Project Analyst (Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• 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.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Country Office is part of UNDP—the United Nations' global development network. UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to end poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, as well as protect the planet, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, these efforts aim to ensure that improvements in human wellbeing remain within ecological boundaries. We also help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities and institutional capabilities, as well as build resilience, in order to achieve the SDGs.  

 UNDP China has been working in China over the past four decades, partnering to advance various phases of China’s development outlined in the Government of China’s Five-Year Plans. UNDP assists China in integrating the SDGs into development decisions, promotes the transition to an inclusive, low-carbon economy and a sustainable society, protects biodiversity, and informs China’s international development cooperation engagement to advance global progress on the SDGs and the global climate agendas. In addition, UNDP leverages its global network and South-South Cooperation (SSC) to facilitate mutual knowledge and experience sharing between China and partner countries on best practices and lessons learned to advance the SDGs. 

UNDP China’s implementation modalities currently engage more than 15 Ministries and government representatives at the national and sub-national levels in 28 provinces. UNDP China also actively engages the United Nations development system, multilateral and regional institutions, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, academia and think tanks, intergovernmental bodies, and the media to accelerate the SDGs and global climate agendas in China. 

From 2026, UNDP China begins implementing its new Country Programme Document: 2026–2030 (CPD) and is fully aligned with national development priorities and the SDGs commitments. 

Drawing on UNDP comparative advantages and lessons learned, building on past achievements and leveraging the shared timeline of both the SDGs and the 15th Five Year Plan for China, UNDP will contribute to three United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in China priorities: (a) accelerating the national transition to “high-quality development”, contributing to shared prosperity, leaving no one behind, and addressing new frontiers of sustainable development; (b) accelerating its transition towards a nature-positive and low carbon economy, working towards setting a strong basis to advance the Government’s dual carbon goals; and (c) strengthening partnerships with stakeholders to enhance the impact of International Development Cooperation engagements to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Pact for the Future.

Aligned with the UNDP China CPD development priorities, UNDP Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and the United Nations Youth Strategy (Youth2030), a dedicated portfolio focused primarily on youth development will be established. The portfolio will aim to prioritize, invest in, engage and empower young people to advance the implementations of SDGs and global climate agendas in China in line with the national five-year development plan priorities. The portfolio will also aim to strengthen youth empowerment by focusing on Youth Entrepreneurship and Decent Jobs; SDG Education and 21st Century Skills; and Youth Champions for Climate Action. 

Towards this end, the office is looking for a Project Analyst (Youth Development) to contribute to the work programme of the effective implementation of UNDP China’s CPD Outcomes and Outputs.   

The Project Analyst will promote strategic engagements through partnership building and coordination, resource mobilization, full project formulation, implementation, and management, and provide necessary youth-relevant technical support to UNDP China’s programme pillars and thematic portfolios. The Project Analyst will also ensure effective implementation of project activities with relevant Government partners, the private sector, foundations, academia, media and other stakeholders at international, regional, national and local levels.    

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst is under the direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative - People and Prosperity Programme Pillar.  

Contribute to the formulation of UNDP China’s youth development programme strategies 

• Provide thorough analysis of the youth and development priorities and needs in the country, including collaborative inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCCA and UNSDCF) as well as to the preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document (CPD), and other strategic documents.
• Analyze and synthesize national and sub-national strategies and policies in youth development with a gender responsiveness perspective to support programmatic project development across UNDP’s CPD priorities and programme teams.
• Provide technical inputs to support the oversight and monitoring of the implementation progress of the UNSDCF/ CPD, in collaboration with the main development partners and other UN Agencies.
• Ensure digital technology solutions in programme strategies and implementation are managed towards inclusion, scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital strategy, standards and governance protocols.

Support the establishment and management of strategic partnerships to accelerate the formulation and implementation of UNDP China’s youth development programme

• Support development of strategic partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, private sector, philanthropic organisations, academia and civil society through advancing integrated development solutions that empowers a dynamic and robust ecosystem of development partners.   
• Lead in identifying strategic youth development programme area of cooperation with UN agencies, including for joint programming to operationalize the UNSDCF and UNDP CPD.  
• Analyze and research information on potential donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and identify opportunities for initiation of new pipeline projects across the UNDP China programmatic pillars.
• Contribute to the development of the youth portfolios pipeline projects, including through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals and cross-sectoral coordination to accelerate the SDGs and global climate agendas.
• Promote a coherent, cross portfolio approach to youth engagement, ensuring that youth development are systematically considered and integrated across UNDP China’s programme pillars and thematic portfolios.

Lead the development and effective management of UNDP China’s youth development programme implementation

• Lead the design and formulation of innovative and effective youth development programmes, projects, and strategic engagements to operationalize the priorities outlined in the UNSDCF/ UNDP CPD and the UNDP China Youth Development Strategy. 
• Ensure effective planning, budgeting, and implementation of the youth development portfolio in accordance with the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures and relevant financial rules and regulations.
• Ensure effective application and compliance with the full cycle of UNDP’s results-based management strategy and approach, focusing on defined and tangible development results and impact, including support for the preparation of project-related reports, evaluations and audits. 
• Ensure the effective collection, use and analysis of data in youth programme implementation, across the data lifecycle; and support effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on development impact  and identify programmatic course corrections, where necessary.

Support provision of top-quality advisory services to key development partners and facilitate knowledge building and management  

• Support the development of youth development policies and innovative interventions to address the country’s youth development challenges and needs in collaboration with the Government and other domestic strategic partners. 
• Identify and compile best practices and lessons learned directly linked to China’s youth development for policy dialogues and strategic engagements for South-South Cooperation learning exchanges.
• Support establishment and strengthening of national and international advocacy networks to enable youth engagement on accelerating progress on the SDGs and global climate agendas.   
• Lead the development of youth development-related knowledge products and provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.

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

Competencies

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 ways forward look like for UNDP.
• Systems 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 Management

• Resource Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.

2030 Agenda: People

• Gender: UNDP's Gender Equality Seal Initiative
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicant with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two years of relevant professional experiences in project Management.

Desired skills:

• Knowledge of office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.
• Substantive knowledge of youth related projects will be preferred. 
• Hands-on national level experience in youth projects will be an asset.
• Project management experiences, covering design, monitoring and evaluation of project will be an asset. 

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Mandarin Chinese is required

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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