Portfolio Analyst - Governance [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

IT

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Posted on Aug 6, 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 and Organizational Context

Tanzania is a lower middle-income country with sustained economic growth averaging around 5–6% in recent years, maintaining its status in the latest World Bank classifications. Economic gains have contributed to modest poverty reduction, though progress has slowed, with national poverty estimated at about 26% in 2024 and significant multidimensional poverty persisting. Human development indicators show gradual improvement, with a Human Development Index of approximately 0.555, but Tanzania remains in the lower tier globally. Persistent inequalities in access to services, alongside gaps in social, economic, and governance systems, continue to challenge inclusive development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Tanzania has sustained internal security and peace and recently stepped-up efforts to curb corruption. In view of the on-going efforts for political dialogues, there is a need to support efforts by all actors in the political process to ensure an inclusive participation in political processes by opposition political parties CSOs, the media and the public particularly women and youth. Since the adoption of multi-party politics in 1995, Tanzania has organized regular and periodic elections from the ward level to the presidential level. While the technical quality of electoral process has improved over the years, recent reports by election observers – both domestic and foreign – have highlighted the need for further improving the constitutional and legal framework, and the political environment, independence of electoral management bodies, role of the security forces, adjudication of election-related disputes and the role of civil society and media organizations to advocate for inclusive, transparent and credible elections.

Against this background, UNDP will identify programmatic activities with the objective of enhancing inclusivity, capacity, accountability, transparency and integrity of governance processes and national institutions. The Governance Portfolio seeks to contribute primarily to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; ensuring access to justice for all; and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, while cognizant that progress on SDG 16 enables progress on other SDGs. Central to the programme’s contribution to Tanzania’s attainment of SDG 16 are other important SDGs, namely gender equality and empowerment of all women (SDG 5), reduction of inequalities (SDG 10), and global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17), all of which are mainstreamed

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager, the Portfolio Analyst – Governance will be responsible for supporting the management and implementation of the Governance Portfolio. The Portfolio Analyst supports the thematic areas in strategic planning and the identification of new programme opportunities within these thematic areas while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF/CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities. The position will be supporting portfolio projects and funded from the respective project resources, with initial support coming from the Kigoma Joint Programme Phase II, Human Security Project and Dumisha Amani II.

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 units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration

Duties and Responsibilities

Contribute to formulation and implementation of UNDP portfolio strategies and policies

  • Contribute to analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country; and contribute collaborative inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCCA and UNSDCF) as well as to the preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document (CPD), Integrated Work Plan (IWP) and other strategic documents.
  • Contribute to operationalizing UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies.
  • Ensure implementation of relevant programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the effectiveness of CO business processes.
  • Analyze and synthesize proposals in assigned programme areas.
  • Provide support and contribute to policy analysis, research and lessons learnt through preparation and review of UNDP networks, publications and other bilateral fora;
    Provide substantial inputs to integrating cross-cutting priorities, incl. gender equality, human rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), throughout full project cycle in the democratic governance programme.

Participate in effective management of the CO portfolio/programme within the assigned thematic/sector areas focusing on quality assurance and risk management from formulation to implementation of the country portfolio;

  • Contribute to design and formulation of CO portfolio/ programme, translate UNDP priorities into local interventions, and oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners within the assigned programme areas. Ensure that design and formulation of programme consider societal digital technology risks and opportunities and other future signals.
  • Oversee planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the assigned programme areas; and track use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Ensure digital technology solutions in programme implementation are managed towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
  • Ensure effective application of results-based management tools and track achievement of strategic results.
  • Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle; and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact.
  • Support trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming.

Support creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy

  • Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, donors, private sector (if applicable to CO), and civil society in assigned programme/ thematic areas.
  • Identify strategic programme areas of cooperation including joint programming.
  • Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify opportunities for initiation of new projects, and substantively contribute to Country office resource mobilization efforts.
  • Support development of portfolios and Country office pipeline including through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals, and cross-sectoral coordination in assigned areas to bring resources for projects.

Support provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management

  • Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
  • Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high-impact advocacy with key partners.
  • Provide substantive support in the development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
  • Provide input so that policy advisory contributions to inclusive societal digital transformation and takes digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account.
  • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
  • Organize training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters in assigned areas.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Manage and supervise Admin Associate – NPSA 7

Competencies

  • Core competencies:
    Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management competencies:

  • UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & 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

Business Direction and Strategy

  • System 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

Partnership management:

  • Resource mobilization
    • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, andnestablish a plan to meet funding requirements
  • 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

2030 Agenda: Peace

  • Governance
    • Governance of Digitalization

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness:

  • Effectiveness
    • Project Quality Assurance

2030 Agenda: Peace & Governance

  • Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights
    • Access to Justice

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Human Rights, Political Science, Public Administration, Political Geography, Development Studies, International Affairs, Law or related field is required. Or
  • A first-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 an advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Applicants with 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 at the national and/or international level in providing management advisory services and hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development portfolios and projects within assigned thematic area.
  • Experience in a field relevant to democratic governance is desired.
  • Demonstrated experience in project and/or programme management and/or support is desired.
  • Experience and knowledge of development contexts preferably Tanzania or East Africa region is an asset.
  • On-the-groundwork experience in developing countries, preferably in East Africa region, is an asset;
  • Experience and sound understanding of United Nations and preferably UNDP policy and programmatic approaches, including the Human Rights Based Approach to Development is desired.
  • Experience and knowledge of cross-cutting, including gender equality, human rights and sustainable development goals is desired.
  • PRINCE2 or other equivalent recognized project management certification is an asset.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is desired.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.
  • Working knowledge of other languages at the UN is desirable.

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.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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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