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Economics Advisor

Juba

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

Background

The Economist Programme is one of RBA’s most valued initiatives in enhancing policy support and capacity in our programme countries. It is particularly more relevant now that the 2030 development agenda and the African Union Agenda (Agenda 2063) are being jointly rolled out and implemented at the national and regional levels. Sitting on an important inflection point, Africa has adopted structural transformation, investments in human development and green growth as its key guiding policies for Africa’s growth and development. As such, enhanced policy support capacity at country level, to take forward Africa’s agenda, is an imperative.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Resident Representative and the Chief Economist, the Economic Advisor is responsible for research, development and application of economic theories and principles to the formulation of strategies and plans for solutions to economic problems, especially as they relate to the Sustainable Development Goals and development issues in Africa. The Economic Advisor will help position UNDP at the Country level as a thought leader and an integrator of the SDGs by leading the preparation of pertinent knowledge products that generate issues for productive national debates, analyzing economic and social trends and providing  policy advisory services to the Government, UN Country Teams on development issues and policies as well as enhancing  the policy impact of UNDP programmes and projects.

In addition, the Economic Advisor is expected to monitor economic policy developments and advises RR, UNCT and other members of the UNDP team and its partners on strategic policy issues. He/she contributes to UNDP’s policy dialogue with Government and donors. She/he supervises and leads a team of UNDP experts, international and national consultants and project staff on policy matters. The Economic Advisor works in close collaboration with the operations and programme teams, UNDP HQs staff, particularly Policy Advisors in the RBA’s Strategy and Analysis Team (SAT) and those in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS); the Regional Service Center for Africa (RSCA), Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring high-level of UNDP programmes policy impact. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1)  Provides high quality economic analysis to UNDP and UNCT programmes and ensures that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Reviews, compiles, analyses and interprets economic and statistical data relevant to country’s development assets, opportunities and constraints, and preparation of top quality relevant socio-economic research notes/briefs/reports;
  • Makes full use of policy and analytical instruments and modalities (e.g. DFAs, MAPS and other assessments) to inform the substantive content of national development plans, policies and programmes, to advance the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063;   
  • Utilizes insights gained from economic analysis, tapping the latest advances, to advise on the focus, design and M&E of CCAs, UNSCDFs and CPDs.

2)  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 and the attainment of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 in Africa, focusing on achievement of the following results: 

  • Collects, analyses and synthesize macro-economic, SDG and related information and best practices, paying attention to the gender and capacity development aspects, and proposes policy options to relevant government departments;
  • Provides high-quality development advice to the RR in policy dialogues with host governments, UN System and other strategic partners on economic issues, most notably in relation to inclusive growth, sustainability, inequalities and achievement of the SDGs;
  • Contributes to alternative policy advice through the preparation, launch and follow-up of national HDRs and other development reports and policy briefs;
  • Develops national capacities on and participates in the formulation of SDG-based policies and plans, including appropriate macroeconomic, fiscal and medium-term expenditure frameworks;
  • Keeps abreast of regional and global economic trends and issues and analyses their implications for the realization of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 in Africa;
  • Contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice, in close collaboration with UN agencies, the IFIs and other development partners;
  • Works closely with the Bureau for Programme and Policy Support (BPPS), the Crisis Bureau (CB), and the Regional Service Centre (Addis) to provide guidance and support on SDG-related issues on Africa through the Regional Bureau for Africa;
  • Contributes substantively to knowledge and development exchanges through the RBA Economists e-network.

3)  Promotes advocacy and awareness of UNDP mandate, mission and purpose focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Advocates for the Agenda 2030 (SDGs), human development and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant meetings, forums, conferences and trainings; 
  • Monitors poverty reduction and progress towards the achievement of the SDGs leading to management of the production and launch of economic and SDG-related reports/publications; 
  • Contributes substantively to knowledge generation and development exchanges through the RBA Economists e-network.

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 empower to deliver.

People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Level 6:  Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation.

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 produts and services.

TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL

Sustainable Development Goals - 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.

Strategic Thinking/Visioning - Ability to analyze the organization's value proposition and share visionary/long-term plans.  Use insight to identify target audiences and partners and to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions.

Level 6:  Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise.  

Monitoring & Evaluation - Knowledge of methodologies, assessment tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reproting and ability to apply to 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.  

Substantive Positioning of UNDP - Knowledge of global insitutions (such as the UN, IFIs), processes (such as G20 and various UN initiatives), good grasp of UN's niche, and ability to engage and foster strong networks wit those institutions.

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:

  • Maters Degree in Economics, Social Policy, Public Policy, Politics, Development Studies or related area, with strong emphasis on macro-economics and other quantitative skills, development economics and economic planning.

Experience:

  • A minimum of10 years of relevant experience at the national or international level;
  • Substantial experience with poverty reduction strategy processes, including inequalities and gender issues in development country contexts and awareness of SDGs related policy matters and knowledge of policy options for domestic resource mobilization;
  • Demonstrated ability to help mobilise resources for countries or organize roundtables and proven capacity to develop policy and impactful programme strategic interventions;
  • Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, including in formulation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies and development programmes/projects;
  • Demonstrate leadership skills, capacity development and mentorship for national economists and country teams;
  • Proven experience in contributing to the SDG agenda based on upstream engagements on the MDGs over the past years;
  • 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:

  • Prioficiency in both oral and written English;
  • Working knowledge of other UN language desirable.

Disclaimer

This vacancy is now closed.
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