager with multi-disciplinary experience and the ability to provide high quality outputs with a focus on resource mobilization and effective project management.

This position directly reports to Head of Poverty, Sustainable Inclusive Growth, NOC and has 6 Direct Reportees.

The National Programme Manager, Sustainable Inclusive Growth, will be responsible for developing, designing and steering the implementation of various projects under the portfolio and will work in close collaboration with project implementation teams and other programme portfolios to ensure a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme. S/He will also lead the resource mobilisation for the portfolio and will formulate strategies and programmatic response to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised populations.

Her/his specific responsibilities will include:

Effective project management (planning, development, and implementation) of all projects within the portfolio

• Steer implementation of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth project activities and take lead in coordination and management of relevant projects.
• Ensure effective implementation of project progress, financial management and achievement of results, in accordance with UNDP policies, UN rules and regulations and applicable donor requirements, including identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions, follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Undertake effective application of Result Based Management (RBM) tools in project management and gender disaggregated impact monitoring.
• Liaise with all relevant stakeholders including the Government, private sector and other partners to ensure smooth implementation of project activities, and to build and strengthen existing relationships.
• Performance of the functions of a project supervisor, including goal setting and reviews of supervisees and participation in recruitment processes.

Partnership development and resource mobilization

• Undertake analysis and research on the country’s political, social, and economic environment for the formulation and design of new projects and proposals and funding opportunities with a focus on private sector and Government departments.
• Collaborate closely with the partnerships team and other UNDP verticals as well as with other UN agencies to lead resource mobilization for the portfolio.
• Identify new project ideas in line with UNDP and the Inclusive Growth unit’s priorities and develop project proposals, documents, and concept notes to facilitate resource mobilization efforts in consultation with UNDP country office.
• Lead consultations on project formulation and agreements.
• Coordinate with donor agencies on the project thematic focus and follow up as required.
• Prepare substantive inputs to key strategic and policy documents which direct and guide UNDP’s support interventions on livelihoods and inclusion.
• Coordinate closely with technical advisors at the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), government, private sector, CSOs and other institutions to ensure an effective formulation process leading to the approval of projects.

Team supervision and guidance

• Support project team in preparation, review, and implementation of detailed project reports of plans.
• Lead and coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings, study tours and related activities relevant to the implementation of the projects;
• Identify priorities and capacity development needs in the design of work plans and establish a timely and participatory work planning process.

Knowledge generation and management

• Lead or support preparation of reports on programme activities, outputs, and outcomes as well as donor reports, as required.
• Write and communicate on best practices and lessons learned linked to programme and policy goals.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Oversee quality assurance of all communications and knowledge products produced by the Inclusive Growth portfolio.
• Represent UNDP in meetings and fora on livelihoods and inclusion.
• Contribute to the UN’s work in India, and actively participate in the UNCT Results Group on Poverty and Inclusion. Share knowledge and best practices with other programme units and support them, as needed, in programme formulation and implementation.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively:      LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion.
• inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on 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.
• Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• UNDP Representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities, advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
•  Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
  Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both thro ugh 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.