Economic Advisor

Globally, UNDP has a mandate to support SDG Integration to achieve 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 strategies to mobilize public and private resources to reach the 2030 agenda. 

The Economic Advisor works under the guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative in the country and collaborates closely with the programme and operations teams in the Country Office, the Accelerator Lab, and the Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific, including the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. S/he will develop and maintain a professional network across development partner agencies, government institutions, the private sector, academic institutions and civil society at the country level.

At COP 26, Viet Nam pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to phase out coal power generation in the 2040s. These commitments represent an historic challenge for a country that has pursued an energy-intensive strategy of development, integrating into global production systems especially in manufacturing. Moreover, Viet Nam is among the countries in the region most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The energy transition and adaptation to climate change are therefore the main focus of the work of theEconomic Advisor. 

The negative impact of climate change threatens to derail Viet Nam’s steady development progress, with particularly serious consequences for people and communities vulnerable to flooding, drought and storms, and to pronounced shifts in the labor market and prices of essential goods. The transition to renewable energy will contribute to Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and will strengthen the country’s energy security and protect export markets. However careful monitoring of the distribution of costs and benefits of the transition to renewable energy is needed to ensure that the transition leaves no one behind. UNDP also works closely with government and other partners on issues relating to sustainable financing for the energy transition, energy security and carbon markets. Other policy priorities relating to sustainability in the promotion of circular economy approaches, biodiversity conservation and the blue economy. 

Viet Nam has achieved great success in reducing multidimensional poverty. While official measures of inequality are stable, specific groups have benefited less from growth than others and are at risk of economic, social and cultural marginalization. Viet Nam’s social protection system has not kept pace with economic and social change, and reform is long overdue. The current approach, which concentrates on attacking pockets of poverty, has lost relevance as the country, urbanizes, industrializes and ages. As the rate of migration accelerates, the issue of access to affordable housing and essential services in cities will become more important. Although women and girls have equal access to education, progress in other dimensions of gender equality has stalled. UNDP is a leading voice advocating a more creative, active role for youth in development policy and programming.

The Economic Advisor will work under the overall supervision and quality assurance of UNDP Vietnam Resident Representative/ Deputy Resident Representative and in close coordination with Assistant Resident Representative, Head of Inclusive Growth Unit and other relevant UNDP programme units. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Summary of key functions:

• Advise UNDP country office management and programme team to strengthen programme development and implementation.
• Provision of technical advice to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies and build strategic partnerships to support UNDP’s institutional positioning.
• Contribute to CO policy research output management of CO policy research initiatives, including the CO policy brief series.
• Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas.

Advise Country Office management and programme team to strengthen programme development and implementation

• Advise UNDP country office management and programme teams with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the development of country programme document and related analysis.
• Advise and support UNDP country office programme teams to identify and develop strategic thematic portfolios, taking into account the existing policy environment, economic factors and opportunities for policy reform in line with mandate of UNDP.
• Lead and provide analysis and research in priority and strategic thematic areas at the country level.
• Provide advice and support the UNDP country office programme teams with the analysis of the economic implications of work in key areas including sustainable domestic financing, circular economy, green growth, the Just Energy Transition, the ocean economy, climate change adaptation and mitigation, the development of carbon markets and the implications of climate agreements and negotiations on trade.
• Facilitate the preparation of policy briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc. on critical development issues within the SDG framework for senior management at the country and regional levels.
• Lead the development of National Human Development Report (NHDR) and ensure that it provides added value in terms of development economic analysis, updated data and information for policy formulation.
  Compile and analyze statistical data as required in support of UNDP country programme and activities.
• Collaborate across UNDP teams, especially to ensure linkages to the Country Office policy agenda.

Provide technical advice to national government counterparts and other partners and build partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate:

• Work closely with programme teams to identify strategic development opportunities, needs, gaps, and challenges, promote and facilitate dialogue with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector; at the national, provincial and regional levels.
• Identify interventions with the potential to deliver progress in one or more development goals and targets.
• Support programme teams in consolidating and providing inputs to the development of the Government’s policy framework.
• Leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes to create synergies with CO programmes and Government initiatives.
• Leverage support and expertise from UNDP’s global/regional economist networks to strengthen 
• UNDP Government and UN Country Team economic analysis and policy development capacity;
• Advise and support SDG monitoring and reporting of progress and monitoring of national development frameworks relating to UN treaties, conventions and agreements to which Viet Nam is a signatory, including strengthening of national and local level data collection and statistical capacity.
• 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, financial institutions and civil society.
• Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Contribute to CO policy research output management of CO policy research initiatives, including the CO policy brief series.

• Conduct original policy research in areas relating to the mandate of UNDP and programmatic priorities as described in the Country Programme Document and related agreements and plans.
• In collaboration with programme teams, Government counterparts and other stakeholders, formulate a forward-looking policy research agenda that contributes to Viet Nam’s development goals and the contribution of the CO to achieving these goals.
• Manage the CO economic policy research agenda and policy research initiatives in collaboration with the programme teamsPublish a UNDP policy brief series to .
• highlight CO analytical work.

Collaborate actively with global and regional teams active in economic and policy work including the regional economists’ network;

• 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.
• Collaborate and contribute to regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports.
• Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing).
• Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

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.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management           

• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
• Human-centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.

Digital & Innovation   

• Data literacy: Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation.; Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real-time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration.
• Co-creation: Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.; Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders, understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into them as a source for creativity.; Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing

Programme & Policy  

• Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement: Data/Analytics for early warning and crisis management
• SDG Integration: Economy-wide analysis · Engagement with South-South Global Thinkers

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics or related field is required. 
• 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.
• A PhD in these disciplines would be an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level that includes extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, with some experience in design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects.
• Demonstrated experience in policy, advisory and advocacy is required. 
• Having a track record of publications in Economics, Development, Environmental or Energy Economics, or related fields is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is required.
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers is desired. 
• Experience and knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement is desired.
• Demonstrated capacity in statistical analysis, especially the presentation of statistical and econometric results in a manner accessible to policy makers and the public is desired.
• Senior level relevant work experience in Vietnam or Asia and the Pacific Region will be preferred.

Required Languages:

• Fluent in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desired.