Economics Adv(Sr Economist)

Amman

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Amman
Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Economics
- ECONOMICS
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Country Director, and in close collaboration with the Office of the Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative (RC/RR), the Senior Economist is responsible for substantive, analytical and policy research on multi-dimensional socio-economic affairs in Jordan, and for their application to the formulation of relevant strategies and plans, especially as they relate to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the national socio-economic priorities of Jordan, and the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD), with a focus on the Country’s vulnerability to socioeconomic challenges and political exclusionary factors, coupled with the impact of overspill from regional instability, and its effect on risks to social cohesion and citizen-state relations and the resulting concerns over the threat to Jordan’s sustained peace and human security.

In the context of Jordan, with the evolving nature of the crises in the Syrian Arab Republic, critical issues related to the operationalization of the humanitarian-development nexus are becoming increasingly evident. Syrian refugees, both those registered and those not, are highly dependent on government services and humanitarian assistance. In parallel, population growth across all groups increases competition for limited resources, straining the Government’s ability to deliver quality services amid uncertainty on how the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic will progress and its potential impact on international donor support. This situation risks eroding developmental gains made by Jordan in recent years, as the crisis response continues to overshadow the country’s planned development and expansion of investment, services and infrastructure.

The Senior Economist analyses economic and social data and trends, and provides advisory services to the Government, UNDP and the UN Country Team on development issues and policies and on enhancing the socio-economic and policy impact of UNDP programmes and projects. The Senior Economist monitors economic policy developments and advises the Country Director and other members of the UN Country Team and its partners on policy issues, as well as contributing to UN/UNDP’s policy dialogue with the Government, national platforms and development partners.

The Senior Economist works in close collaboration with the UNDP Jordan team, as well as global and regional corporate/policy advisors, especially in relation to developing effective policy approaches and enabling the collective impact of interventions. Additionally, she/he will work closely with Government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society ensuring the highest level of UNDP programmes, policy impact and results.

Duties and Responsibilities

In this section list the primary responsibilities of the position (Typically five). As needed add additional context below the responsibilities. Tip: Focus on what the job entails not how to do the job.

1. Socio- Economic Strategic Advisory

Provides high quality economic expert input to UNDP country programmes and ensures that UNDP programmes are in line with the national policies and priorities, the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, and with the UNSDF and UNDP CPD, focusing on achievement of the following results:

q Thorough compilation, analysis and interpretation of economic and statistical data relevant to country’s economic development trends opportunities and constraints, and preparation of high quality relevant socio-economic briefings/reports/publications.

q Development, delivery and mainstreaming into national development initiatives of specific policy instruments and services, including Human Development Reports and Poverty Reduction Strategies.

q Identification of, and advising on, relevant and appropriate areas for UNDP support and interventions, including formulation and adjustments of UN/UNDP programmes and projects including UNSDF and CPD, based on sound economic analysis.

q Review and dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt from implementation of projects and programmes with a view to strengthening the upstream orientation within UNDP.

q Monitoring the implementation of the UNSDF and CPD and ensure the CO’s interventions contributes to the achievement of the UN principles and UNDP corporate strategic plan.

q Identification of, and advising on, the development and delivery of a framework for collective impact of UNDP and related programmes.

2. Data Driven Policy Advisory Services

Ensures provision of top quality and innovative policy advisory services to the Government and facilitation of capacity development and knowledge building and management in support of inclusive growth, the attainment of Jordan’s Vision 2025 Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, focusing on achievement of the following results:

q Leads a cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional data approach to identify needs, bottlenecks and institutional requirements.

q Collects, processes, shares and transforms data into knowledge that can inform policy innovation as well as track development efforts.

q Introduces the new collective impact approach, and new methodologies for data handling and its transformation to knowledge.

q Reviews existing cost-benefit analysis, economic and financial analysis and assesses results.

q Collects, analyses and syntheses macro-economic and SDGs related information and best practices, paying attention to the gender and capacity development aspects, and proposes policy options to relevant government departments.

q Provides high-quality development advice to the Country Director, and RR/RC, in policy dialogue with host government, UN System and other strategic partners on economic issues, most notably in relation to pro-poor economic growth and achievement of the SDGs, with the Government, donors, civil society, and the private sector.

q Organizes capacity development opportunities for programme partners, including support to UN staff and Government officials in the formulation of SDG-based policies, plans and programmes, appropriate macroeconomic, fiscal and medium-term expenditure frameworks, as well as effective measures for monitoring and evaluation of socio-economic areas, including collective impact methods.

q Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

3.New Partnerships and Funding Opportunities

Provide inputs to creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

q Identify entry points to development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs, particularly in relation to the SDGs and donors’ priorities.

q Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation.

q Keeps track of the changes in the aid effectiveness/development cooperation environment and external resource management matters and assists Government and UN/UNDP in resource mobilization to meet the SDGs through, among other things, preparation of documentation for donor and consultative meetings.

q Work with the national and international partners to ensure an effective donor coordination mechanism.

4. Advocacy and Awareness Raising on Sustainable Development Agenda

Advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP mandate and purpose focusing on achievement of the following results:

q Advocacy for UN principles, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Goals, human development and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.

q Substantive contribution to knowledge and peer-to-peer exchanges through regional engagement and related South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

Competencies

*Core*
Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work	Level 6: Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division
Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow	Level 6: Ensures teams are resourced for success and empowered to deliver
People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction	Level 6: Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity
Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform	Level 6: Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen
Delivery Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement	Level 6: Accepts accountability for the outcomes of programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services
*Technical/Functional*
Political Economy Analysis Knowledge of the interaction of political and economic processes in a society; including distribution of power and wealth between groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time, and how these dynamics both affect, and are affected by, UNDP's development support	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Sustainable Development Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Definition Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Economics (General) Knowledge of economics concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Economic Planning Knowledge of Economic Planning concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Economic Recovery Knowledge of Economic Recovery concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Gender Corporate Reporting Knowledge of corporate reporting, including skills to manage ROAR reporting and extractions, gender marker development and other tools, supporting and strengthening GSIC, reporting and ongoing feedback to Executive Board	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Jobs and Livelihoods Knowledge of Employment Creation, Income Generation, emergency employment and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower:Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Global macroeconomics Knowledge of global macroeconomic trends and ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower:Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Poverty and Human Development Knowledge of poverty, human development and inclusive and sustainable growth issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 6: Integrate & Empower:Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, with strong emphasis on macro-economic and other quantitative skills, development economics, and economic planning.

Experience:

· 10 years of post-Master’s relevant experience at the international level.

· Substantial experience with economic analysis and poverty reduction strategy processes in developing country contexts,

· awareness of SDGs/MDGs related policy matters, and aid effectiveness issues.

· Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, including in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies and development programmes, including on approaches using collective impact principles and practices.

· Demonstrated experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English; other UN language skills, especially in Arabic, are highly advantageous.