Research and Coordination Associate - United Nations, Dubai

Research and Coordination Associate - United Nations, Dubai; Dubai; On-site; AED 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Dubai is seeking a Research and Coordination Associate to support knowledge management, partnerships, and advocacy for regional skills initiatives. The role involves coordinating events, mapping stakeholders across Arab States, and producing knowledge products to inform policy and programming.

The candidate will collaborate with regional teams to collect and analyze employment and education data, prepare reports, and support donor reporting while

Qualifications

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English; ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is required; French is an asset.
• Strong analytical capabilities and ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support events to facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity-building.
• Assist in liaising with government entities, private sector, and other partners to strengthen collaborations.
• Set up tracking and monitoring tools to manage project activities and learner engagement.
• Conduct desk research to gain regional insights into skills landscapes and inform policy recommendations.
• Prepare background notes, surveys, skills matrices, briefs, and written reports for decision-making.
• Support the preparation of periodic narrative and financial reports for donors and UNDP.

Skills

Excellent communications

report writing

analytical skills

Education

Secondary education

Bachelor’s degree in economics or related field

Job description

Research and Coordination Associate - United Nations, Dubai

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Job Description

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalised or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

The Knowledge Project is a joint initiative between UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) established in 2008 and aimed at producing high‑quality knowledge products and promoting knowledge sharing and dialogue.

2021 marked the beginning of a new phase of the Knowledge Project where main activities consisted of revising the Global Knowledge Index, revamping the knowledge4all portal and mobile application, producing the third and last edition of the Future of Knowledge Foresight Report series, and organising Knowtalks. Among the 2023’s main activities, the Knowledge Project team will start the pilot implementation of its newly launched Regional Skills Initiative. The latter aims at strengthening the transmission mechanism between skills development and poverty reduction by equipping talents in the region with core employability and soft skills, foundational digital skills and technical skills to increase their likelihoods in finding and retaining jobs.

The initial phase of this initiative; i.e. the pilot phase, targets around 5,500 Arab learners from eight Arab countries and is expected to last 16 months, starting in January 2023. This phase consists of conducting workshops to bring together public sector, private sector, and educational institutions representatives in each of the targeted countries to discuss and update the skills gap analysis to tailor the offer to the priorities and challenges. Moreover, the project will start by pinning down the skills gap and planning for the future skills of the targeted groups and translate the identified needs of employers into skills that can be acquired through the proposed curricula. Applying thorough pre‑selection and selection surveys, the learning content will be tailored to support the development of the right skills for the right people.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

• Ensure seamless coordination and execution of events to facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity‑building. Prepare technical content and choreography for consultations and workshops within the Regional Skills Initiative.
• Strengthen and build existing relationships to ensure smooth implementation of project activities. Assist in liaising and forging partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including government entities, private sector organisations, and other partners.
• Set up robust tracking and monitoring tools to ensure effective project management and progress tracking. Support the review and monitoring of initiative activities, including the onboarding and engagement of learners.

Research and Knowledge Management

• Conduct desk research as needed to gain insights into the skills landscape in the region.
• Map key stakeholders, existing skills initiatives, and strategies in the Arab region including countries of focus such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Prepare various knowledge products, including background notes, surveys, skills matrix, briefs, fact sheets, written reports, and presentations. Focus on topics related to the labor and job landscapes in the Arab States region to inform decision‑making and advocacy efforts.
• Collect data from national and international sources related to employment, skills, educational mismatch, extent of training, and other relevant aspects.
• Analyse the data to derive meaningful insights and inform evidence‑based interventions.

Reporting and Partnerships

• Support the preparation of periodic narrative and financial reports, including donor and UNDP corporate reporting. Ensure timely and accurate reporting to provide stakeholders with updates on project progress and achievements.
• Assist in the establishment and fostering of partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, including government entities, private sector organisations, and other partners. Strengthen existing relationships to maximise collaboration and support for the project.

Communication and Advocacy

• Assist in developing communication materials, including project presentations, short scripts, and invitation letters, as required. Ensure that the materials effectively communicate the objectives and impact of the project.
• Support advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the project's objectives and achievements. Engage with stakeholders at local, regional, and international levels to garner support and recognition for the initiative.
• Coordinate with relevant teams to promote public engagement and awareness of the project's activities and outcomes. Utilise various communication channels, including social media and traditional media, to reach a wider audience.

Institutional Arrangement

Minimum Education Requirements

• Secondary education or Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, education, social sciences or any other related field.

Minimum Years of Relevant Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (07) years (with secondary education).
• or four (04) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience of working at the national and/or regional level, in economic research, upskilling and reskilling initiatives, or in the domain of employment/entrepreneurship, livelihoods and workforce programs and services, or technical education and higher education (or online education), or other relevant programmes.

Required Skills

• Excellent communications, report writing and analytical skills.

Desired Skills

• Extensive experience working in the Arab States region.
• Experience and knowledge of massive open online courses and/or education.
• Proven experience in a similar position in UN agencies.

Required Languages

• Fluency in Arabic and English, both oral and written is required.
• French is an asset.

Nationalities

• National of the UAE or other nationalities with valid legal work permit and valid residency in the UAE.
• Non‑residents of the UAE (all costs related to visa/residency will be borne by the selected candidate).

Additional Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics – MBA
• Fluency in Arabic and English (French +)
• Extensive working experience in the Arab States

Disclaimer

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organisation, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G‑4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

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.

Non-Discrimination

UNDP has a zero‑tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.