Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst (Short term)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

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

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
In Pakistan, UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national partners, and the people of Pakistan to help find solutions to persistent development challenges. Its work derives from and contributes to four outcome areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) which include: governance; sustainable, inclusive and green economic transformation; climate change resilience and environment; and gender equality and women’s empowerment. Supported by enablers, UNDP uses a portfolio approach in Pakistan, triangulating structural transformation, leaving no one behind, and building resilience.
UNDP's country programme document for Pakistan envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.
Resilience, Environment and Climate Change Unit (RECCU) is supporting projects across the country to respond to the growing threat of climate change, to mainstream environmental concerns into national development planning processes, and to expand access to environmental and energy services for the poor. In particular, UNDP has sought to ensure that the poor have stronger capacities to manage, adapt, and monitor climate change. Climate Change is a huge development challenge as well as a huge environmental challenge. It is a growing problem and is now hitting the poorest and the most vulnerable first and hardest.
The 2022 floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, resulted in the loss of more than 1,700 lives, displaced around 9 million men, women, and children, and inundated almost one-third of productive agricultural land in Pakistan. These downstream challenges are compounded with institutional issues whereby the Government of Pakistan requires support for developing overarching frameworks to structure its flood response activities and technical expertise to set up and develop bankable projects, establish standardized mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, and enhance strategic communications for public outreach.
UNDP has responded to the challenge by developing and launching a flagship Flood Recovery Programme (FRP) to support the Government of Pakistan’s flood recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The Programme has four key objectives dealing with the following thematic areas:
1.    Housing and access to /or essential community services restored.
2.    Livelihoods restored, and income generation capabilities catalyzed and/or strengthened
3.    Governance and service delivery restored and improved
4.    Capacities for disaster preparedness and climate resilience strengthened.
Against this background, FRP is looking for a Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst who will provide strategic and analytical support to overall programme risk monitoring and tracking across the Flood Recovery Programme (FRP) portfolio. The incumbent will lead the systematic tracking of programme risks and generate contextual, environmental and other relevant analysis, using this evidence base to identify emerging trends and patterns that inform mitigation measures and drive continuous programme improvement. Working closely with the FRP Monitoring and Reporting Officer, the incumbent will also support the Programme's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) function, ensuring that risk data, trend analysis and lessons learned are integrated into M&E processes, and will contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of the Programme's risk management strategies, tools and systems, including risk-informed, conflict-sensitive programming and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). The Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst will demonstrate strong analytical skills, sound judgement, and the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, decision-useful products for multiple stakeholders. S/he will work closely with the FRP Monitoring and Reporting Officer, Programme Specialist, project teams and relevant Country Office colleagues under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager to support effective programme implementation through a proactive, evidence-based and systematic approach to risk management.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst will be directly responsible for successfully completing the below set of tasks within allotted, agreed-upon time frames:

Risk Monitoring, Analysis, Mitigation and Advisory Support

• Maintain a consolidated and up-to-date view of programme-wide and project-level risks by systematically tracking and updating the FRP risk register and related monitoring tools, ensuring that risk status, ownership, mitigation measures and follow-up actions are accurately reflected across the portfolio. 
• Conduct regular contextual, conflict and programme risk analysis across the FRP portfolio, identifying emerging risks, trends, recurring patterns and potential implications for project implementation, stakeholder engagement and programme results. 
• Monitor political, social, economic, environmental, security and other contextual developments and assess their potential impact on programme implementation, community acceptance, stakeholder relationships and achievement of results.
• Distinguish verified information from perceptions, assumptions and competing narratives, including analysis of conflict dynamics, stakeholder perceptions and community grievances, and assess their potential implications for programme acceptance, community trust and implementation.
• Advise FRP management and project teams on appropriate preventive, mitigation and corrective measures, providing practical, risk-informed options to support timely decision-making and effective programme implementation.
• Support the integration of risk-informed, conflict-sensitive and Do No Harm approaches into project planning, implementation, monitoring, stakeholder engagement and decision-making processes.
• Proactively identify, document and escalate emerging, high or critical risks requiring management attention, and monitor the implementation and effectiveness of agreed mitigation and corrective actions.
• Support project personnel in identifying, assessing, documenting and monitoring project-level risks and mitigation measures through established risk management tools, processes and reporting mechanisms.Prepare periodic risk briefs, analytical notes, risk alerts and ad hoc assessments for FRP management, translating risk and contextual analysis into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Synthesize risk, contextual and monitoring information over time to identify recurring trends, systemic issues and lessons learned, translating findings into practical recommendations that strengthen mitigation measures, adaptive management and continuous programme improvement.
• Conduct field visits, as required, to verify information, assess programme and contextual risks, engage with relevant stakeholders and support the implementation and verification of mitigation measures.
   

