Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (UNDP)
The Secretariat of the United Nations welcomes applications for the position of Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Assistant Secretary-General level, based in New York.
Applications must be submitted through the online form located at the following web address:
by Friday, 27 November 2026 (midnight New York time).
The Secretariat welcomes applications to supplement the Secretary-General’s search and consultations and would especially welcome applications from women candidates.
Further information on UNDP is available on the following website:
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The Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific of UNDP is a member of the Secretary-General’s Senior Leadership Team, and serves as a role model for the United Nations Values (Inclusion, Integrity, Humility and Humanity) and Behaviours Framework (Connect and Collaborate; Analyse and Plan; Deliver Results with Positive Impact; Learn and Develop; Adapt and Innovate), and the desired behaviours of the United Nations System Leadership Framework.
UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories. Anchored in UN Sustainable Development priorities and committed to the principles of universality, equality and inclusion, UNDP’s strategic directions and expected contributions are set out in its Strategic Plan (2026–2029): eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for inclusive growth, advancing climate action and building resilience to crises and shocks. The Strategic Plan responds to a changing development landscape and the evolving needs of UNDP’s stakeholders and partners.
The Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific oversees 24 Country Offices and one Regional Centre, covering 38 countries and territories. UNDP helps countries build national systems and capabilities and share their own solutions to urgent development challenges. Regional priorities include democratic
governance and inclusive growth; climate, energy and environment transformations; public and private development financing; disaster and conflict risk reduction; digital access; and the advancement of women.
The Regional Director leads UNDP in Asia and the Pacific and is a member of UNDP’s corporate leadership. Reporting to the Administrator and serving on UNDP’s Executive Group, the Regional Director helps shape the Organization’s strategic direction, oversees the regional programme and Country Office operations, and ensures their alignment with regional and corporate priorities. The Regional Director is expected to demonstrate UNDP’s values, ethical conduct and substantive development expertise.
The Secretary-General is seeking an individual with the following qualifications and competencies:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English is required. A working knowledge of an other United Nations official language will be an advantage.
Individuals who seek to serve with the United Nations in any individual capacity will be required, if short-listed, to complete a self-attestation stating that they have not committed, been convicted of, nor prosecuted for, any criminal offence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law, including sexual exploitation and abuse.
All United Nations staff members are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. Senior leaders in particular, have the responsibility to serve as role models in upholding the Organization’s ethical standards.
A conflict of interest occurs when, by act or omission, a staff member’s personal interests interfere with the performance of their official duties and responsibilities, or call into question their integrity, independence and impartiality. Risk for conflicts of interest may arise from a staff member’s engagement in outside (non- United Nations) employment or occupation; outside activities, including political activities; receipt of gifts, honours, awards, favours or remuneration from external (non- United Nations) sources; or personal investment. In particular, no staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any Government (Staff Regulation 1.2 (j)).
Where a real or perceived conflict of interest does arise, senior leaders are obligated to disclose this to the Organization without delay. In order to avoid real or perceived family influence or preferential treatment and conflicts of interest that could stem from such situations, the United Nations Staff Rules provide that appointments “shall not be granted to anyone who is the father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister of a staff member” (Staff Rule 4.7 (a)).
Short-listed individuals will be required to complete a pre-appointment declaration of interests for senior positions to identify possible conflicts of interest that may arise and to proactively prevent and manage, as much as possible and in a timely manner, situations in which personal interests may conflict, or appear to conflict, with the interests of the United Nations, should the individual be appointed to this position.
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