ECONOMIST

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDG's. In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat. DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the resident coordinator system under the oversight of the Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). In 2026, DCO undertook a recalibration to ensure the RC system remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda and embodies the UN 2.0 shift- anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission driven organizational culture. The Economist maintains a matrixed functional relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Policy and Financing Section of the SDG Coordination, Policy and Programme Division, and collaborates closely with the Regional Policy Analyst to ensure coherence and alignment of SDG policy, financing, and sustainable development support in line with RC system policy corporate priorities. The Economist supports the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team in advancing implementation of the Cooperation Framework, aligned with the 2030 Agenda, the country’s EU accession priorities and the national development priorities. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Belgrade, Serbia under the direct supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Summary of Functions 1. Provides substantive support for evidence-based analysis of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through economic and policy analysis, strategic foresight and horizon scanning to support strategic decision-making by the Resident Coordinator (RC) and United Nations Country Team (UNCT), particularly on SDG acceleration, EU accession reforms, economic transformation (including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work) and development finance, investments and SDG financing. 2. Supports the RC and UNCT in policy engagement and in developing and strengthening partnerships with the UN system, national counterparts, including government, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), development partners, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to advance SDG acceleration, sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing. 3. Provides substantive economic analysis and support to integrated UN country-level analysis, planning and programming processes, including the Common Country Analysis (CCA), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), roadmaps, UN joint programmes, annual reports and other relevant processes, to promote SDG acceleration, advance sustainable economic transformation and strengthen approaches to development finance, investments and SDG financing. 4. Contributes to knowledge generation, management and learning on SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing, supporting a shared understanding within the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges, opportunities and emerging policy issues in the country. Description of Functions: 1. PROVIDES SUBSTANTIVE ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND SDGs ANALYSIS AND SUPPORTS EVIDENCE-BASED ADVICE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS AND SDG FINANCING. • Conduct economic, fiscal, financial, social and sustainable development analyses, including emerging trends and good practices related to economic transformation, green and just transition, digital transformation, the future of work, investments and SDG financing to support the Resident Coordinator (RC) and United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in identifying challenges, risks, opportunities and policy options for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting implementation of the Cooperation Framework and informing strategic decision-making, with due consideration to gender equality and leave no one behind principles. • Support implementation and localization of global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to economic transformation and SDG financing, including methodologies and tools related to integrated SDG analysis, strategic foresight, scenario analysis, horizon scanning, data-driven decision-making, digital transformation and innovation in close collaboration with the Regional Office and the SDG Coordination, Policy and Programme Division. • Provides substantive inputs to analysis and briefing materials on economic transformation and SDG financing, including integrated SDG analysis, strategic foresight, data-driven decision-making, digital transformation and innovation. • Supports the identification and analysis of entry points for integrated UN policy support related to socio economic transformation, EU accession-related economic reforms, including opportunities to promote more inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable economic development. • Collects, analyzes and interprets economic and development data relevant to UN country-level operations, identifies trends and gaps and proposes follow-up actions to strengthen evidence-based programming and decision-making. • Prepares substantive inputs to policy papers, analytical notes, briefing materials, reports and other knowledge products on economic transformation, macroeconomic trends and SDG financing, including as relevant to the national reform agenda and the country’s EU accession process. • Monitors national, regional and global economic developments and analyzes their potential implications for sustainable development and achievement of the SDGs at the country level. • Conducts analysis on the role of the private sector in sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing and identifies potential opportunities for partnerships, innovation and blended financing approaches. • Researches and analyzes emerging and innovative approaches to SDG financing, including financing gap assessments and investment diagnostics, as well as initiatives developed by the United Nations, International Financial Institutions and other development partners. • Prepares inputs for briefing notes, talking points and background materials for the RC and UNCT on economic transformation, macroeconomic developments and SDG financing. • Supports UNCT initiatives related to SDG financing, sustainable investments and innovative financing, including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) and follow-up to Sevilla Commitments, public finance and financing strategies, and opportunities to leverage blended finance, private sector financing, impact investment and other innovative financing instruments to accelerate implementation of the Cooperation Framework and the 2030 Agenda, as relevant to the country context. • Provides economic analysis and substantive inputs to humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches, as relevant to the country context. 2. SUPPORTS PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIONAL COUNTERPARTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND SDG FINANCING. • Supports the RC and UNCT's policy engagement and partnerships with government counterparts, United Nations entities, development partners, the private sector, academia, think tanks and civil society on issues related to economic transformation, sustainable investments, and SDG financing. • Leads the Resident Coordinator Office's technical engagement with key national economic and financial institutions, including Ministries of Finance and Economy and the National Central Bank, as well as International Financial Institutions and multilateral development banks, on macroeconomic and EU accession-related economic reforms, investment, innovative financing and financing for development. • Leads working-level collaboration and exchanges with economists across the UN system and other relevant institutions to facilitate information-sharing, policy coherence and joint analytical work. • Facilitates, together with UNCT members, integrated and cross-pillar approaches to UN policy engagement with national counterparts and other partners, including through relevant UNCT coordination mechanisms. • Monitors analytical work, policy developments, financing initiatives and capacity-development support by development partners to identify opportunities for collaboration, complementarity and joint engagement with the UNCT. • Supports engagement with private sector actors to identify potential contributions to sustainable economic transformation and catalytic financing opportunities for achievement of the SDGs. • Facilitates engagement with relevant data communities, innovation ecosystems, academic institutions, digital actors and foresight networks to strengthen analytical capacity and support the application of UN 2.0 capabilities in the country context. 3. PROVIDES ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND SUBSTANTIVE SUPPORT TO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING CYCLE. • Contributes economic and financing analysis to the development and implementation of the Common Country Analysis (CCA), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), joint programmes, annual reports and other elements of the UN sustainable development programming cycle. • Supports the preparation of macroeconomic, socioeconomic and SDG financing analysis for the CCA and other analytical exercises, applying an integrated approach and drawing, where relevant, on data, digitalization, innovation and strategic foresight. • Identifies economic trends, policy issues and emerging development challenges and provides substantive inputs and recommendations to support UNCT programming and integrated policy responses. • Contributes to the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the UNSDCF, with particular attention to economic transformation, macroeconomic trends and SDG financing. • Provides substantive support to the development of UN joint programmes related to economic transformation and SDG financing, including programmes supported by the Joint SDG Fund, as applicable. • Supports the identification and development of investment-oriented SDG initiatives and programme proposals, including opportunities to leverage public, private and blended finance and co-financing with government, International Financial Institutions and private sector partners, in support of Cooperation Framework implementation. • Supports UNCT Results Groups and other coordination mechanisms by providing economic analysis and substantive inputs relevant to the implementation of joint workplans and sustainable development priorities. • Researches and proposes options to strengthen UN support to national and multi-stakeholder processes related to economic policy, financing and capacity development, including the use of data, digital technologies, innovation and foresight for sustainable development, and prepares analytical inputs for high-level engagement with institutions, including government and others. 4. CONTRIBUTES TO KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND LEARNING ON ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND SDG FINANCING. • Contributes to knowledge generation and management on economic transformation, macroeconomic trends and SDG financing to strengthen the UNCT's shared understanding of sustainable development challenges and opportunities. • Contributes to and facilitates local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks, including the UN Economist Network, and facilitates the exchange of relevant research, good practices and lessons learned. • Researches and analyzes good practices and lessons learned from UN policy initiatives and programmes related to economic transformation and identifies their relevance to the country context. • Monitors macroeconomic and fiscal trends, public expenditure patterns, debt sustainability and fiscal space, and assesses their implications for Cooperation Framework implementation and SDG acceleration and contributes to identifying options that could inform national investment policies and programmes. • Keeps abreast of emerging economic research, policy developments, analytical methodologies and innovative approaches relevant to sustainable development and proposes their application, as appropriate, to the work of the RCO and UNCT. • Documents lessons learned and knowledge generated through analytical and programme-support activities and contributes to their dissemination within the Resident Coordinator system and UN Country Team. • Supports knowledge-sharing and learning activities that promote the use of data, digitalization, innovation and foresight to strengthen sustainable development analysis and programming. • Collects, documents and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through reports and data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented. • Perform other related tasks as assigned.

