Development Coordination Officer, Economist, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator – the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Nouakchott, Mauritania and typically reports to the Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer /Economist will be responsible for the following duties:

Summary of Functions:

• Plans, facilitates and consolidates evidence-based analysis of the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), providing substantive advice to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), particularly on elements pertaining to SDG Acceleration, economic transformation agenda (including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work) and SDG financing.
• Advocates and supports RC’s and UNCT’s advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships within the UN System, with national counterparts in government and other relevant partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to support the reframing of economic policies and practices for SDG acceleration, economic transformation and leveraging SDG financing.
• Coordinates the development by the UNCT of a new generation of an integrated SDG programming cycle (including development of roadmaps, Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), UN Joint Programmes, as well as Annual Reports and others) that promoted SDG acceleration, advances the economic transformation agenda and outlines a clear approach to SDG financing in programming countries.
• Plans and directs knowledge generation and management around the SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG acceleration and financing agendas, in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in programme countries.

Description of Functions:

• Plans, facilitates, and consolidates evidence-based analysis of the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing substantive advice to the RC and UNCT, particularly on elements pertaining to SDG acceleration, the economic transformation agenda (including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work) and leveraging SDG financing.
  • Researches, analyzes, consolidates, and presents information and data on emerging best practices in SDG acceleration, economic transformation for sustainable development, including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work, among others; paying special attention to gender and leave no one behind (LNOB) principles.
  • Provides advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing.
  • Guides substantive support to the RC/UNCT on SDG-related issues, particularly on policies to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, through incorporating a systems approach, and evaluates and highlights potential synergies and trade-offs between SDGs;
  • Works with UNCT counterparts to create common, convergent and coherent key advocacy topics related to SDG acceleration, sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing, helping identify and analyze entry points for catalytic and consolidated UN policy support options, to enable the transition to more efficient, low-carbon and resilient production and consumption patterns, maximizing social, environmental and economic outcomes that impact the implementation of multiple SDGs and their targets, with proposed ‘accelerator interventions’ that can help unlock and accelerate progress towards sustainable development;
  • Collects and analyzes data on UN country level operations in support of SDG acceleration and the implementation of the economic transformation agenda and SDG financing, identifies gaps and proposes follow-up actions;
  • Working in close collaboration with the UNCT, researches, develops and presents policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge based-tools, and supports discussion in country-level forums to help influence and advance policy dialogue and advocate to reframe economic policies and practices around economic transformation to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs;
  • Coordinates the preparation of UN flagship reports on SDG acceleration, economic transformation and leveraging SDG financing, including the analysis of data and the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions to advance multiple SDGs at a time;
  • Monitors regional and global economic trends and issues, analyzes their implications for SDG acceleration at the country level and recommends additional issues for consideration.
  • Conducts and consolidates analytical work to strengthen the understanding of the catalytic role of innovative SDG Financing in the context of SDG accleration and the green economic transformation; identifying opportunities to align key SDG Financing stakeholders in the context of economic transformation and green growth.
  • Analyzes trends and provides advice and support on new and innovative mechanisms to leverage SDG financing, including on global initiatives by the UN and other development institutions(e.g. IFIs).
  • Provides inputs for briefing papers and discussion/talking points on issues related to SDG financing for consideration by the RC/the UNCT.
  • Supports UNCT initiatives to advance SDG financing, including in the context of an Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF).
  • Provides economic analysis and advice as inputs into the cross-pillar (humanitarian-development-peace) nexus approaches in country.
• Provide technical advice on innovative policies related to the economy and sustainable development goals. Supports RC’s and UNCT’s, advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships with the UN system, with national counterparts in government and other relevant partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to support the reframing of economic policies and practices around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing.
  • Fosters peer-exchanges and opens a consistent channel of communication and strong partnerships with economists within the UN System at country level to create and consolidate common, convergent and coherent advocacy opportunities on topics related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing.
  • Working in close collaboration with the RCO Partnerships Officer, ensures effective engagement of all relevant counterparts to develop collaboration and partnerships around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing, for example with national planning or economic offices, IFIs, the private sector, etc.
