Research Associate, New Delhi, India

## Research Associate, New Delhi, India - Organization:UNDP - United Nations Development Programme Description of assignment title:Research Associate Assignment country:India Duty stations:New Delhi Work location:On UN premises Expected start date:09/30/2026 Duration:12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances Sustainable Development Goal:13. Climate action Volunteer category:Specialist UCoS from Apr2026 Work schedule:Full-time Number of Assignments:1 Mission and objectives: - As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP's mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. - UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people- centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India's national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. - Our Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: - Strong, accountable, and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs - Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized - Climate- smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability. - South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture. - You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country- specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those. - The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy. - The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/ projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach. - UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project "Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India". The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality - by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030. - The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi-sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management. - UNDP seeks to engage the services of a Research Associate to support the MoEFCC (National Project Management Unit) in implementation of the project. S/he will work under the supervision of IGF, MoEFCC (National Project Director - NPD) and shall be part of NPMU. - Under the overall guidance of the National Project Director and under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager, NPMU-LDN Project, the Research Associate will perform the following tasks: - Assist with technical tasks such as data collection, analysis, and reporting and technical support to manage the project smoothly; - Conduct research and prepare outputs such as technical documents / reports, presentations, and publications based on project findings; - Support in the implementation and tracking of project activities; - Ensure regular communication and coordination with the National Project Management Unit, State Project Steering Committee, UNDP and MoEFCC with respect to project activities; - Prepare National / State-specific Annual Work Plans, including monthly targets and deliverables as well as annual spending targets in accordance with the Project Document; - Coordinate and participate in project meetings, including scheduling, prepare meeting agenda's, minutes of the meeting; - Responsible for coordination and follow-up of project activities with technical agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in the projects to ensure timely provision of inputs and achievement of outputs and deliverables; - Provide logistical support for workshops and other meetings; - Support the timely preparation and submission of annual progress reports, donor reports, project reviews, financial reports, audit reports and any other required project reports; - Support in development and implementation of communication strategy and action plan for all projects under the portfolio; - Provide technical input to the project activities, where appropriate; - Hand