Economic Policy and Development Strategy Associate

Host entity: UNDP Indonesia

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Economics, poverty reduction, livelihoods, Governance, elections, Project management, programme development, strategy

Application deadline: 13/11/2026

Mission and objectives

UNDP believes that the people of Indonesia should have ownership over the programmes and projects we support. All UNDP programmes therefore actively promote the spirit of mutual respect, support and accountability and subscribe to the principle of national ownership as enshrined in the Jakarta Commitment – a declaration put forward by the government and its development partners in 2009 to strengthen aid effectiveness in Indonesia. In the true spirit of national ownership, all of UNDP’s assistance in Indonesia is implemented by national entities, including line ministries and the Ministry of National Planning and Development, and at the subnational level by line departments, provincial and district authorities as well as community groups.

While each programme supported by UNDP has specific and varied objectives, capacity development is one aim that all UNDP programmes – in Indonesia and worldwide – have in common. This takes on many forms including institutional reform, leadership development, education, and training for members of the public such as journalists, and women’s communities. In line with this logic, UNDP advisers work side by side with Indonesian counterparts to strengthen capacities in technical matters, policy formulation and budget planning, amongst others.

Assignment context

UNDP Indonesia is strengthening its work at the intersection of economic transformation, sustainability, investment and implementation, supporting Indonesia to advance ambitious development priorities while responding to rapidly changing economic, technological and environmental conditions.

Within the Country Office, the Strategy and Business Development function works closely with senior leadership to identify emerging development opportunities, shape new areas of programming, generate policy and thought leadership, build strategic partnerships, and mobilize public and private finance. This includes a growing portfolio of strategic initiatives in areas such as blue economy and nature-based growth, where Indonesia has significant opportunities to translate its natural and economic assets into new sources of growth, investment, jobs and resilience.

The team also works across other emerging development priorities and increasingly supports opportunities connecting Indonesia with the wider ASEAN agenda, in addition to cross-cutting initiatives relating to data, digitalisation/Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and AI, including ongoing initiatives on Green Digital Village.

The Economic Policy and Development Strategy Assistant will support UNDP Indonesia's efforts to generate evidence-based policy insights and translate strategic opportunities into practical development initiatives. Working closely with senior leadership, programme teams, government counterparts, financing institutions, development partners, academia, and the private sector, the UN Volunteer will contribute to economic and policy analysis, programme design, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and strategic communications. The role will help bridge analysis and implementation, supporting the development of innovative solutions that advance Indonesia's economic transformation, sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth objectives.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Economist and in close collaboration with the Strategy and Business Development team, the UN Volunteer will support economic analysis, strategic programme development, partnership engagement, and knowledge products that contribute to UNDP Indonesia's economic transformation agenda:

1. Development strategy, economics and political-economy analysis:
- Undertake economic, policy and political-economy analysis to inform UNDP Indonesia's strategic priorities, programme development and engagement with Government and partners. This includes examining Indonesia's development trajectory, structural economic challenges and emerging opportunities, with attention to the economic, institutional and political-economy factors influencing development outcomes.
- Synthesize evidence, policy developments and stakeholder perspectives; Help identify strategic entry points for UNDP and prepare clear, evidence-based analysis and policy options to inform senior leadership discussions, Government engagement and programme development.

2. Programme development and strategic pipeline design into actionable programmes and pipelines:
- Work with the Senior Economist, Technical Analyst, programme teams, and partners to translate strategic priorities and emerging ideas into ambitious but implementable development propositions. This will include defining the underlying development challenge; developing theories of change and intervention models; identifying institutional, policy, market and financing requirements; and establishing credible pathways from concept to implementation and scale.
- Particular emphasis will be placed on emerging areas where UNDP can help connect economic transformation with sustainability and investment, including the blue economy and nature-based growth; likewise, support the preparation of programme concepts, investment propositions and financing approaches that can attract Government financing, development partner resources and private investment.

3. Stakeholder engagement, coordination and follow-up:
- Support engagement with senior and technical counterparts across Government, development partners, IFIs/DFIs, private sector, investors, academia and other strategic institutions.
- Provide both substantive and administrative support, including preparing background materials, agendas, briefing notes, presentations and meeting records; coordinating invitations, schedules and logistical arrangements; and liaising with internal teams and external counterparts.
- Track agreements, action points and follow-up commitments, coordinate inputs from relevant teams and partners, and support the preparation of follow-up communications and materials to advance programme development, partnerships and other agreed priorities.

4. High-quality knowledge, strategic communications and executive support to Sr. Leadership:
- Produce high-quality analytical and strategic products for senior leadership decision-making, government engagement, programme development and external partnerships including policy and strategy notes, economic and political-economy analysis, programme concepts, executive briefs, presentations and talking points.
- The UN Volunteer will be expected to rapidly comprehend complex and new issues, identify what matters strategically, and communicate it with clarity and precision senior Government, UNDP and external audiences. ​

Skills and experience

- Strong understanding of Indonesia’s economy, development priorities, and political economy.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs in English.
- Experience conducting economic, policy, or development analysis.
- Experience preparing reports, presentations, policy briefs, and stakeholder engagement materials.
- Strong organizational and coordination skills.

Desirable:
- Experience in programme design, investment promotion, or development finance.
- Knowledge of blue economy, natural capital, or nature-based economic development.
- Experience using quantitative and qualitative analysis software.
- Professional working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia.
- Experience working with government institutions, development organizations, or international agencies.

Competencies and values

- Intellectual depth with a strong orientation toward implementation.
- Ability to move across economic analysis, public policy, institutions, programme design, financing and stakeholder engagement over new and complex development issues.
- Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity and inclusion.
- Strong accountability and commitment to delivering high-quality results.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong planning, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic working environment.
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- Ability to leverage technology and digital tools to improve efficiency and collaboration.
- Capacity to work independently while contributing effectively as a team member.
- Sound judgment, initiative, and problem-solving abilities.

Living conditions

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.