Economic Policy Advisor

Islamabad

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Islamabad
Grade: Administrative support - NPSA-5, National Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Political Affairs
- Legal - Broad
- Economics
- Capacity Development
- NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON SDGS
Closing Date: Closed

Background

At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change challenges by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but go much further than the MDGs, addressing the root causes of poverty and the need for development framework that is applicable to all the people from developed and developing world. The Government of Pakistan shows strong commitment to the implementation and achievement of SDGs.

In October 2015, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI) launched SDGs in Pakistan. In February 2016, the National Assembly of Pakistan adopted SDGs as national development agenda. Pakistan Vision 2025 and other provincial strategies reflect SDGs as development priorities.

UNDP Pakistan has partnered with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and set up SDGs Support Units at the federal level and launched a five years project titled ‘National Initiative for SDGs’ in 2016. The project aims to support localization of SDGs at the national level and coordinate closely with all other SDG Support Units established at provincial level and area government levels. The project focuses on four key areas of intervention: 1) SDGs mainstreaming through policy integration and coordination; 2) strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanism; 3) financing for development; and 4) applying innovative approaches to accelerate progress on SDGs.

This unit is located at Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, MoPD&SI Islamabad. The Federal SDG Support Unit needs the services of Economic Policy Advisor. The Economic Policy Advisor will be responsible for the analysis and advice on issues related to economic development, poverty reduction, innovative policy making, capacity development, knowledge building and management, creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy functions for the implementation of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Project Manager, Economic Policy Advisor advises project management on development policies and trends and relevant linkages to Project outputs and analysis for formulation of strategies and briefings. The Economic Policy Advisor will work closely with Government counterparts to identify alternative economic and development policy options and to enhance the policy impact of the project. The Economic Policy Advisor regularly monitor economic, political, social and environment policy developments and advises on policy issues. S/he contributes to policy dialogue with the Government and other stakeholders.

Following are the duties & responsibilities of Economic Policy Advisor:

1. Provides high quality analysis and advice on issues related to economic development and poverty reduction that could inform national and sub-national policies with regard to the achievement of relevant targets of SDGs.

Undertake high quality analysis and interpretation of economic and statistical data with a view to provide policy and strategic advice to the Project.
Prepare policy papers and briefs for senior government and UNDP officials and project management on issues related to economic development, poverty, and inequality.
Identification of policy interventions which the Project and areas for UNDP support and interventions.
Analysis of public policies aimed at economic development, poverty and inequality reduction with the objective to assess their effectiveness and impact and provide recommendations accordingly.
Analysis of trends and policy frameworks at the regional and global level with the objective to identify lessons that could inform the policy discourse in Pakistan.
Provide policy advice to all the SDG Support Units and collaborate with provincial planning departments on related issues.
Substantively contribute to the Project Progress and other reports.
Supervise the work of any consultants and other organizations which the project may engage in relation the work of this post.
Organize national, sub-national and where required international workshops and where needed present the Project.
Reviews and disseminates best practices and lessons learnt from implementation of the Project and contribute to knowledge management.

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 pro-poor growth and the attainment of the SDGs focusing on achievement of the following results:

Collects, analyses and syntheses macro-economic, SDGs related information and best practices, paying attention to the capacity development aspects, and proposes policy options to relevant government departments.
Provides high-quality policy advice to government, UN partners, and other strategic partners on economic issues.
Organizes capacity development opportunities for government officials in the formulation of SDG-based policies, plans and programmes, including appropriate macroeconomic, fiscal, and medium-term expenditure frameworks.
Keeps abreast of regional and global economic trends and issues and analyse their implications for the realization of the SDGs in Pakistan.

3. Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identify entry points to development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, 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 MDGs and SDGs, and donors’ priorities;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;
Keeps track of the changes in the aid effectiveness/development cooperation environment and external resource management matters and assists Government and UNDP in resource mobilization to meet the SDGs through, among other things, preparation of documentation for donor and consultative meetings;
Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, Government Strategies (especially Vision 2025), country needs, particularly in relation to the SDGs, and donors’ priorities.

The incumbent of the position will uphold the non-discriminatory behavior and ensure that:

Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc.

Competencies

A Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through the following link: https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

Core Competencies:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work;

Critically assesses established methods;

Contributes to prototyping, piloting, and evaluating lessons / feedback

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Creates new opportunities for team, not just self to learn and take on new responsibilities. Actively shares knowledge.

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction; Demonstrates behaviors of teamwork, collaboration, knowledge sharing, maintaining relationships.

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform; Communicates ideas and positions with command and confidence. Finds common ground to solve problems.

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement; Embraces complex challenges and opportunities for getting work done; Ability to embrace challenges with minimal supervision; Works to develop organizational awareness of UNDP’s approach to client service delivery and integrity and accountability.

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Diversity

Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created. Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc.

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Gender

Displays gender sensitivity and promotes gender equality in all aspects of work

Knowledge of systems for gender mainstreaming and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situation

Level 5: Displays gender sensitivity and promotes gender equality in all aspects of work. Knowledge of systems for gender mainstreaming and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situation.

Desired additional skills and competencies

Execute and learn

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Managing for Results

Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet desired results.

Strategic approach to problem solving

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Partnering & Networking

Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external/ bilateral/ multilateral/public/private; civil society).

Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices • Demonstrates ability to handle working relationships with senior officials, academics and technical experts.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Innovation & Judgment

Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate.

Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Economics

Min. years of relevant Work experience

At least five (5) years after master’s degree experience in analysis and policy formulation in economic development, Poverty reduction, SDGs strategic allingnmnet and planning and financing for development in development sector, a government, international/regional financial institution/organization or research organization (including UN). Having a PhD and development sector experience will be preferred.
Substantial experience with development of strategies, cincpet notes, work plans and processes in developing country contexts and awareness of SDGs related policy matters and aid effectiveness issues.
Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, including in formulation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies and development programmes/projects.
Demonstrated experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling data and programmes for statistical analysis of data.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Proficient in verbal and written English and Urdu

Job knowledge and Expertise

Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands.
Possesses extensive knowledge of economic development issues and familiarity with major macro-economic policy issues and models and the SDGs. Capable of applying economic theory to the specific country context.
Demonstrates strong quantitative skills and the ability to carry out high quality economic research, including statistical analysis.
Possesses proven ability to analyze from a global perspective, with the ability to offer practical policy advice on economic issues based on local realities.
Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Travel

Travel both; domestic and international may be required for this position.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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