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Management and Analysis 

• Coordinate and support the effective functioning of FRP's Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), including grievance intake, registration, assessment, referral, tracking, follow-up, resolution and closure, in coordination with relevant teams and stakeholders under the guidance of the Monitoring and Reporting Officer.
• Support analyzing grievances and complaints to identify recurring trends, systemic issues and underlying programme risks, and recommend preventive and corrective actions.
• Maintain appropriate GRM records and databases and support timely reporting and escalation of sensitive or high-risk cases.
• Ensure appropriate confidentiality, impartiality and documentation standards throughout grievance management processes.
• Support continuous improvement of GRM procedures, tools and systems to enhance accountability, transparency and responsiveness.

Risk Reporting, Knowledge Management and Capacity Strengthening

• Develop regular consolidated risk reports and dashboards covering key risks, emerging issues, GRM trends, mitigation measures and matters requiring management attention or decision.
• Document lessons learned and good practices and contribute to strengthening risk management and GRM systems, tools and procedures across the FRP portfolio.
• Work closely with the FRP M&E Team to ensure risk data, trend analysis and GRM findings are reflected in monitoring frameworks and reporting, and contribute analytical inputs to the ongoing development and refinement of the Programme's risk management strategies and standard operating procedures.
• Support capacity strengthening of the FRP M&E Team and relevant project personnel on risk analysis, risk monitoring, GRM management and related tools and processes, helping to institutionalize a more proactive and analytical approach to risk management.
• Liaise with relevant UNDP Country Office risk management, programme, operations, safeguards and security functions to ensure appropriate coordination and escalation of risks.
• Support development of guidance notes, analytical products and knowledge resources related to risk management, conflict sensitivity and grievance redress. 
• Lead organization and facilitation of trainings and awareness sessions on risk management, conflict sensitivity, risk monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms for programme and project personnel.
• Synthesis and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices related to risk management and GRM implementation.
• Contribute to organizational learning through dissemination of lessons learned, trends and recommendations emerging from risk and grievance analysis.

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 supervision of the FRP Programme Manager, the Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst will report to the Monitoring and Reporting Officer and will work closely with relevant FRP and Country Office colleagues. The Project Risk Management and Monitoring Analyst will support risk management, risk analysis and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) functions across the FRP portfolio, with direct escalation to the FRP Programme Manager for urgent, sensitive or high-risk matters as needed. The position will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan, with travel as required.
 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve results  LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• 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 
   

Cross-Functional and 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 Development 
  • Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange
• Business Management 
  • Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals 
  • Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Partnership management
  • Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 
• Finance 
  • Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• Procurement
  • Contract management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations 
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Risk Management, Economics or related field.
or

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above mentioned areas in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
 

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in development sector, project management and monitoring and evaluation, risk management is required.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
• Experience in preparing analytical reports, risk briefs, dashboards, or evidence-based recommendations for senior management to support decision-making and programme implementation is required.
• Relevant experience in risk management, conflict analysis, grievance redress mechanisms, safeguards, monitoring & evaluation, stakeholder engagement or programme management.
• Knowledge of conflict-sensitive programming, Do No Harm approaches, and risk monitoring frameworks would be highly desirable.
• Previous experience in International Organizations, OR UN Agencies, OR UNDP is an advantage, particularly with knowledge of business processes.
   

Languages:

Fluency in English and Urdu languages is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP 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 UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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