  • Stays abreast and follows latest developments in analytical work, policy, financial and capacity development support provided by other relevant development partners (including IFIs, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia, the private sector, and others) on topics related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing and identifies opportunities for collaboration.
  • Engages with the private sector to strengthen understanding of its potential contribution to SDG acceleration, the green economic transformation agenda, and to identify private and/or public-private catalytic SDG financing opportunities for the achievement of the SDGs.
  • Contributes to dialogue with partners to improve development aid policies and practices and achieve the SDGs.
  • Follows regional and global economic trends and analyze their impact on achieving the SDGs at the national level.
  • Monitors and regularly assess the implementation of the national development plan to exploit new opportunities, development priorities, partnerships, etc., and thus feed into the UN work
  • Liaises and coordinate between the Government’s working groups and the UN program management group to contribute to presenting and defining the UN’s operational strategies, including differentiated value propositions aimed at attracting both traditional and non-traditional partners.
  • Advises the UNCT and the Government on inclusive economic growth models
  • Conducts analysis to support governments to develop investment programs.
• Coordinates the development by the UNCT of a new generation of an integrated SDG programming cycle (including the development of roadmaps, CCA, UNSDCF, UN joint programmes as well as Annual Reports and others) that advances the economic transformation agenda and outlines a clear approach to SDG financing in programme countries.
  • Supports the RC/UNCT in ensuring a strong SDG acceleration and SDG financing analysis through an integrated lens in the preparation of the Common Country Analyses and other analytical exercises;
  • Identifies issues and proposes recommendations for the UNCT on how UN country-level programming around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and integrated policy responses can be optimized and better respond to sustainable development needs and emerging trends in country;
  • Guides the development and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, ensuring a strong and integrated UNCT engagement on SDG acceleration, the economic transformation and SDG financing agendas in the country;
  • Contributes to the UN joint programming to strengthen the formulation of a new generation of UN joint programmes to promote SDG acceleration (including those that are supported by the Joint SDG Fund) ensuring that they are oriented towards investment, and have impact at the national level;
  • Assists UNCT Results Groups in the implementation of joint workplans to ensure SDG-relevant and SDG-responsive UN operational activities for development;
  • Proposes recommendations to enhance UN support to governmental and multi-stakeholder processes on policy development and capacity development for SDG acceleration.
• Plans and directs knowledge management around SDG acceleration, the economic transformation and SDG financing agendas, in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in programme countries.
  • Promotes collaboration, peer support, innovation, good practices, lessons learned, needs, and opportunities through active facilitation and/or participation to local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks within the Resident Coordinator System, across the UN (including the UN Economist Network) and beyond.
  • Researches, analyzes and presents best practices and lessons learned from implementation of UN policy initiatives and programming for SDG acceleration and economic transformation, with a view to advising the RC and UNCT on actions to strengthen the policy orientation of the UN;
  • Monitors and analyzes good practices and successful models to leverage SDG financing implemented by the UN in country and elsewhere, and suggests options for developing these into bankable national SDG investment policies and programmes;
  • Keeps abreast of emerging innovative approaches in the areas of SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing, and proposes new ways of working, where relevant;
  • Reflects on processes of his/ her work area at key milestones and generates knowledge valuable to others in the RC system/ UN Country Teams.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Proven ability to share knowledge and experience and to identify and disseminate best practices. Ability to write and express complex economic ideas to different audiences including the General Public. Skills in shaping and leading new and transformative agendas, bringing through leadership and analysis together with delivery capacity for maximum client impact is required
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, development studies or public policy, public finance. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research and analysis in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Record experience working with international financial and private institutions, or similar organizations is required. Proven experience working with senior government officials to resolve complex economic problems and/or provide policy advice at the national level is required. Policy Making experience is desired. Knowledge of economics is essential; familiarity with development economics and relevant development experience at the national or international level is desired. Ability to apply development economics theory and specific global agendas/processes to the specific country context and carry out high-quality economic development research is desired. Knowledge of the SDGs and the UN Normative agenda and their application at the national level is desired. Demonstrated understanding of issues related to SDG financing is desired. Proven experience coordinating multi-stakeholder spaces and participatory assessment processes; ability to collaborate with others, to give his/her own perspective, and to be open to diverse perspectives is desired. Outstanding analytical and writing skills with an ability to convey complex ideas in a simple, clear, and lively style and experience using computers and office software packages, including programmes for statistical analysis of data is desired.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in French is required. Fluency in English and Arabic is desired.

Application instructions

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