National Economic Specialist

Background

The UNDP Office in Botswana works closely with its government partners and other national and subnational stakeholders to support the introduction of policies that promote inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, aligned with national and subregional priorities. At the heart of this support is a focus on complex issues related to several thematic areas/SDGs, including their complexity, dynamics, entry points, and the integration of policies, data, analysis, innovation, and finance. As the impact of COVID-19 has shown, twenty-first-century challenges are increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable. People are engaging with information, institutions, and society in new and increasingly digital ways, and institutions are having to adapt at an increasing pace. The CPD has identified key domains of change in climate change and sustainable resource management, inequality, corruption, and accountability, and unemployment, economic diversification, and digital innovation. These domains are addressed through levers of change, such as women and youth as rights-holders; communities, the private sector, and the informal sector as transformational agents; and institutions as duty-bearers, each leveraging UNDP capacity to deliver through innovative and agile partnerships for a green, just, prosperous Botswana. 

In 2025, the Government of Botswana adopted the Twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12), marking Botswana’s bold and transformative step toward achieving the national aspiration—"True North"—of a “high-income, digitally enabled, export-driven, and economically diversified Botswana where every citizen is employed, empowered, and fulfilled." The plan spans five years (2025/26–2029/30) and serves as the first comprehensive roadmap under the new administration following the peaceful political transition in October 2024. NDP 12 is built on a paradigm shift from a government-led, resource-dependent growth model to a private sector-driven, industrialized, and export-oriented economy. At its core is the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aims to mark a turning point in the nation’s pursuit of sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready growth. By covering prioritized six economic sectors (Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Financial Services & Digitalization, Energy & Mining, and Infrastructure), alongside three social focus areas (Healthcare, Education, and Social Protection), the BETP seeks to be a game-changer for the country’s growth pathway and to respond to challenges the country is facing, including limited diversification, high unemployment, high poverty and inequality, and fiscal pressures that threaten the sustainability of our growth path.

In this context, the UNDP Office in Botswana is recruiting a National Development Economist to coordinate support for the implementation of the SDGs in the country through its country program and ensure that UNDP's integrated programmatic/policy/service offerings are informed by its field experiences and by broader debates and analytical advances on SDG implementation.

The national development economist based at the UNDP country office will support policy dialogue with government officials and other partners, assist in program development, and produce research and analysis. He/she will also collaborate and share experiences and practices between countries, within and outside the UNDP regional and global network.

Under the supervision of the Resident Representative, the National Economist advises senior management on inclusive growth policies, SDG integration, and innovative strategic partnerships and provides evidence-based analysis to influence UNDP's strategic direction. He/she works with government counterparts to identify development policy options and to improve the impact of UNDP projects and programs, while contributing to the mobilization of partnerships with the private sector, regional entities, etc., to support programs and achieve results. The National Development Economist advocates for and represents UNDP in his/her area of expertise, at the request of his/her supervisor.

He/she may supervise international and national consultants. He/she maintains a network with colleagues from the UNDP global and regional network, UN agencies, IFIs, government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, and civil society.

Scope of Work

Support and advice on the strategic positioning of UNDP on economic and development issues, in line with national priorities

• Provide advisory support to senior management on the strategic positioning of UNDP in Botswana's development process;
• Produce analysis notes on the socio-economic situation, reporting on the country's macroeconomic and sectoral performance and progress in terms of human development. These notes are reference documents that help to clarify the strategic directions of UNDP assistance;
• Support the formulation and implementation of the Sustainable Inclusive Economic Transformation Program, in support of the policy dialogue that UNDP will lead on this issue, and report on progress made against the assigned objectives; 
• Provide technical analysis and substantive contributions to the formulation of the UNSDCF, CPD, and other strategic documents;
• Advise on areas where UNDP support and/or adjustment of ongoing programs may be needed to ensure alignment with national policies and priorities; 
• Support the production and launch of economic reports, including National Human Development Reports;
• Participate in subregional, regional, and interagency initiatives related to socioeconomic development; 
• Represent UNDP in various working groups, including those involved in implementing and monitoring the national development plan and the institutional bodies responsible for monitoring and operationalizing the SDGs;
• Support the establishment of a modern and efficient data information system, particularly for socioeconomic indicators, to inform UNDP programs.

