Digital Economies Analyst [open To Internal & External Applicants]

Organizational Context

The UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub focuses on digital transformation, digital finance, innovation, and frontier technologies. It comprises complementary teams like the Sustainable Finance Hub and the Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab). These teams advance UNDP's digital economy agenda through policy, innovation, partnerships, and country implementation, with a specific focus on blockchain and frontier technologies for sustainable development.

Job Purpose

The Digital Economies Analyst, based at the Istanbul Regional Hub, supports the implementation and coordination of UNDP's digital economy portfolio, particularly blockchain-enabled digital payments and frontier finance initiatives. The role connects country-level pilots with the broader regional and global agenda, working with various internal and external stakeholders. The Analyst will assist the Project Manager in scaling up digital payments initiatives and blockchain-enabled development solutions, ensuring alignment with UNDP's strategic priorities and contributing to financial inclusion and economic resilience in partner countries.

Responsibilities

The Digital Economies Analyst will provide operational support to UNDP Country Offices globally on blockchain-based digital payment pilots, coordinating with solution makers, country teams, and government actors to overcome implementation barriers. Responsibilities include tracking project progress, identifying risks, and developing replication packages for validated models. The role involves coordinating applied research on blockchain-enabled digital economies, ensuring alignment with national development frameworks and overseeing research ethics. Additionally, the Analyst will support the SDG Blockchain Accelerator by contributing to curriculum development, participant selection, and matchmaking, acting as a focal point for matched teams. Facilitating knowledge building and sharing through identifying optimal content management systems and synthesizing lessons learned is also a key duty.

Work Experience

Candidates with a Master's degree require no specific professional work experience. Those with a Bachelor's degree must have a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in financial technologies. Desired experience includes working with financial technologies, digital transformation at a national level, UNDP or UN organizations, and stakeholder engagement within blockchain ecosystems.

Skills

Core competencies include achieving results, innovative thinking, continuous learning, adaptability, determination, engagement, and inclusion. Technical competencies involve Blockchain Advice (understanding blockchain and advising on its opportunities/challenges), Co-creation and Creative Facilitation (designing and leading collaborative processes with diverse stakeholders), Digital Thought Leadership (researching and communicating digital trends), Data Analysis (extracting and visualizing data for insights), and Knowledge Facilitation (animating groups for knowledge exchange).

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