Chief Development Goals Specialist

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Job Description

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’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and 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 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 has entered a partnership with the State Government of Tamil Nadu by bringing on board required technical sectoral expertise to the Department of Planning and Development to work across departments to drive an integrated development agenda to promote the faster achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the State. In line with the Indian model of SDG localization led by NITI Aayog, the Government of Tamil Nadu has established a Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (SDGCC) as an attached entity of the Department of Planning and Development. UNDP proposes technical support to SDGCC in Tamil Nadu through the partnership model agreed by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

SDGCC Tamil Nadu is envisaged as a think tank, knowledge centre for providing high quality, cutting-edge policy and integrated advisory services to the State departments to accelerate economic, social and environmental goals. It seeks to bring together government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to create sustainable solutions to social problems. SDGCC work with the government to identify the most pressing challenges, team up with local leaders to develop and test solutions, bring in expertise and technology from the private sector, adopt the skills and tools to build agency and institutional capability, respond to citizen demand for responsive services, enhance government program delivery, capture and disseminate best practice locally and regionally, and ultimately expedite creative, systemic, transformational and sustainable change for the State.

In this aspect, UNDP proposes to engage a Chief Development Goals Specialist to lead the SDGCC Tamil Nadu for enhancing the futuristic initiatives in the state as a part of related activities of the centre.

UNDP proposes to engage a Chief Development Goals Specialist to support SDGCC Tamil Nadu leading the activities of the centre. S/He will have multi-sectoral experience and programme management, partnership development, and coordination skills to manage the SDGCC Project Management Unit overall and ensure timely delivery and reporting of the SDGCC work plans. The Chief Development Goals Specialist will work under the overall guidance and supervision of Chief Advisor and Team leader, SDG Acceleration Unit, UNDP India and in close collaboration with the UNDP Programme Project Team members and day to day supervision on the implementation issues with the Government of Tamil Nadu. S/He will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives, in coordination with the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting To: Chief Advisor and Team lead, NOD, SDG Acceleration Team

Reportees to this position (if applicable): NPSA Positions in SDGCC Tamil Nadu (Development Goals Associates, Research Associates) of NPSA 10 level and below

The incumbent will focus on achievement of the following results.

Leading the SDGCC team and managing the Project

Provide Vision, leadership and oversight to the SDGCC team and ensure they meet the committed deliverables as per the signed Memorandum of Agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu. This would involve overseeing and being responsible for the work of all 5 pillars of the SDGCC as in Tamil Nadu MoA including Policy Analysis and Capacity Development, Partnerships, Data analysis Monitoring and Evaluation, Communication and Knowledge Management.
Coordinate and provide substantive contributions to key policy discussions related to SDGs at the State level in active collaboration with the Department of Planning and Development.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts with State Government, Planning and
Development Department, State Planning Commission, Department of Economics & Statistics, UN Agencies, Donor agencies and Civil Society Organizations on issues related to UNDP’s work on SDGs.
Lead on identifying the programme interventions in terms of filling gaps in policy, plans, infrastructure, capacity and technology, formulating the programme and developing the proposal to take it forward.
Responsible for managing the SDGCC Project Office and representing UNDP in partner meetings and official functions when required.
Will be accountable to UNDP in ensuring the implementation of the agreed work plan for SDG implementation in the State.

Leading advocacy for SDGs and adapting the SDG 2030 VISION to plans and monitoring frameworks.

Adapt SDGCC project work based on thorough understanding of the SDG 2030 global mandate as well as the guidance received from NITI Aayog and MoSPI from time to time.
Advocate for SDGCC with Government counterparts, Donor community and on Private and Public-sector partnerships in the State for achievement of SDGs.
Ensure the SDG VISION 2030 document already finalized by Government of Tamil Nadu and to be released on approval is appropriately updated and translated into action plans, strategic plans and key performance
parameters for key personnel of departments, for each SDG, each Department as well as for every level of the administration down to the Gram Panchayat level.
Ensure that the State Indicator Framework version 2.0 with reference to present context is developed as per the National Indicator framework created by MoSPI and a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation plan is in place to measure performance against set targets.
Advise and support departments to create systems that will help them collect qualitative and quantitative data on various SDG parameters.
Support the mapping of resources for each SDG, including nodal departments; existing schemes and programmes; current situation on the selected indicators; and translate into a working Output Outcome Monitoring Framework – OOMF based on guidance received from NITI Aayog and requirements of the State.
Identify key social and economic priorities of the State and map it with the emerging Global and National
consensus on SDG indicators and targets.
Translate the concrete strategies and plans for SDGs to scoping of the development landscape in the State and translate opportunities into concrete Innovation Proof of Concept (POC) opportunities.
Suggest and prepare detailed concept notes for possible actions that will be identified to dovetail State
development priorities with the SDG framework.

Mapping resources for each SDG in terms of budget allocation under each category.

Advising the creation of an action plan for the rollout of the SDGs in Tamil Nadu, including linking it to the process of budgeting and lead the process of computation of indices, annual district rankings and preparation of related reports.
Undertaking continuous scoping of the development landscape in the State for identifying new opportunities; bringing in the corporate sector and CSOs to partner for the achievement of the SDGs and identify and build a network of resource institutions / Experts / NGOs at the National level and in the State on thematic specializations to strengthen the capacity building efforts.
Data Analytics and embedding Output Outcome Monitoring Framework into each line department’s ways of functioning.
Monitoring and Evaluation of projects across departments to achieve the intended goals, KPI’s and SDG metrics to submit monthly updates on work done as per plan of activities to ACS (P&D)

Leading the partnerships and support base for SDGs in the State

Ensure partnership Building for SDG implementation through collaboration with all stakeholders especially the Government counterparts, Civil Society, Private Sector, Non- Profit organizations and Programme Units of UNDP.
Tap into UNDPs worldwide support to SDG implementation and Localization drive in coordination with the UNDP Office.
Coordinate with other UN and bilateral partners to ensure complementarity of interventions and results for achievement of SDG in the State.
Ensure top quality support from UN system for fulfilment of specific tasks related to the SDG implementation, framework finalization and monitoring.
Coordinate the working of the working groups formed for action planning on SDGs that have been formed to work on each of the SDGs.

Effective management of the SDGCC Human and material resources:

Responsible for and supervising work of SDGCC- PMU team.
Ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reports as per the MoA being signed between UNDP and Government of Tamil Nadu.
Responsible for effective and smooth functioning of the SDGCC.
Responsible for quality assurance and timely completion of the process. Ensuring that the activities undertaken proceed according to the agreed work plan.
Ensure top quality Managerial Oversight and facilitate knowledge building in the State.
Work closely with the Communications team for appropriate messaging for SDGCC project engagement with all stakeholders.
Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned both within and outside the State.
Identify and document lessons for replication and upscaling if applicable from District to city/State level.
Work with the team members to prepare bi-weekly and monthly dashboards and keep track of the progress and identify relevant strategies for course correction if required in a timely manner.
Undertake any other task assigned by UNDP and Government of Tamil Nadu with reference to SDGs

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Development Economics, Social Sciences or a closely related field 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:

A minimum of 7 years’ experience (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Public Finance, Public Policy, SDG Financing, Budgeting with government, private sector or multilateral organization is required.
Demonstrated experience and ability to focus on impact and results for the State government.
Proven experience to lead, manage complexity and contribute effectively to teamwork.
Familiarity with the functioning of state and national government agencies and non-government organizations.
Experience in working with multiple line departments and/or levels within each line department in order to embed the policy reforms required to achieve the desired outcomes.
Proven experience in convening the relevant stakeholders (public, private and Civil Society Organizations) and compile key takeaways and identify plugins required to fill the policy gaps in the existing schemes/initiatives that are under consideration within the scope for the SDGCC.
Relevant experience of working in Tamil Nadu
Knowledge of computer skill sets
Experience in strong policy analysis that can be applied to the development and application of methods and tools for SDGs is desirable.
Proven experience in building linkages between SDGs and with the state priorities is desirable.
Demonstrated experience in senior-level advisory responsibilities of similar scope and complexity is desirable.
Experience of working with Central and /or State Governments on multisectoral assignments will be preferred.
Field experience/practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues is desirable.
Exposure to Public Policy and Public Finance with experience in Budgeting and outcome financing is preferable