The United Nations University's research institute UNU-WIDER is recruiting an Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer for its SA-TIED programme in Pretoria, South Africa. This is a full-time, fixed-term, professional-level (P-2) position, and applications close on 10 November 2026.
At Youth Works Hub, we read the full UNU vacancy and listed every duty, requirement and condition below, so you can judge your fit before you apply.
About the United Nations University (UNU)
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation within the United Nations System. It engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and its work contributes to solving pressing global problems that concern the UN and its Member States.
For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, its expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and it collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe.
About UNU-WIDER
UNU-WIDER is one of the 13 research and training institutes that make up the think tanks in the UNU system. It is a leading international development economics research institute that provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all.
The institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute and UN agency, providing a range of services from policy advice to governments to open-access original research.
What SA-TIED Is
UNU-WIDER is implementing a large research, capacity development and policy engagement programme in South Africa called Southern Africa: Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED), in close collaboration with the National Treasury of South Africa and the South African Revenue Service.
SA-TIED brings together world-class researchers and policymakers to address socio-economic challenges in South Africa and across the broader southern African region. A key focus is its partnerships with the policy-making community. The main aim is to generate robust empirical evidence and use it as a basis to encourage informed debate among people involved in policy processes across the participating organisations and civil society, bridging the gap between research and policy-making.
The programme played an important part in making anonymised administrative tax data available for research purposes at a Secure Data Facility at the National Treasury (NT-SDF), which is now a key asset in the programme. Access to this data has enabled groundbreaking research, provided new perspectives on the South African economy and dramatically improved the quality and breadth of evidence used to inform policy.
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Your Role: Programme Management and Partnerships Focal Point
The Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer serves as the primary programme management and partnerships focal point for SA-TIED in South Africa. The incumbent coordinates the day-to-day implementation of the programme, manages relationships with key institutional partners, oversees programme planning and reporting, supports policy engagement and capacity development activities, and ensures effective operational delivery in line with UNU policies and donor requirements.
You work under the overall supervision of the UNU-WIDER Head of Partnerships and Programme.
📍 The position is based in Pretoria, and willingness to work long-term in Pretoria is a strict requirement.
Day-to-Day Implementation
🧭 Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of SA-TIED, in close collaboration with UNU-WIDER personnel in South Africa, UNU-WIDER's management in Finland, and the academic and policy leads of the SA-TIED workstreams.
📝 Lead the preparation and coordination of programme work plans, budgets, results frameworks, implementation schedules, and narrative and financial reports for donors, governance bodies and UNU-WIDER.
🗂️ Coordinate governance processes that support the programme's governance bodies, including preparing meetings and documentation, following up on decisions, and facilitating communication between partners and workstream leads.
🔭 Monitor programme progress against approved work plans and results frameworks, identify emerging implementation risks and opportunities, and coordinate with workstream leads to ensure timely delivery.
Programme Management and Operations
🛠️ Hold day-to-day responsibility for programme operations in accordance with programme documents, donor agreements and UNU policies.
🎤 Plan and coordinate workshops, policy dialogues, training activities, study visits and other programme events.
🧾 Coordinate procurement, consultant recruitment, contracting, travel and other operational processes, ensuring compliance with UNU rules and procedures.
🧮 Monitor programme expenditure and operational compliance, identify financial and operational risks, and recommend corrective actions where appropriate.
Policy Bridging and Uptake
🌉 Make significant contributions to institutionalising policy-bridging within the programme, with the aim of facilitating policy uptake of its research.
📣 Advocate for evidence-based policymaking and actively enhance the programme's visibility among its stakeholders and target audiences.
🏛️ Monitor relevant policy developments and support the preparation of programme briefings and engagement materials.
📚 Support the dissemination and uptake of research findings through policy dialogues, stakeholder engagement and communications activities.
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Institutional Development and Partnerships
🤝 Maintain and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, donors, academic institutions, UN organisations and other stakeholders, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
🧩 Help develop and shape UNU-WIDER's strategic priorities in South Africa and the Southern African region, including strengthening synergies between SA-TIED and other UNU-WIDER programmes.
💼 Support donor engagement, proposal development and partnership management for current and future phases of the SA-TIED programme.
🗣️ Represent UNU-WIDER in meetings with programme partners, government institutions, the UN system and development partners, as delegated by the supervisor.
Supervision and Guidance
👥 Provide day-to-day coordination and guidance to programme personnel assigned to the programme, including work planning, mentoring and quality assurance.
🌱 Supervise UNU-WIDER personnel in South Africa and support their professional development, including setting and monitoring team objectives, identifying training and development needs and ensuring performance management as relevant.
📌 Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Key Performance Indicators
The vacancy lists four indicators of success for the role:
🏆 Continued high-quality programmatic presence of UNU-WIDER in South Africa through the successful implementation of the SA-TIED programme.
🎯 High-quality SA-TIED programme delivery around policy-bridging, research activities and capacity development.
