Programme Analyst (Assurance) [Open to internal and external applicants]

This vacancy follows a tiered application process: Tier 0 (UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff with permanent or fixed-term appointments whose posts will be abolished or contracts terminated/non-renewed in 2026), Tier 1 (other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV permanent/fixed-term staff), Tier 2 (temporary appointments, regular PSA contracts, Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers), Tier 3 (all other contract types and external candidates). Please verify the tier indicated in the vacancy title and confirm your eligibility before applying.

About the role

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) derives its mandate from UN General Assembly Resolution 33/147 (20 December 1978), which requested UNDP “to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people by identifying their social and economic needs and by establishing concrete projects to that end.”

The Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023–2027 sets out a vision of “a world in which all Palestinians can enjoy a dignified life and fulfil their own vision of a unified, peaceful and free society.” The PPF centers on “Transformative Resilience” with three elements: a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership. Over the next three years, UNDP/PAPP will contribute to priorities defined by Palestinian national development plans and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) through three programmatic priority areas: (i) democratic governance and quality services; (ii) inclusive economic opportunities; (iii) sustainable natural resources management.

Against the backdrop of the war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, UNDP/PAPP has developed an integrated emergency response and early recovery programme addressing urgent needs across three priorities: (1) critical services and infrastructure — clean water, solid waste management, dignified transitional shelter, debris removal; (2) emergency employment and support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); (3) support to civil society organizations (CSOs) for multi-sectoral community services and social cohesion.

UNDP/PAPP operates in an exceptionally complex political, economic and humanitarian environment across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The current Gaza context combines large-scale early recovery needs, access constraints, high fiduciary and operational risks, and growing expectations for visible, risk-managed delivery at scale. After over two years of protracted conflict, Gaza faces an acute humanitarian emergency characterized by large-scale loss of life, mass displacement, extensive infrastructure damage, and widespread need for humanitarian assistance. UNDP is actively delivering critical support and implementing a comprehensive ceasefire response plan targeting debris and solid waste management, restoration of health and energy systems, facilitation of secondary school examinations, and provision of transitional shelter solutions. As PAPP prepares for scaled-up crisis response and early recovery programming, strong operational and procurement capacity is required as a key enabler given the high procurement volume, immense needs, and severe operational complexities. The Programme Analyst / Assurance provides Gaza-based second-line programme support and assurance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure programme assurance and quality control for the Gaza portfolio to strengthen compliant, risk-informed and results-focused delivery.
• Review project documents, annual work plans, budgets, procurement plans, partner arrangements and donor deliverables for consistency with PAPP priorities, UNDP policies and approved results frameworks.
• Support risk-based quality assurance of implementation, including follow-up on audit, spot-check, monitoring, safeguards, HACT and donor-related recommendations.
• Identify delivery bottlenecks and assurance issues early, propose corrective actions, and escalate material risks through agreed Gaza and PAPP management channels.
• Strengthen portfolio coherence and strategic coordination across Gaza programme pillars and project teams.
• Facilitate coordination across governance and basic services, economic recovery, infrastructure/SWM/debris, area coordination and cross-cutting functions to reduce duplication and reinforce integrated programming.
• Support the ASR / Head of Gaza Programme in translating corporate and PAPP strategic direction into practical guidance for Gaza project teams.
• Provide implementation support and problem-solving for high-priority Gaza projects while maintaining appropriate segregation of assurance responsibilities.
• Support project managers in planning, sequencing and monitoring priority activities, with attention to operational feasibility, access constraints, partner capacity and delivery-critical timelines.
• Coordinate with Delivery Acceleration Support, procurement, finance, HR, logistics/access and engineering quality assurance teams to align programme priorities with operational support.
• Guide project teams on documentation standards, decision records, issue logs and follow-up mechanisms required for transparent and auditable implementation.
• Lead Gaza portfolio monitoring, reporting and evidence use in coordination with RBM, planning support, safeguards, gender and data functions.
• Consolidate programme inputs for results reporting, donor requirements, briefing notes, management dashboards and portfolio reviews.
• Use monitoring evidence, field feedback, complaints/grievance information and contextual analysis to inform adaptive management decisions.
• Ensure lessons learned, implementation constraints and good practices are captured and shared across Gaza, Jerusalem/Ramallah and project teams.
• Support partnerships, stakeholder engagement and internal coordination for Gaza-related programme issues.
• Prepare substantive inputs for engagements with UN agencies, donors, Palestinian institutions, civil society and implementing partners, ensuring alignment with senior management guidance.
• Contribute to project development, resource mobilization and donor communications by providing Gaza-specific analysis, risk considerations and implementation assumptions.
• Represent the Gaza programme team in technical or coordination meetings when delegated, and ensure timely follow-up on agreed actions.
• Perform other duties within the functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory responsibilities

The position may supervise or coordinate assigned project implementation support personnel and may provide matrix guidance to project teams on programme assurance, planning, monitoring and reporting requirements.

Competencies

Core competencies (Level 2)

• Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-functional & technical competencies

• 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.
• Business Management – Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• Business Management – Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Business Management – Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
• Business Management – Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to ensure they are being implemented effectively; ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems,