Digital Economies Analyst [Open to Internal & External applicants]

About the role

The Digital Economies Analyst supports the implementation and coordination of UNDP’s blockchain-based digital payments and frontier finance initiatives. Based at the Istanbul Regional Hub, the role connects country pilots with UNDP’s broader regional and global digital economy agenda, working closely with teams across the Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), Sustainable Finance Hub, Better than Cash Alliance, IIPCSD, Europe and CIS region, and country offices.

This vacancy follows a tiered application process:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments whose posts will be abolished or contracts will not be 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 external candidates.

Responsibilities

• Support to UNDP Country Offices on implementation of blockchain-based digital payment solutions:
  • Provide operational support to at least 5 UNDP Country Offices across the Europe and CIS region, and 8 globally, on digital payment pilots from proof-of-concept to institutional deployment.
  • Coordinate with at least 15 solution makers, 10 country office teams, and 3 government actors to resolve implementation barriers and sustain deployment momentum.
  • Track progress of at least 5 pilot projects against milestones, identifying risks and escalating issues requiring strategic or managerial intervention.
  • Identify a minimum of 10 additional UNDP Country Offices globally facing similar payment challenges and assess suitability for replication of validated models.
  • Develop 3 replication packages (e.g., cross-border remittances, stablecoin payment rails, SME mini-loans support) and enable knowledge exchange by documenting technical designs, operational procedures, lessons learned, and connecting implementing and potential replication countries.
• Coordinate applied research on blockchain-enabled digital economies and digital payment solutions:
  • Facilitate access to government counterparts, local institutions, and civil society to align research with national development frameworks and host country priorities.
  • Oversee research ethics, including informed consent developed with local communities and compliance with UNDP data governance standards.
  • Provide datasets from completed SDG Blockchain Accelerator pilots as the starting point for research.
  • Lead impact assessment, measuring outputs against SDG targets.
  • Identify at least 5 UN programmes or country initiatives that can pilot blockchain solutions.
• Support the implementation of the SDG Blockchain Accelerator:
  • Contribute to the co-creation of the curriculum for Cohort 3, ensuring content is practical, relevant, and aligned with innovation and sustainable development priorities.
  • Support the participant selection process by reviewing applications and helping identify high-potential country offices.
  • Support matchmaking between country offices and blockchain solution makers, ensuring strong alignment between development challenges, technical expertise, and programme objectives.
  • Serve as the main focal point for matched teams, providing ongoing guidance, troubleshooting support, and coordination throughout the accelerator journey.
  • Collect lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to strengthen future cohorts and improve programme design and delivery.
• Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:
  • Identify and promote systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge management, and information provision.
  • Organize training on ICT issues.
  • Synthesize lessons learned and best practices directly linked to ICT management.
  • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform other duties within the functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Science, or related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience:

  Applicants with a master’s degree require a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, or 4 years with a bachelor’s degree, in the following areas:

  • Experience in digital finance, blockchain technology, or digital transformation initiatives, preferably in an international development context.
  • Experience working with country offices, government counterparts, or development partners on programme implementation or policy development.
  • Experience in research, data analysis, or impact assessment related to digital technologies or financial inclusion.
  • Experience in designing or facilitating training, workshops, or accelerator programmes.
  • Experience in knowledge management, content development, or synthesis of best practices.

Skills

• Core Competencies:
  • Achieve Results: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
  • Think Innovatively: Open to creative ideas/known risks, pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
  • Learn Continuously: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
  • Adapt with Agility: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
  • Act with Determination: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
  • Engage and Partner: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciates/respects differences, aware of unconscious bias, confronts discrimination.
• Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
  • Blockchain Advice: Knowledge of how blockchain works, and ability to advise on opportunities and challenges for governments and society.
  • Co-creation: Ability to design and facilitate processes enabling diverse stakeholders to solve common problems, develop practices, or create knowledge together. Ability to embrace diversity and work with stakeholders to stimulate creativity.
  • Creative Facilitation: Ability to design workshops addressing multiple interests, agendas, and worldviews; set clear objectives; select appropriate tools; build rapport; facilitate inclusive conversations; and adapt approaches to fit participants.
  • Digital Thought Leadership: Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends, combined with the ability to communicate insights to a broad audience.
  • Data Analysis: Ability to extract, analyze, and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision-making.
  • Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and design activities to share and exchange knowledge, information, and ideas.