🔗 A high level of successful partnership building with SA-TIED partners and other programme stakeholders.
🛡️ Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU-WIDER as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, government departments, donors, the UN and civil society in South Africa.
Education and Experience Requirements
🎓 Education: a Master's degree in economics, public policy, development studies or a related discipline.
⏳ Experience: at least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience, including managing research programmes in academia, policy research or related institutions, together with supervisory functions.
🗃️ Programme management: experience in programme management within research or policy environments.
⚖️ Research and government: a proven track record of working at the intersection of research and government.
🇿🇦 South Africa: experience working in South Africa with academic and policy partners, and strong knowledge of local institutional settings.
Skills and Knowledge
🧠 Understanding of South Africa's policy frameworks and socio-economic development issues.
🌐 Familiarity with international development agendas and evidence-based policymaking.
👔 Strong team management capabilities.
💬 Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
⚡ Highly self-motivated, innovative and organised, yet detail-oriented, with a professional and conscientious attitude and the ability to independently prioritise.
🎭 An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Language Requirements
✍️ Excellent drafting skills and fluency in both oral and written English is a requirement.
🔤 Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.
UNU Values and Behaviours
The vacancy sets out four values:
🕊️ Inclusion: take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
🧱 Integrity: act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
🪞 Humility: demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
🌏 Humanity: act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.
It also lists five behaviours:
🔄 Connect and collaborate: build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN.
📐 Analyse and plan: seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action.
✅ Deliver results with positive impact: hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves.
📖 Learn and develop: pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others.
🚀 Adapt and innovate: demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways.
Compensation and Benefits
UNU offers an attractive, tax-exempt compensation package that includes:
💵 An annual net salary, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance.
🏖️ 30 days of annual leave.
👪 Dependency benefits.
🏦 A pension plan.
🩺 A health insurance scheme.
The vacancy does not state a salary amount.
Contract and Starting Date
📄 This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment.
🗓️ The initial appointment is for 1 year, with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.
🔢 For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed 6 years.
🎂 The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.
⏱️ Starting date: as soon as possible.
How to Apply
You do not need an account to apply to UNU. Instead, you are asked to:
🖱️ Apply via the apply link.
📋 Fill out the UNU P11 Form, avoiding similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations.
✉️ Provide a motivation statement in the P11 form.
❓ Answer a few questions tailored to the position.
The vacancy also points applicants to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.
Assessment Process
🧪 Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise.
🗨️ The assessment exercise may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.
Special Notice and Equal Opportunity
UNU staff members are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University, and the Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.
🌍 UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply.
🌟 Applications from developing countries and from women are strongly encouraged, and eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.
🚫 UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
🎓 Candidates with a supervisory function need awareness of gender-related issues.
📥 UNU may select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement, and may also retain applications and consider candidates for other similar positions with UNU.
Scam Warning
UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, disregard it. Emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced, so take particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Associate Partnerships & Programme Officer role at UNU-WIDER?
It is the primary programme management and partnerships focal point for the SA-TIED programme in South Africa. You coordinate day-to-day implementation, manage relationships with key institutional partners, oversee planning and reporting, and support policy engagement and capacity development.
Where is the job based?
The position is based in Pretoria, South Africa. Willingness to work long-term in Pretoria is a strict requirement.
What qualifications and experience do I need?
You need a Master's degree in economics, public policy, development studies or a related discipline, plus at least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience that includes managing research programmes and supervisory functions. Experience working in South Africa with academic and policy partners is also required.
Is there a nationality restriction?
The vacancy does not state a nationality restriction. UNU encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, to apply, and strongly encourages applications from developing countries and from women.
Which languages do I need?
Fluency in oral and written English and excellent drafting skills are required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.
How long is the contract?
It is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment is for 1 year, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory work performance.
What does the compensation package include?
UNU offers a tax-exempt package with an annual net salary, 30 days of annual leave, dependency benefits, a pension plan and a health insurance scheme. No salary amount is stated in the vacancy.
Do I need to create an account to apply?
No. You apply via the apply link, fill out the UNU P11 Form with a motivation statement and answer a few questions tailored to the position.
When is the application deadline?
Applications close on 10 November 2026. Submissions must be received by 23:59 UTC+2, and late entries will not be accepted.
Deadline
⏳ 10 November 2026
🕛 Submissions must be received by 23:59, UTC+2. Late entries will not be accepted.
Links
🔗 Apply: https://careers.unu.edu/o/associate-partnerships-programme-officer-sa-tied-p-2/c/new
📄 Job listing: https://careers.unu.edu/o/associate-partnerships-programme-officer-sa-tied-p-2
🏛️ UNU: https://unu.edu
🔬 UNU-WIDER: https://www.wider.unu.edu
🌐 SA-TIED: https://sa-tied.wider.unu.edu/
💶 UN pay and benefits: https://careers.un.org/payandbenefits
