Effective Governance Specialist [Open to internal and external applicants]

About the Role

UNDP operates as the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development within the UN development system, helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through evidence-based policy advice and integrated development solutions. The Governance team at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub supports governments and UNDP country offices in the Asia-Pacific region in strengthening governance systems while promoting the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability.

The Effective Governance Specialist directly supports the implementation of the regional BOLD (Building Opportunities for Leadership in Development) initiative. S/he leads on governance analytics and diagnostics, provides strategic policy recommendations, and collaborates with other UNDP policy and programme teams to strengthen national development strategy and delivery capabilities, with a focus on implementation and delivery capacity, integrity and innovation in public governance, and expanding collaborative partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Report to the Governance Team Leader within the Regional Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding (GRP) team and work in collaboration with the Regional Chief Economist and Inclusive Growth team, Regional GRP team, Country Office governance focal points, economists and programme teams, the BOLD Project Manager, government counterparts and external partners; regular engagement with the Global Policy Network (GPN) and other Regional Hubs may be required.
• Ensure Technical Analysis and Research (BOLD): conduct political economy analysis underpinning national development strategy and implementation capacities.
• Conduct governance diagnostics and assessments that inform government strategy processes.
• Prepare technical papers, data-driven policy briefs, and background notes to inform policy recommendations at the country level.
• Contribute to regional knowledge products on human development, future-ready governance and socio-economic transformation pathways.
• Actively provide support to Government Advisory and Country Engagement: provide technical inputs to high-level policy dialogues led by the BOLD team and support Country Offices in delivering BOLD analytical work, including country capability assessments and governance diagnostics.
• Assist in preparing presentations, data visualizations, and evidence packs for government engagements and participate in technical missions, consultations, and workshops as required.
• Advise and support programme implementation and coordination: advise and support planning, monitoring, and delivery of BOLD activities at regional and country levels and provide analytical and reporting inputs to donor updates, internal quality assurance, and project documentation.
• Coordinate with Country Offices, external research partners, and internal teams to ensure analytic consistency and quality, and support knowledge codification and documentation of methodologies, tools, and country experiences.
• Advise on knowledge management and learning: develop, maintain and update governance-related datasets, analytical tools, and templates used across the BOLD programme; synthesize lessons learned from country implementation to inform regional guidance; and prepare technical guidance notes and policy briefs on governance analysis and diagnostics.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Qualifications

• Core competencies: Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Core competencies: Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Core competencies: Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on op

Additional Information

• Tiered Approach: vacancies use a tiered application process to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization; tiers indicate eligibility categories for applicants.
• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments.
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers.
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates.
• Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.