National Project Coordinating Associate (SDG-L 2.0 Project)

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, crises, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help countries to build integrated, lasting development solutions for people and planet.

The UNDP Country Office in Thailand is a dedicated, inclusive, and energetic team of development professionals, committed to the pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP partners with the host government, communities, the private sector, civil society organizations, the United Nations system, and other development partners to support the country’s development journey, adding value to Thailand’s progress towards the SDGs.

Our UNDP team is responsible for designing, implementing, managing and/or quality assuring a range of development interventions in a fast-paced environment. We prioritize our clients’ and partners’ needs and invest in a positive, innovative team culture.

The candidate will be responsible for both projects 1) Partnership to accelerate SDG Localisation in Thailand which in shorts is called SDG Localisation 1.5 and 2) Strengthening SDG Localisation Phase 2.0.

The Partnership to accelerate SDG Localisation in Thailand is a joint funding programme that consists with three UN agencies which are UNDP, UN Habitat and UNICEF. The project builds on the Cooperation Framework through the UNCTs work at the national, provincial, and local levels, while leveraging partnerships with line ministries. Enhancing awareness and capacities to advance SDG localisation at the provincial and city levels through the institutionalized partnership with all 77 Provincial Governors and multi-level SDG reporting by institutionalizing provincial and local SDG monitoring by developing a roadmap to replicate the SDG’s profiles for all provinces and guidelines for VLRs at the city level.

As for the SDG localisation is a priority under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022–2026), which outlines the UN development system’s support for Thailand’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda. This priority is also closely aligned with Thailand’s ambition to become a high-income, inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and advanced nation. It is further reinforced by UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022–2025, which focuses on six signature solutions—poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality—to drive sustainable development. Through its Country Programme (2022–2026), UNDP plays a strategic role as the SDG integrator, working collaboratively with specialized UN agencies and partners to provide joint expertise on SDG localisation, ensuring a comprehensive whole-of-society approach.

Thailand has recognized the significance of SDG localisation. In 2019, the National Sustainable Development Council identified it as a priority, with the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) working in close partnership to advance this agenda. The SDG Localisation in Thailand Project, which is funded by the European Union, is one of the numerous initiatives currently underway in Thailand to localize the SDGs.

We seek an enthusiastic, motivated, and committed person to making a positive contribution to promoting sustainable development in Thailand. The successful applicant will join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support Thailand to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team, the focus of this position will be to work with multiple stakeholders, at both national and local level across the country, to find specific local solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind. A strong component of this project is focused on multi-stakeholder engagement and capacity building in the areas of sustainable development and the SDGs across Thailand.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Scope of Work

Key Functions:

      a)   Provide project planning and coordination

• Support the planning and implementation of all project’s activities.
• Organize training and capacity-building activities for local government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders on SDG awareness, monitoring tools, and implementation strategies.
• Facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned from other regions or countries to enhance the local SDG localisation process.
• Promote the SDGs and their relevance to local communities through media campaigns, community meetings, and educational programs.
• Advocate for policy reforms and legislative changes that support SDG localisation, working with local government bodies to integrate SDGs into local governance structures and development plans.
• Develop and manage partnerships with local, national, and international stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other relevant institutions.
• Facilitate the involvement of local communities in the localisation of SDGs, ensuring that their needs, priorities, and voices are reflected in the project activities.
• Travel with the team to different provinces of Thailand for project implementation when required.

b) Support partnership and resource mobilization 

• Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN Agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with partners, project counterparts, stakeholders, and beneficiaries; and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insight.
• Support creation of high-quality information and visibility of the project activities among the stakeholders; and ensure careful selection of communication tools and tailoring the messages to take into account the overall socio-political and development context.
• Facilitate the collection and sharing of knowledge, ensuring that lessons learned from the project are disseminated to relevant stakeholders.
• Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with direct supervisor.

c) Support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and results reporting for the project/ portfolio on progress of project implementation 

• Support implementation of the project monitoring system in alignment with its Monitoring and Evaluation framework to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback, and elaboration of high-quality progress reports.
• Collect, analyze and present information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify gaps in implementation and provide support in bridging those gaps in consultation with supervisor and partners.
• Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, round tables, and conferences within the project.
• Monitor the implementation of SDG-related activities and ensure they meet the expected outcomes.
• Assist in implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan in place. Support monitoring of previously identified and emerging risks.
• Prepare and consolidate required project reports on a timely basis and in line with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements.

d) Support communications, knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project 

• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project.
• Contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.

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

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Project Coordinating Associate will ensure to support the effective and timely delivery in integrated manner of both Projects titled “Partnership to Accelerate SDG Localisation in Thailand” and “Strengthening Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Localisation in Thailand Phase II” and other concerned initiatives at sub-national level. The aim of the project is that dialogue to achieve the SDGs in Thailand is strengthened at national and local levels, with special attention on human rights, gender equality, environmental issues and adaption and resilience to climate change. This will be achieved through three outputs:

(1) Increased engagement and coordination of public authorities and non-state actors in the localisation, monitoring and implementation of the SDGs at provincial level;

(2) Increased availability of evidence-based and data-driven SDG Profiles at three additional provinces from a participatory and multi-stakeholder approach’s and

(3) Increased awareness and knowledge of state actors and other key stakeholders in SDG planning, budgeting and localisation.
Competencies

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

Business Direction& Strategy:  StrategicThinking- Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systematic 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

Business Direction & Strategy:  System 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: Project Management- Ability to plan, organise, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management: Operations Managemen-  Ability to effectively plan, organise, and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organization’ s assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Administration & Operations :   Documents andrecords managementevents, event management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)-Ability to manage events, including  Venue identification, accommodation,  logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Finance : Budget Management- Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.