Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer, SA-TIED (P-2)

Job description

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

About Institute (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. 

UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics research institute. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today, it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as open-access original research. More information on UNU-WIDER and its current work programme are available at www.wider.unu.edu.

UNU-WIDER is implementing a large research, capacity development, and policy engagement programme in South Africa, called ‘Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED)’ in close collaboration with the National Treasury of South Africa and the South African Revenue Service. SA-TIED brings together world class researchers and policymakers to address socio-economic challenges in South Africa, and across the broader southern African region. A key focus of SA‐TIED is its partnerships with the policy‐making community. The main aim of the programme is to generate robust empirical evidence and use it as a basis to encourage informed debate amongst people involved in policy processes across the participating organisations and civil society to bridge the gap between research and policy‐making. The programme played an important part in making anonymised administrative tax data available for research purposes at a Secure Data Facility at the National Treasury (NT-SDF), which is now a key asset in the programme. The availability of administrative tax data for research has enabled groundbreaking avenues of research, has provided new perspectives on the South African economy and has dramatically improved the quality and breadth of evidence used to inform policy. For more information on SA-TIED, please visit https://sa-tied.wider.unu.edu/.

This position is based in Pretoria and thus willingness to work long-term in Pretoria is a strict requirement.

Responsibilities

The Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer serves as the primary programme management and partnerships focal point for SA-TIED in South Africa. The incumbent coordinates the day-to-day implementation of the programme, manages relationships with key institutional partners, oversees programme planning and reporting, supports policy engagement and capacity development activities, and ensures the effective operational delivery of programme activities in accordance with UNU policies and donor requirements.

Under the overall supervision of the UNU-WIDER Head of Partnerships and Programme, the general responsibilities of the Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer, SA-TIED are to:

1. Day-to-day implementation

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the SA-TIED programme, in close collaboration with the UNU-WIDER personnel in South Africa, UNU-WIDER’s management in Finland, and the academic and policy leads of SA-TIED workstreams;

• Lead the preparation and coordination of programme work plans, budgets, results frameworks, implementation schedules, and narrative and financial reports for donors, governance bodies and UNU-WIDER;

• Coordinate governance processes to support the functioning of the programme's governance bodies, including preparing meetings and documentation, following up on decisions, and facilitating communication between partners and workstream leads;

• Monitor programme progress against approved work plans and results frameworks, identify emerging implementation risks and opportunities, and coordinate with workstream leads to ensure timely programme delivery.

2. Programme management and operations

• Hold day-to-day responsibility for programme operations in accordance with programme documents, donor agreements and UNU policies;

• Plan and coordinate workshops, policy dialogues, training activities, study visits and other programme events;

• Coordinate procurement, consultant recruitment, contracting, travel and other operational processes, ensuring compliance with UNU rules and procedures;

• Monitor programme expenditure and operational compliance, identify financial and operational risks, and recommend corrective actions where appropriate.

3. Policy bridging and uptake

• Make significant contributions to institutionalise policy-bridging within the programme with the aim of facilitating policy uptake of its research;

• Advocate for evidence-based policymaking and actively enhance the programme’s visibility among its stakeholders and target audiences;

• Monitor relevant policy developments and support the preparation of programme briefings and engagement materials;

• Support the dissemination and uptake of research findings through policy dialogues, stakeholder engagement and communications activities.

4. Institutional development and partnerships

• Maintain and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, donors, academic institutions, UN organisations and other stakeholders, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management;

• Help develop and shape UNU-WIDER’s strategic priorities in South Africa and the Southern African region, including strengthening synergies between SA-TIED and other UNU-WIDER programmes;

• Support donor engagement, proposal development, and partnership management for current and future phases of the SA-TIED programme;

• Represent UNU-WIDER in meetings with programme partners, government institutions, the UN system and development partners as delegated by the supervisor.

5. Supervision and guidance

• Provide day-to-day coordination and guidance to programme personnel assigned to the programme, including work planning, mentoring and quality assurance;

• Supervise UNU-WIDER personnel in South Africa and support their professional development, including setting and monitoring team objectives, identifying training and/or development needs and ensuring performance management as relevant.

6. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key performance indicators

• Continued high-quality programmatic presence of UNU-WIDER in South Africa through the successful implementation of the SA-TIED programme.

• High-quality SA-TIED programme delivery around policy-bridging, research activities, and capacity development.

• A high level of successful partnership building with SA-TIED partners and other programme stakeholders.

• Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU-WIDER as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, government departments, donors, the UN, and civil society in South Africa.

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

• Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

• Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

• Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

• Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

• Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

• Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

• Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications and requirements

Education and certification

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, development studies, or a related discipline.

2) Required skills and experience

• At least two (2) years of progressively responsible work experience, including managing research programmes in academia, policy research, or related institutions, together with supervisory functions is required.

• Experience in programme management within research or policy environments is required.

• Proven track record of working at the intersection of research and government is required.

• Experience in working in South Africa with academic and policy partners, and strong knowledge of local institutional settings is required.

• Understanding of South Africa’s policy frameworks and socio-economic development issues.

• Familiarity with international development agendas and evidence-based policymaking.

• Strong team management capabilities.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

• Highly self-motivated, innovative, and organised, yet detail-oriented, with a professional and conscientious attitude and the ability to independently prioritise.

• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

3) Language Requirements

• Excellent drafting skills and fluency in both oral and written English is a requirement.

• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SAL

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Apply via the apply link;

• fill out the UNU P11 Form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);

• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and

• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline

10 November 2026

Submissions must be received by 23:59, UTC +2 on the deadline; late entries will not be accepted.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

If you have supervisory function, you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU 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 UNU.

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Position details

• Institute or department: UNU-WIDER
• Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
• Work arrangement: On-site
• Application closes: 2026-11-10 21:59:59 UTC