Website UNDP
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Investment Policy Specialist (SB 5 / Peg I) (For Nepalese Nationals Only)
Location: Kathmandu, NEPAL
Type of Contract: Other
Post Level: Other
Languages Required: English
Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Nov-2023
Duration of Initial Contract: One year with possibility of extension
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background
Office of the Investment Board Nepal (OIBN) and UNDP have signed Financial Agreement and Project Document on 7 August 2023 to implement “Developing Capacity for Enhancing Large-scale Investment in Nepal (DCEL) Project”. The project aims to support the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) to help the Government of Nepal (GoN) in addressing the financial gap in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackling post-graduation challenges by enhancing the capacity to mobilize private investment, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), by promoting, among others, Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The project has planned to work on three outputs/expected results: 1) enhanced capacity to IBN in creating conducive environment for increased private investment including Foreign Direct Investment, 2) Expanded promotional programmes to engage with the possible investors, and 3) established a smart IPA and PPP Centre of Excellence to attract quality investment. In this context, Institutional capacity development is at the core of the project strategies including system building, development of the tools and standards, and human resources capacity development. Necessary studies, development of standards/guidelines/directives/manuals, organization of the advocacy and promotional events, and provision of trainings and exposures will be strategic interventions under the project. All activities will collectively help create a more conducive environment for realizing large-scale private investment, reaching the potential investors across all possible countries, making IBN a smart and institutionalized Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) Centre of Excellence in Nepal to handhold investors at every stage of investment cycle.
Against this background, DCEL project wishes to recruit Investment Policy Specialist to support Project Implementation Unit (PIU) by providing strategic advice and assisting National Project Manager to implement day-to-day result-based activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Investment Policy Specialist will be responsible for strategic contribution by leading the technical functions of the project and supporting the NPM for day-to-day management and implementation of the following project activities:
- Coordination functions
- Technical functions
- GESI functions
Coordination functions:
- Facilitate and coordinate the studies on policy, practice and regulatory framework on private investment including FDI and Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the project;
- Coordinate the development of investment promotion materials to be made for stakeholders on policy, practice and regulatory framework;
- Lead the organization of the events, consultation, training and forums to be conducted under the project;
- Effectively networks with partners including private sector to build strategic alliances relevant to Government of Nepal and UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda ensuring the project objectives and implementation targets;
- Provide technical inputs to the NPM in preparing annual work plan, quarterly work plan, procurement plan; timely execution of the activities; and developing key operational reports, including quarterly reports, annual reports and other thematic reports as necessary.
Technical functions:
- Review and analyze periodically the existing policies and regulatory frameworks, identify the policy and regulatory gaps, and provide policy inputs about private investment including FDI and PPP to promote large-scale investment for closing the financing gap in achieving SDGs and tackling LDC graduation;
- Oversee and document the process of strategy formulation for programmes at Project level;
- Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research and policy analysis by ensuring the quality on relevant investment issues on private investment including FDI, PPP and related knowledge management;
- Develop appropriate policy diagnostic tools and facilitate an evidence-based process for policy advocacy and dissemination of information about the objectives, progress, and achievements of the project results;
- Produce reports, briefings, articles, updates, and summaries based on research on current development advocacy processes, policies, and practices;
- Solicit feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty and provide strategic advice to identify institutional needs for institutional development and individual and organizational capacity building needs of OIBN.
GESI Functions:
- Support to create enabling environment to attract women entrepreneurs/investors;
- Ensure Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations are incorporated in the project activities and reports;
- Provide policy and strategic inputs to strengthen gender & social inclusion in the project plan and implementation strategy;
- Ensure that women and people from disadvantaged groups and persons with disabilities sufficiently benefits from the project initiatives;
- Ensure that the concerns of women and disadvantaged group and persons with disabilities are included in the strategies and guidelines;
- Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices;
- Collaborate with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach;
- Carry out other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor and support other activities as required by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Maintain and demonstrate integrity by modelling the Government of Nepal (GoN) and UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Serve and promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of GoN and UNDP;
- Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Good inter-personal skills;
- Clear and upfront communication skills;
- Treat all people fairly without favouritism;
- Organized and good with following-up on pending issues and meeting deadlines;
- Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
- Focus on delivering results by taking calculated-risks and problem-solving approach;
- Fair and transparent decision making; regularly share information with team members;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.
Functional Competencies:
- Promote sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively work towards continued learning and development on personal level as well as for supervisors;
- Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
- Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
- Demonstrate strong numerical and analytical skills;
- Demonstrate excellent organizational and administrative skills;
- Identify and communicate relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating GoN and UNDP’s mandate;
- Analyse and select materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
- Understand and apply fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical speciality relating to the position;
- Possess basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
- Demonstrate good knowledge of information technology and apply it in work assignments;
- Monitor specific stages of programme implementation;
- Research linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration; and Oversee and document the process of strategy formulation for programmes at Project level.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy or any other relevant subject.
Experience:
- Seven years of professional experience in research, advocacy, capacity building and project management on public policy issues;
- Ability to manage and work in a team of multidisciplinary professionals;
- Knowledge and understanding on trade, investment and governance;
- Knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures or experience of completing UN assignments would be an asset;
- Other: Basic knowledge of computer software applications.
Language:
- Good knowledge of English and Nepali languages;
Application Deadline: 11-Oct-23 (Midnight New York, USA)