Regional Programme Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants]

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

Şile/İstanbul, Türkiye

Posted on Jun 16, 2026
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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

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships, and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is guided by four strategic objectives that together define our contribution to human development: expanding prosperity for all, strengthening effective governance, safeguarding a healthy planet, and building crisis resilience. These objectives are enabled by three accelerators that drive transformative impact across our portfolio: digital and AI innovation, gender equality, and sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, UNDP supports countries to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives and to advance sustainable development at scale.

UNDP, through its Sustainable Finance Hub (https://sdgfinance.undp.org/), supports partners in promoting financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an accelerator of the UNDP Strategic Plan, sustainable finance strengthens countries’ ability to mobilize, align, and deploy finance at scale for national priorities. UNDP supports international and country level policy reform as a catalyst for system-wide change, stronger policy environments, better-functioning markets, and more coherent financing strategies for sustainable development. SFH work is delivered through three interconnected portfolios: 1) Public Finance for the SDGs; 2) Private Finance for the SDGs; and 3) Global & Country Financing Policy Frameworks.

SFH Public Finance for SDGs (PF4SDGs) portfolio supports governments to strengthen public finance systems for sustainable development. Operating across 99+ countries with a portfolio exceeding $200 million, PF4SDGs provides integrated technical assistance across three core pillars: (1) Fiscal Policy Coherence, (2) Tax Systems for Sustainable Development, and (3) Public Expenditure Management. The portfolio works with Ministries of Finance, Planning, and line ministries to align fiscal policies, tax systems, debt strategies and public expenditure with national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda. UNDP’s comparative advantage in public finance stems from its unique position at the nexus of fiscal policy and development outcomes. Rather than focusing on isolated technical reforms, UNDP empowers governments to adopt whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategies that link fiscal instruments directly to sustainable development impact. This includes facilitating cross-ministerial policy dialogue, building coalitions for reform, integrating governance, climate, gender, health, and resilience priorities into fiscal frameworks, and supporting countries in translating SDG ambitions into fiscally viable implementation pathways.

The Europe and Central Asia region presents a diverse and rapidly evolving public finance landscape, encompassing middle-income countries navigating fiscal consolidation, EU accession and alignment processes, post-conflict recovery environments, and economies managing the transition toward more resilient and sustainable development financing. Across the region, there is growing demand for integrated approaches to public finance reform that connect fiscal policy coherence, domestic revenue mobilization, and public expenditure efficiency to national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda.

The Regional Programme Specialist will serve as the primary technical and programme management presence for PF4SDGs in the Europe and Central Asia region, embedded within the RBEC Istanbul Regional Hub. The incumbent will provide substantive technical support to public finance reform processes at country level; lead the regional coordination of Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) deployments; contribute to knowledge generation and policy dialogue; and support Country Offices and government counterparts in designing and implementing fiscal policy and tax systems interventions aligned with the PF4SDGs portfolio approach.

The position sits at the interface of technical advisory work, programme coordination, and partnership engagement. It requires the ability to work across the three core pillars of PF4SDGs — fiscal policy coherence, tax systems, and public expenditure — while maintaining strong working relationships with the Chief Economist and Regional SDG Finance Advisor in RBEC, the SFH technical teams in New York, and the OECD TIWB Secretariat.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide policy advisory and technical support

  • Serve as the primary technical reference point for PF4SDGs across the Europe and Central Asia region, providing substantive advisory support to Country Offices and government counterparts across the three pillars of the portfolio: fiscal policy coherence, tax systems for sustainable development, and public expenditure efficiency.
  • Engage directly in the design and implementation of country-level public finance reform processes, including the preparation and review of concept notes, terms of reference, analytical frameworks, and technical reports.
  • Support the development and country-level application of PF4SDGs analytical tools and methodologies, working in close coordination with SFH technical teams to ensure regional relevance and methodological consistency.
  • Provide technical guidance to TIWB host tax administrations in the region on programme design, including scoping of audit, transfer pricing, and other technical assistance areas, and preparation of terms of reference for expert deployments.
  • Review and quality-assure technical outputs from TIWB deployments, ensuring alignment with international standards and host country reform priorities.

Lead knowledge generation and analytical work

  • Conduct original research and analysis on public finance, taxation, fiscal policy, and development finance topics relevant to the Europe and Central Asia context, contributing to the evidence base that informs PF4SDGs country engagement and regional strategy.
  • Lead the preparation of knowledge products — including policy briefs, case studies, and analytical inputs to UNDP publications — that translate regional experience into replicable insights and learning materials for the broader PF4SDGs network.
  • Document and disseminate TIWB country experiences in the region as case studies and learning notes, capturing revenue outcomes, capacity gains, and replication potential for use across UNDP and OECD networks.
  • Contribute to communities of practice, peer learning initiatives, and capacity-building efforts that strengthen the public finance knowledge ecosystem across the region.

Drive partnerships and stakeholder engagement

  • Build and maintain working relationships with governments, development partners, research institutions, and other stakeholders engaged in public finance reform across the region, positioning PF4SDGs as a trusted technical partner.
  • Participate in regional policy dialogues, workshops, and consultations, providing substantive technical inputs and ensuring that the portfolio's analytical approach and evidence base inform broader policy conversations.
  • Maintain active and structured engagement with the joint UNDP–OECD TIWB Secretariat, coordinating on expert rosters, deployment logistics, and programme quality standards for the region.
  • Support outreach to ministries of finance, revenue authorities, and development partners across the region to identify demand for TIWB assistance and expand the regional programme pipeline.
  • Prepare briefing materials, analytical summaries, and strategic inputs to support senior leadership engagement in regional and global forums.

Oversee programme coordination and implementation

  • Coordinate the regional implementation of PF4SDGs activities, maintaining coherence across Country Office engagements, SFH technical workstreams, and regional partnerships.
  • Manage the end-to-end logistics of TIWB deployments in the region, including expert contracting, mission planning, and ongoing liaison with host tax administrations and Country Offices throughout the deployment cycle.
  • Track and report on TIWB programme results across the region against agreed indicators — including additional tax revenues, assessments raised, and institutional capacity outcomes — and compile inputs for reporting to the TIWB Secretariat and donors.
  • Contribute to broader programme monitoring, donor reporting, and portfolio documentation, providing regional inputs to results frameworks and resource mobilization efforts.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Regional Programme Specialist, Public Finance for SDGs will report to the Head of Public Finance for SDGs and collaborate closely with SFH colleagues, as well as across SFH and GPN colleagues

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility :LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-functional and technical competencies

Business Management

  • Portfolio Management
    • Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
    • Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.
    • Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
  • 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
  • Results-based Management
    • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

  • SDG Finance
    • Public Finance for the SDGs
    • Taxation and the SDGs

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Development Economics, Public Finance, or a related field is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

  • Minimum of five (5) years (with Master's degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelor's degree) of relevant professional experience in economic policy, public finance, development finance, or applied research is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in fiscal policy analysis, taxation, public financial management, or development finance.
  • Experience providing technical support or policy advice to government institutions, ministries of finance, or revenue authorities

Desired additional skills/ experiences:

  • Experience working with international organizations, UN agencies, development banks, or similar developmental institutions.
  • Experience supporting regional or multi-country programmes in Europe and CIS region.
  • Experience with the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programme or similar public finance related technical assistance programmes.
  • Experience with SDG financing frameworks or Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).
  • Experience with interpreting economic data and translating complex analysis into clear, policy-relevant insights.
  • Experience with producing concise, high-quality written outputs for technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience with the regional context of Europe and Central Asia

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required
  • Knowledge of another UN languages is desired.

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

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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