Technical support and strategic advice to the Government and facilitation of capacity building

• Support the Government, in particular, to ensure better coordination and monitoring of public policy implementation; 
• Provide quality contributions to knowledge networks and specialized practice communities by identifying best practices and lessons learned from experience;
• Participate in the evaluation of the country's macroeconomic policies and their impact on poverty and inequality reduction, growth, economic transformation, etc.;
• Participate in training and support capacity building for government representatives, public institutions, and UNDP staff on macroeconomic and inclusive human development issues, including modeling.

Advise on advocacy for Sustainable Human Development (SHD) concepts

• Provide technical support for the preparation of the National Human Development Report (NHRD) and the organization of the national workshop to launch the Global Human Development Report and discuss the SHD;
• Facilitate policy dialogue and follow up with national authorities to ensure that the SHD concept is reflected in national development strategies;
• Support the Government, both technically and in terms of policy dialogue, in the formulation and implementation of the Botswana Economic Development Programme and the National Development Plan, including the establishment of resource mobilization mechanisms;
• Ensure the technical quality of the contributions expected from UNDP in conducting surveys on poverty and household living conditions, supporting capacity building for the national statistical system, monitoring the country's poverty and vulnerability profile, including the MPI, and tracking progress on the development indicators identified under the 2030 Agenda.

Ensure support and advice for the integrated implementation of the SDGs in Botswana and the generation of SDG data

• Act as the Project Manager of Public Finance for the SGDs Global Project under the supervision of the RR and the DRR/P and promote private sector development; 
• Identify, establish and consolidate programmatic and policy partnership with the private sector, IFIs, on programme innovations to accelerate SDG achievement in the country;
• Lead UNDP’s substantive work on strengthening the capacity of national counterparts on SDG planning and decision making based on a strengthened SDG data management system, integrated processes specifically related to data collection templates and other reporting requirements;
• Support relevant stakeholders in SDG reporting to include metadata for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality and completeness and influence evidence-based analysis to feed into policy and programme decision-making processes;
• Keep abreast of financing trends, horizon and partnership scanning, maintain relations with donors, the private sector and foundations to reinforce programmatic collaboration and innovative financing opportunities;
• Support programmes teams and national counterpart mechanisms in resource mobilization efforts and strategies, collaborating with them to foster innovative approaches to donor interactions, assisting and learning from them on how to exploit potentially new resource mobilization activities.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

The National Economic Specialist will report directly to the UNDP Resident Representative.

Competencies

Cross-Functional/Technical competencies

2030 Agenda: Partnership

• SDG Finance
  • Blended Finance for the SDGs;
  • Public Finance for the SDGs;
  • Integrated National Financing Frameworks and Portfolios;
  • Taxation and the SDGs;
  • Governance and Coordination for the Financing of the SDGs.
• SDG Integration
  • Economy-wide analysis Institutional and Context analysis Rapid Integrated Assessment SDG Monitoring and Reporting Macroeconomic Models/ Analysis.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Effectiveness
  • Strategic policy advice in the context of Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (FfD);
  • Global monitoring of SDG 17 indicators.

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Climate
  • Climate Strategies and Policy: Financing Strategies, Plans and Investment Frameworks;
  • Carbon Market;
  • Unlocking finance for climate change adaptation (public and private).

Partnership Engagement

• Resource Mobilization
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Partnership Management

• Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding
  • Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Education Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in in economics and social policy, public policy, sustainable development, public Finance, economics, development studies, or related field is required, or;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in economics and social policy, sustainable development, public finance, and/or data analysis is required , etc.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Experience and strong track record in multi-stakeholder partnership building and dealing with both public and private sectors, international and/or intergovernmental organisations;
• Experience in the provision of economic or development policy advocacy;
• Practical skills in IT/statistical and econometric software for economic modelling and presentations; web-based management and advanced econometric and statistical data analysis software (Eviews, SAS, SPSS, STATA, etc.);
• Good knowledge of innovative financing mechanisms;
• Experiences in formulation of concept notes, position papers, economic analysis and project management
• Experience with a proven track record in resource mobilization and partnership engagement;
• Good analytical and communication skills/experience 

Desirable Criteria

• Good and proven understanding of macroeconomic and budgetary issues, poverty and inequality, human development, youth employment and empowerment policies in Botswana;
• Experience in development project design and monitoring and evaluation, in research, policy analysis, and writing related studies/reports.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

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