Digital Economies Analyst Internal & External

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

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.

Within the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, expertise on digital transformation, digital finance, innovation, and frontier technologies is delivered through complementary teams, including the Sustainable Finance Hub (hosting the Better than Cash Alliance and the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IIPCSD) digital finance team) and the Alternative Finance Lab (Alt Fin Lab ). Together, these teams contribute to UNDP's broader digital economy agenda by advancing policy, innovation, partnerships, and country implementation.

Since 2015, UNDP has been pioneering blockchain and frontier technologies for sustainable development through Alt Fin Lab , a flagship initiative that designs innovative financing mechanisms blending public, private, and commercial capital to accelerate progress toward the SDGs. The Lab manages key programmes such as the SDG Blockchain Accelerator (supporting more than 40 blockchain use cases), the Government Blockchain Academy (launching country programmes in 2026), and the UNDP Blockchain Academy (training more than 500 UN personnel globally).

These initiatives generate practical evidence and scalable solutions that contribute to UNDP's wider work on digital finance, financial inclusion, and digital economies across the organization.

In partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), UNDP is advancing a blockchain-based digital payments solution tailored for economies facing structural challenges. Through research across 17 countries, stakeholder consultations, workshops, and the identification and implementation of pilot projects in five countries Haiti, Syria, Kenya, Guatemala, and Gambia UNDP address critical issues such as financial inclusion, transparency, and economic resilience. By providing access to secure and transparent digital payment systems, UNDP and SDF aim to empower individuals and businesses in these regions to participate more fully in the formal economy, thereby promoting financial inclusion and enhancing economic stability.

Moreover, the versatility of this solution extends beyond traditional payment methods, offering promising applications in various sectors. From aiding agencies' provision of assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, and other beneficiaries, to empowering diaspora communities in facilitating increased remittances and support to their home countries, the potential impact of this solution is vast and far-reaching. The initiative also explores applications ranging from humanitarian cash assistance for internally displaced persons and refugees to facilitating remittances and diaspora engagement, contributing lessons that complement the work of the Better than Cash Alliance and SFH digital finance portfolio.

In parallel, SDG Blockchain Accelerator acts as a lab for experimentation, where teams can test solutions on remittances, humanitarian aid, or climate action, ensuring scalability and alignment with development priorities.

Based at the Istanbul Regional Hub, the Digital Economies Analyst supports the implementation and coordination of this portfolio by connecting country pilots with UNDP's broader regional and global digital economy agenda. The role works closely with colleagues across Alt Fin Lab , the Sustainable Finance Hub, the Better than Cash Alliance, IIPCSD, Europe and CIS region, and…