Economist, P4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 01 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 national governments in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023- 2026 between the Government of Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations is anchored in the national priorities elaborated in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2030, its Mid-term Development Programmes (MTDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and nationalized targets, the human rights commitments of Tajikistan and effective response and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The national development vision calls for: ‘A steadily growing, competitive country that provides decent living standards and equal opportunities for each person to realize his or her potential based on equality, justice, and respect for human dignity.’ With the NDS 2030, Tajikistan has made tangible progress toward achievement of the SDGs. While poverty rates have fallen, the Tajikistan Voluntary National Review (VNR) highlights that 1 in 4 persons is vulnerable to multi‐dimensional poverty. To respond, the UNSDCF is focused on reaching vulnerable groups to ensure they are not left behind. UNSDCF results will be achieved in broad partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) and volunteer groups, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), the human rights institutions, academia, media, the private sector, and international partners. The Government of Republic of Tajikistan and the UN system have mutual accountability for the achievement of UNSDCF results. Cooperation aims to achieve a set of inter‐connected and measurable changes at both institutional and community levels. These will support Tajikistan to secure improved living standards based upon sustainable economic development and equal opportunities for each person to realize his or her potential based on equality, justice, and respect for human dignity. The position is in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Tajikistan and and reports to the Head of RC Office. This position also contributes to building economic intelligence not only for Tajikistan but also for the Central Asia sub-region and ECA region as part of the Economists Network and towards supporting green, inclusive economic growth.

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 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 acceleration 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.
• 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;
  • Engages directly with IFIs and Development Partners and contributes to the discussions and decisions on financing for development.
• 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;
  • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

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;
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related areas is required. A first level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree course in economics intelligence, with experience in use of economic intelligence methods and tools is an advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in diverse development contexts focusing on macroeconomics, econometrics, sustainable development policy, economic research and analysis in the context of development cooperation or related area is required;
• Working knowledge of IFI policies and IFI priorities for Least Developed Countries/Lower Middle-Income Countries is desirable;
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required and knowledge of Russian is desirable; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
  Note: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of’ equals a rating of “confident in two of the four areas.

 

Application instructions

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