Economist Specialist IPSA 11

UNDP Jordan is implementing a new  2023-2027 CPD. focusing mainly on : (i) development of policies geared towards fostering inclusive and diversified green growth and the blue economy, (ii) enhancing the contributions of the formal and informal private sector to productivity, added value and livelihoods by amplifying their capacity, creating an enabling environment, addressing bottlenecks and challenges that inhibit growth, through innovations in product and cluster development, microfinance and financial inclusion, and by expanding the capacity of vulnerable groups to participate in economic life, (iii) leveraging youth and economically active women through capacity-building, enhancing the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and supporting the creation of economic opportunities to promote a more productive and innovative private sector, (iv) creating high added-value niche products and services, leveraging cultural and natural diversity, developing sustainable economic ecosystems, boosting quality, and using marketing and branding to target higher-end markets. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Representative, the Senior Advisor/ Economist acts in his/her capacity to undertake 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 Jordan. The Economist 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.

To achieve the country objectives outlined above, the Economist supervises/works in close collaboration UNDP team, as well as with programme management and operations units, programme staff in other UN Agencies, staff of UNDP HQs, and regional and sub-regional centers.

The Senior Advisor/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 Advisor/Economist monitors economic policy developments and advises senior management.

 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 Advisor/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.

Functions/ Key Results Expected

The Senior Advisor/Economist, among others, will discharge the following responsibilities and tasks:

1. High-Quality Policy Analysis:

• Makes full use of policy and analytical instruments and modalities (e.g., SEIA, CRNA, DFA, MAPS, and other assessments) to inform the substantive content of national development plans, policies, and programmes, to advance the 2030 Agenda.
• Is responsible for the coordination of UNDP/UN Joint Office’s contributions to strategy and policy documents and related assessments, including dialogue with government counterparts, RCO, and other UN agencies (e.g., PCNA+, INFF).
• Supports implementation of the Blue Economy initiative as a catalyst for green recovery and investment plans and their linkages with financial inclusion.
• Supports establishment and implementation and/or consolidation of a comprehensive Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) roadmap across different building blocks;
• Supports launching and/or consolidation of a Development Financing Assessment (DFA) to analyze the current state of public, private, domestic, and foreign resources with respect to the countries’ development priorities and offer an INFF Roadmap.
• Develops a roadmap for SDG financing and explore different financing tools to strengthen the Country Office’s work on SDG Impact, engagement with the private sector, social entrepreneurship, and climate financing.

2. Strategic Policy Advisory Services to Senior Management:

• Provide policy support to Senior Management on SDG financing
• Provide policy advisory support to Senior Management and government and scaling up financing for the SDGs at country level
• Provide advisory support and leverage internal and external expertise for public finance frameworks for development.

• Provides high-quality development advice to the RR in policy dialogues with the government, 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.
• Contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice in close collaboration with UN agencies, the IFIs, and other development partners.
• Contributes substantively to knowledge and development exchanges.
• Facilitates policy dialogue with the Government, donors, civil society, and the private sector;
• Provides policy options on economic diversification, livelihoods generation, development finance, macroeconomics, and other issues as relevant;
• Provides authoritative advice on possible areas for UNDP support and adjustment of ongoing programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with local, national, regional, and international policies and priorities, including in the areas of Trade and Sustainable Finance;
• Contributes to the resource mobilization of the COs for projects and programmes related to the SDGs.

3. Leads the establishment of new strategic partnerships with non-traditional stakeholders to strengthen SDG impact and acceleration in Jordan, achieving the following results:

• In close consultation with the UNDP SDG Finance team of the Regional Bureau for the Arab States (RBAS), in collaboration with the UNDP Global Policy Network, provide support to the Country Office to elevate social, economic, and environmental impacts of private sector investments in the context of SDGs
• Facilitate UNDP engagement on SDG impact, with particular emphasis on innovative financing instruments and impact/social investment.
• Mobilize private sector sources for SDG finance through a combination of activities focused on impact advisory (impact measurement and management (IMM) approaches, metrics, and standards), identifying SGD targeting business-based solutions, aligning business strategies and operations with SDGs, impact performance incentives for both capital providers and recipient businesses.
• Follow up and supervise the work on Inclusive Insurance and Risk Financing with the government and insurance companies.

4. Advocacy:

• 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.

5. Perform any other duties

4.      Institutional Arrangement

The Senior Advisor/Economist will report to the Deputy Resident Representative and work closely and in coordination with country office team leaders, and he/she will be supervising the Partnerships and Financing UNV, other UNVS, IUNVs, and NPSA personnel working on areas related to the Country Office work on financing for development.

People Management

The Senior Advisor/Economist will supervise UNVS, IUNVs, and NPSA personnel working on areas related to the Country Office work on financing for development.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies