Background 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 
 
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to  crises and  shock. In  addition, UNDP  now  has the  mandate  to  support  SDG Integration  to  ensure faster  progress  on sustainable development and offers support in four areas, (1) integrated policy and  programming solutions, (2) SDG metrics, data and analysis using state-of-the-art tools for modelling and forecasting, (3) knowledge and innovation and (4) SDG Financing options to help countries identify innovative ways to expand public and private contributions to reach the 2030 agenda. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted an urgent need to adopt a Systems Approach that is orientated towards  building Resilience  to  future shocks  through  continuously reviewed  scenario  analyses.

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office (CO)’s portfolio consists of three strategic development areas – environment, climate change and resilience; governance and rule of law; and inclusive prosperity. The UNDP’s programming on poverty reduction and inclusive prosperity focuses on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government of Lao PDR to strengthen national capacities on planning, financing and implementation of pro-poor/green growth policies, including a comprehensive social protection system. 

UNDP is launching a new project on planning and financing, the National Planning and Financing for Inclusive Development (NPFID) project as a scale-up of its technical and institutional-building support to the GoL. NPFID aims to create a ground for the first time for the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to fulfil their planning and financing functions in a much more coordinated manner. Moreover, the project is expected to contribute to improving the alignment of financing with planning processes at the central, sectoral, and provincial levels, and help further strengthen the coordinating role of the MPI by building additional capacity for the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of more effective planning. Building on the launching of the 6th National Human Development Report in 2022, the Poverty Reduction Unit (PRU) is exploring options to implement recommendations of the report with a portfolio of interventions that focus on continued support for research and advocacy, youth employment and youth participation. PRU has supported several initiatives on women and youth livelihoods in the past and various assessments to contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.  The unit is seeking to strengthen its livelihoods and employment portfolio through high-impact, innovative solutions and new partners.

The National Economist work will work under the guidance of the UNDP International/Country Economist, and is expected to work closely with the PRU to achieve the address mentioned priorities. She/he is expected to work closely with both programme and operations teams and is expected to contribute to other strategic programmatic areas of UNDP Lao PDR where relevant. The successful candidate is expected to develop and maintain a professional network across, government institutions, development partner agencies, the private sector, and civil society at the country level. The successful candidate is expected to coordinate priority activity with the Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific as well as the Global Policy Network (GPN), based in Bangkok. S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. 


Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will: (i) support UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD, 2022–2026) relevant to inclusive prosperity; (ii) support economic, sector and thematic work  across planning and financing reforms, human development, youth and SDGs and related policy-relevant issues of strategic interest to the CO; (iii) undertake collaborative research with other CO specialists in-country and with UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), external experts and relevant ministries, research institutions and academic (iv) support the preparation and dissemination of research outputs, background reports or flagship publications that require the provision of macro-economic and human development related inputs and analysis.

Research and analysis support 

  • Monitors and reports to the CO on economic and sector policy trends, and socio-economic developments.
  • Leads policy-relevant research on macroeconomic and fiscal policy issues such as analysis of economic growth, macroeconomic development and stability, international trade and capital flows, employment creation and poverty, debt management and capital markets development, public finance, and analysis of revenue streams for financing for development, green economy, and foresight and anticipatory planning and human development.
  • Works independently and in research teams to produce high quality, operationally relevant knowledge products, specifically relevant to the national planning and financing reforms.
  • Provides support to management through preparation of briefing notes, speeches, and policy notes as required.
  • Provide analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including through the publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
  • Support the preparation of policy briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical sustainable development issues. 
  • Compile and analyze statistical data as required in support of country strategies and knowledge products 
  • Identify and analyze data sources to monitor key economic trends and policies 
  • Track publications and data published by other UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society.
  • Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Support to programme management, delivery and resource mobilisation 

  • Supports quality assurance in the implementation of relevant areas/activities of projects and programmes, including NPFID, in line with UNDP quality requirements.
  • Leverages technical expertise across the CO and BRH in delivering projects and strategic activities relating to planning and financing, human development, youth and SDGs.
  • Assists in maintaining team awareness of relevant government priorities, plans, announcements and laws, including translation of written materials and interpretation during meetings with international staff/consultants.
  • Provides technical support and guidance to the Project’s personnel, consultants, Government’s implementing partners and donors on the content of the Project’s work planning and activities on an ongoing basis where required. 
  • Participates in the formulation of new project proposals and individual activities in the areas of the planning and financing, economic diversification, human development, youth and SDGs in line with UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (2022-2026), and Lao PDR-United Nations Cooperation Framework (2022-2026)
  • Provides technical inputs to the review/monitoring of the CPD by conducting, reporting, and disseminating the results of relevant research outputs and publications.

Knowledge Management

  • Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, through attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews and regularly provide inputs to the monthly newsletter and other regional research initiatives. 
  • Actively and regularly participates in knowledge and research dissemination on thematic areas across planning and financing reforms, human development, youth and SDGs.
  • Facilitate collaboration, networking and advocacy with key stakeholders from the Government of Lao PDR, UN agencies, private sector, academia and research institutes. 

 Other tasks 

  • Performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the CO and the UNDP.

 Competencies

Core Competencies: 

  • Achieve Results:  ​​LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.​ 
  • Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management competencies: 

  • UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Development  

  • Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
  • Integration within the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations
  • Working with Evidence and Data:  Ability to inspect, clean, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making

2030 Agenda

Prosperity: Inclusive Growth       

  • Development Planning
  • Economic Transformation, Policy, and Planning
  • Public Expenditure and Financial Management
  • Multidimensional Poverty and Human Development
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Master’s degree, or equivalent, in economics with specialization in one or more of the following fields: macroeconomics, public finance, economic development, econometrics.   
Experience:
  • At least 5 years of relevant professional work experience related to economic research/ analysis, development planning, macroeconomic or sector policy formulation, private sector development or fiscal policy.
  • Strong quantitative, analytical, and conceptual skills.
  • Demonstrated expertise in economic research and development in Laos.
  • Evidence of high-quality research outputs and publications.
  • Good command of statistical softwares (i.e., Stata, SAS, E-views, R)
  • Knowledge and experience in government administration and processes within Lao PDR
  • Excellent oral and written communications in English and Lao
  • Previous experience in providing translation and interpretation support preferred.

Professional Certificate: 

  • ACCA, CIPS, CISCO, etc. 
Disclaimer

 

 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

 
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.

 
Non-discrimination

 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

 
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