Policy Analyst

While graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is a testament to Bangladesh’s developmental progress, it will bring various challenges, requiring adroit policy responses to manage the transition and prepare, especially for the loss of LDC-specific trade preferences. If Bangladesh can successfully navigate and mitigate any adverse implications for its export trade following its graduation from the LDC status, the transition should not precipitate major economic consequences, but will rather represent a natural progression in economic development. However, to navigate the transition effectively, Bangladesh must adopt a dual approach: securing extended LDC-type trade preferences as a transitional buffer and bolstering export competitiveness. 

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) will play a crucial role in the post-LDC scenario, despite facing limited resources—encompassing human, financial, and technical capacities—and programmatic support. The IP Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) – II project, funded by the UK government, aims to bridge these gaps, aligning closely with national priorities for a smooth LDC graduation, particularly on Bangladesh’s trade policy and trade negotiation skills, inter-ministerial coordination on compliance issues, private sector’s competitiveness, and evidence-based policy initiatives.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will also play a crucial role in supporting ongoing growth and economic development and reaping potential benefits from the LDC graduation. In an evolving context, Bangladesh will need to improve investment facilitation, retention, and aftercare services to attract more FDI. This project, through the Research and Analytics Unit (RAU), anchored in the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) of the Prime Minister’s Office will also support evidence-based policy reforms for improved investment climate in Bangladesh.

The Policy Analyst will work under the supervision of the Project Manager. However, S/he will take technical guidance from the Senior Economic Adviser of UNDP Bangladesh. The Project Manager will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the Policy Analyst.

The Policy Analyst is expected to perform the following duties in coordination and consultation with the Project Manager of IP TEPP-II:      

Lead the Unit’s research activities and provide technical support. 

• Design and implement targeted policy research on the investment climate and related economic development agenda using both primary and secondary data.
• Manage the research agenda of RAU that includes the following three work streams:
  • Fill information and knowledge gaps in priority sectors.
  • Identify the broken and weak links and good practices for better inter-agency coordination for investment facilitation.
  • Create evidence and value propositions for the upgradation of the investment climate. 
• Guide the research team to make sure that they deliver quality outputs. 
• Write and oversee high-quality evidence-led policy briefs, reports, papers, and other knowledge products that will be shared both internally and externally, including with key government counterparts.

Provide strategic management of the Unit’s activities and support administrative, operational, and logistical processes. 

• Ideate, prepare, and implement the plan of action for the Unit priorities on relevant themes.
• Put in place a suitable framework to monitor and review the progress of work as delineated in the work plan. 
• Lead the preparation of the quarterly and annual progress reports for the Unit. 
• Liaise with the individual consultants/consulting firms hired for large-scale research.
• Maintain documents according to required standards. 

Facilitate knowledge management and engage with the partners and stakeholders for the effective implementation of the research unit’s activities.

• Lead the preparation of communication materials for policy advocacy, knowledge sharing and strategic partnership.
• Hold dialogues with the relevant stakeholders to gather insights on the upcoming investment challenges in the context of LDC graduation and other developments in the world economic order that are affecting the global economy. 
• Facilitate workshops/consultations/seminars with the participation of the relevant stakeholders to validate and disseminate the outputs of the unit. 
• Exchange information/experience with partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure synergies and integration. 

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

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management competencies: 

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Core competencies: 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy      

• Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
• Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business Development   

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management   

• 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. 

Data      

• Data Analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity              

• Inclusive Growth: Economic transformation

Business Direction & Strategy      

• 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.
   

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics/Development Economics/Development Studies/Public Policy/Social Science or any other relevant discipline is required, or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience         

• Minimum 2 years (with master´s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in policy research and analysis, and management/coordination of research-driven works. 
• Experience in leading/managing research on private investment, economic development, macroeconomic dynamics, and socio-economic issues is an asset. 
• Experience in designing research methodologies and data collection tools is required. 
• Experience in handling and analysing large data sets is an asset. 
• Demonstrated experience in producing strategic documents, analytical reports, research papers, policy briefs, working papers, book chapters, etc. based on qualitative and quantitative data analysis is an asset.
• Experience working in development agencies, IFIs, or other international organizations is an asset.
• Prior experience engaging with different government agencies, private sector, international development organisations, civil society organisations, think tanks, etc. 
• Good understanding of Bangladesh’s socio-economic situation. 
• Good communication, coordination, and facilitation skills. 
• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of work. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability. 
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards. 
• Eager to share knowledge and experience.

Required Languages:

• Fluent in English and Bangla is required.