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Economist (Nationals only)

Manila

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Manila
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Economics
  • Closing Date: 2024-05-24

Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with  national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development  and building resilience to crises and shock.

 In addition, UNDP now has the mandate to support SDG Integration  to ensure faster progress on sustainable development and offers support in four areas, (1) integrated policy and programming solutions, (2) SDG dashboards, data and analysis using state-of-the-art tools for modelling and forecasting, (3) knowledge and innovation and (4) SDG Financing options to help countries identify innovative ways to expand public and private contributions to reach the 2030 agenda. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted an urgent need to adopt a Systems Approach that is orientated towards building Resilience to future shocks through continuously reviewed scenario analyses.

TheEconomist works under the guidanceof the Resident Representative, and s/he will work closelywith the programmeand operations teamsin the country office, accelerator and data labs, and staff in the Bangkok RegionalHub (BRH) and New York in Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific as well as the Global Policy Network (GPN) of UNDP. S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. This will include systematic engagement with and oversight from the lead regional economicadvisors based in Bangkok and New York. S/he is also expected to develop and maintain a professional network across development partneragencies, government institutions, the private sector,and civil society at the country level.

Position Purpose:

Summary of key functions:

  • Advice the UNDP Philippines management and programmeteam to strengthen programme development and               implementation.
  • Provision of technical adviceto national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the   2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusiveeconomic policies.
  • Representation,advocacy, and partnerengagement to supportUNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate, when directed by the ResidentRepresentative.
  • Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regionaleconomist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas.
Duties and Responsibilities

Advice the UNDP country office management and programme team to strengthen programme development and implementation:

  • Advise UNDP country office management with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the development of country programme document, pipeline of projects and related analysis such as common country assessment.
  • Support UNDP country office teams to develop and manage portfolios towards the localization of SDGs.
  • Provide thought leadership in the data analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
  • Lead the development of reports, policy briefs and UNDP flagship products and ensure that it provides added value in terms of development economic analysis, updated data and information for policy formulation.
  • Compile and analyze statistical data as required in support of country strategies and activities.
  • Collaborate across UNDP teams, especially to ensure linkages to the work emerging from the network of acceleration labs, deepen understanding of UNDP growing portfolio of projects impact through data analysis.
  • Lead the expansion of country office service offers on financing for development
  • Work closely with partnership and platforms manager in scanning of the landscape of issues and identifying               entry points and linkages across social, political, economic, and environmental dimension.
  • Support the preparation of briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical development issues within the SDG framework for senior management at the country and regional levels.

Provision of technical advice to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies:

  • Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning and policy formulation at the national, sub-national and local levels.
  • Provide high level guidance and leadership to the UNDP’s emerging portfolio of innovation work ensuring documentation of learnings and its relevance to national agenda, enable the innovation portfolio position UNDP programmes to have optimal impact and application of systems thinking to development challenges and translate insights.
  • Support the identification and analysis of innovative solutions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time by harnessing a unique set up of data and innovation lab.
  • Support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity.
  • Develop and facilitate collaboration and partnership with academia, think thanks and research networks.
  • Advise and facilitate dialogue on sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Support to leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes, to provide holistic and effective support to the      country.
  • Leverage support and expertise from the UNDP’s global/regional Economist networks to assist in strengthening UNDP’s support on economic analysis and policy development to Government and the UN Country Team.

Representation, advocacy, and partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and

advance its mandate:

  • Work closely with the SDG Partnership and platform manager to enhance partnerships, strategic business                 development and bringing in outside capacities and networks for enhanced impact.
  • Contribute, in close collaboration with senior management, to the development and/or strengthening of partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society organizations.
  • Provide technical advice to the UN informal economist group and backbone support to UN outcome pillar leads   as appropriate, UN task forces such as for food submit and other collaborative activities with UN agencies.
  • When delegated, represent UNDP country office in relevant forums, conferences or workshops, including to present research or programmatic results.
  • Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.
  • Contribute to the UN cooperation framework by actively participating in various pillars and taskforces.

Contribution to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas:

  • Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, through attending regional            meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews.
  • Collaborate and contribute to regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports.
  • Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming  offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing).
  • Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.
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

People Management:

Build an Enabling Workplace 

  • Create a working environment where people are engaged and want to do their best; empower and enables team members to perform and have a positive workplace experience 
  • Promote honestly, openness, trust and psychological safety and create opportunities to innovate and learn 

Motivate and Direct

  • Create and communicate a compelling vision and purpose 
  • Align people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives 
  • Understand and proactively builds the team/organization culture 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

  • Digital & Innovation - Innovation management: 
    • Being able to create the, strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organisational level.
  • Inclusive Growth - Economic Transformation, Policy and Planning: 
    • Knowledge of economics concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
  • Communications - Advocacy strategy and implementation:  
    • Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change 
  • Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking:
    • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
  • Business Management - Partnerships Management: 
    • Ability to 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
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics or related fields with (7) years of experience is required or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Economics in combination with additional (9) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advance university degree. 
  • Ph.D. in Economics will be an advantage.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 7 years (with a Masters degree) or 9 yrs with a Bachelor degree of experience at the national or international level in relevant areas of economic research and policy and implementation support is required.
  • Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis is desirable. 
  • Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience is an asset.
  • Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers.
  • Experience of strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities.
  • Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement is an advantage. 
  • Experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is desirable. 
  • Previous work experience in Asia and the Pacific region would be an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency in oral and written English and Filipino language is required. 
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
 
Disclaimer
 
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
 
Note: 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.
 
Non-discrimination
 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
 
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