Development Economist

The Development Economist provides policy and programme support on economic, development and social issues at the country office level in alignment with the aims of the Government of Malaysia and the 2030 development agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 2024-2025 will be a critical year for national policymaking as Malaysia embarks on the 13th Malaysia Plan that sets out its mid-term development plan to achieve its national goals by 2030. Additionally, the development economist also provides support in the design of Programme and projects, and assessment of UNDP impact, including supporting the development of the CDP for 2026-2030. The CPD will be drafted based on the strategic priorities of the country and the CO, requiring internal analytical expertise.

As an Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC), the CO’s value is to provide thought leadership and analytical support to the Government of Malaysia through leveraging on the expertise of the CO, GPN and UNDP’s broader network and partners. The Development Economist plays an important role to fulfill this function by conducting research and producing analytical reports that inform decision making on sustainable development policy, inclusive economic development growth and human development.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Advise the UNDP country office management and programme team to strengthen programme development and implementation:

• Advise UNDP country office management with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies.
• Provide top quality analysis and substantive inputs to the Country Programme Document (CPD), Common Country Assessments (CCA), UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and other strategic documents.
• Provide advice on possible areas for UNDP support and adjustment of on-going programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities.
• Analyze economic and development environment and synthesize proposals on possible areas for UNDP support to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities and are strategically positioned.
• Advise in conceptualization of projects with a policy focus, including drafting of concept notes and providing inputs for project proposals; and
• Facilitate flagship publications and programme implementation, including on human development, sustainable financing and support for the 13th Malaysia plan.
• Provision of technical and policy advice to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and national development and economic policies:
• Provide analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
• Lead the preparation of policy briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical development issues at the country and level.
• Ensures economic and policy inputs to all relevant UNDP programmes and projects for aligning UNDP programmes with national policies and priorities.
• Contribute to the assessment of the country’s development and economic policies and strategies in their impact on sustainable development.
• Lead and ensure contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice; and
• Develop and facilitate collaboration and partnership with academia, think thanks and research networks.
• Deliver high-quality knowledge products addressing contemporary economic, environmental and social issues, through research, data analysis, which provide evidence-based insights to inform policy decisions, legislation, and public discourse.

Establish and maintains strategic partnerships, lead programme design and implementation of the Country Office resource mobilization strategy:

• Contribute, in close collaboration with senior management, to the development and/or strengthening of partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society.
• When delegated, represent UNDP country office in relevant forums, conferences or workshops, including to present research or programmatic results.
• Facilitate the Senior Economist/Head of Sustainable Development Policy in resource mobilization and future growth strategies and contribute to the design of programmes and development solutions; and
• Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Promote awareness of and support advocacy for UNDP mandate and mission:

• Contribute to policy advocacy for Human Development and inclusive sustainable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
• Provide support to monitoring progress and formulation of strategies towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Produce high quality research papers for UNDP presentation at national and international workshops and conferences.
• Produce blogs, op-eds, articles, etc on development issues and UNDP Programmes and projects activities.
• Manage events and publications on economic issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Economics, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level that includes extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, and some experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Experience in research and policy-level analysis is required.
• Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience is required.
• Experience in preparing high-quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policymakers is desired.
• Experience and knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level is an asset.,
• Experience in handling web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is required.
• Previous work experience in Asia and the Pacific region, and specifically Malaysia, would be an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge web-based management systems such as ERP and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is required.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency Bahasa Melayu is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/18439