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Economics is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Not available.

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, macroeconomic or socioeconomic policy, applied economics, development economics, or a related area in the context of development cooperation is required. Experience in conducting economic and/or policy analysis and translating development trends and data into policy options, recommendations or other analytical products is required. Experience in SDG financing, development finance, public finance and/or innovative financing approaches is desirable. Experience in supporting strategic planning, policy development or financing solutions with government institutions and/or other development partners is desirable. Experience working in UN inter-agency and/or multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms, including facilitating policy dialogue and coordination across government, IFIs, the private sector, civil society, academia and/or development partners, in support of sustainable development priorities, is desirable. Experience in applying inclusive approaches that take into consideration gender equality, youth, persons with disabilities and/or leave no one behind principles in economic analysis, policy or development programming is desirable. Experience in supporting partnerships and/or resource mobilization initiatives in the context of development cooperation is desirable. Experience in knowledge management, research, or the preparation and dissemination of analytical and policy products in the context of development cooperation is desirable. Experience working on policy reforms related to Serbia’s European Union integration process is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Serbian is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Serbian

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone/teleconference (MS Teams) or in-person where possible.

This is a Fixed Term position. Appointment against this position is available for a duration of one (1) year and does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. THIS RECRUITMENT REMAINS SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY, CLASSIFICATION, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF SERBIA ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, SERBIAN nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to SERBIA in the event of an employment offer. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Note to current staff members at the General Service level: Locally recruited General Service staff members applying for this post must meet the minimum requirements, including academic qualifications and years of relevant experience. Relevant experience in the General Service category at G-6 and G-7 levels may count towards experience requirements. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

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