ECONOMIST, NOC

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 delivery more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an independent UN Resident Coordinator – the Representative of the UN Secretary General and the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System at the 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 Nepal, Kathmandu and typically reports to the Head of the RCO.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1. PLANS, FACILITATES, AND CONSOLIDATES EVIDENCE-BASED ANALYSIS OF THE STATUS OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG), SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY, 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 FUTURE OF WORK), GRADUATION FROM LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY STATUS AND 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 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 to create common, convergent and coherent key advocacy topics related to 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, climate-smart, 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. • Identifies and analyzes issues that impact multiple SDGs and their targets and proposes 'accelerator interventions' that can help unlock and accelerate progress towards sustainable development across multiple areas. • Assesses sustainable development trade-offs and risk factors, as well as early-warning indicators that may undermine the achievement of SDG targets and impact on the UN's role and programme in the country. • Working in close collaboration with the UNCT, researches, develops and presents policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge-based 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. • Conducts and consolidates analytical work to strengthen the understanding of the catalytic role of the private sector in the context of green economic transformation, LDC graduation and SDG financing; identifying opportunities to create strong partnerships with the private sector as a key stakeholder in the context of economic transformation and green growth. • Analyses trends and provides advice and support on new and innovative mechanisms to leverage SDG financing, including global initiatives by the UN and other development institutions (e.g. IFIs). • Supports UNCT initiatives to advance SDG financing, including in the context of an Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF). • 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 proposed follow-up actions. • Researches, develops and presents policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge based-tools for discussion in country-level forums to help influence and advance policy dialogue on achieving the SDGs. • Coordinates the preparation of UN flagship reports on SDG acceleration, economic transformation and leveraging SDG financing, including the analysis of data nad the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions to advance the SDGs. • Provides inputs for briefing papers and discussions/ talking points on issues related to SDG financing for consideration by the RC/ UNCT. 2. SUPPORTS RC'S AND UNCT'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR CREATION OF STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH UN SYSTEM, NATIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN GOVERNMENT, INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT PARTNERS TO DRIVE REFRAMING OF ECONOMIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS WELL AS INNOVATIVE FINANCING STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMAITON AND SDG FINANCING: • Identifies issues and proposes recommendations on how UN country-level operations can be optimized and better respond to sustainable development needs, LDC graduation and emerging trends in country. • Together with UNCT members, plans and facilitates an integrated approach to the UN's policy advice to national counterparts in government and other external partners. • Drives cross-pillar nexus approaches in country to policy, analysis and assessment. • Elicits, evaluates and consolidates policy options proposed by UNCT members, ensuring an integrated approach to the UN's policy advice to national counterparts in government and other external partners. • Fosters peer-exchanges and opens a consistent channel of communication and strong partnerships with UN and non-UN entities' economists (including IFIs), and creates and consolidates 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 and Development Finance Officer, ensures effective engagement of all relevant counterparts (including IFIs, private sector, civil society, and academia) to develop collaboration and partnerships around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing. • Engages with the private sector to strengthen understanding of its potential contribution to the green economic transformation agenda, and to identify private and/or public-private catalytic SDG financing opportunities for the achievement of the SDGs. • Monitors regional and global economic trends and issues and analyses their implications for the realization of the SDGs at the country level. • Monitors and regularly assesses the implementation of the national development plan to exploit new opportunities, development priorities, partnerships etc. and thus strengthen the UN’s work. • Advises the UNCT and the Government on inclusive growth models. 3. COORDINATES THE DEVELOPMENT BY THE UNCT OF A NEW GENERATION OF AN INTEGRATED SDG PROGRAMMING CYCLE THAT PROMOTES SDG ACCELERATION AND ADVANCES THE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AGENDA. THIS INCLUDES, AMONGST OTHERS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROADMAPS, THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FRAMEWORK (UNSDCF), UN JOINT PROGRAMMES, AND ANNUAL REPORTS: • Supports the RC/UNCT in ensuring a strong macroeconomic 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 economic transformation and integrated policy responses can be optimized and better respond to sustainable development needs and emerging trends in country. • Assists the development and implementation of the UNSDCF to ensure that the UN's country-level operational activities effectively support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in country, ensuring a strong a strong and integrated UNCT engagement on SDG acceleration, the economic transformation and SDG acceleration in the country. • Provides substantive support to programme formulation and revision throughout the UNSDCF cycle, based on sound SDG analysis. • Contributes to the UN joint programming process to identify and support the formulation of a new generation of UN joint programmes that are aligned with the SDGs, oriented towards investment, and have impact at the national level. • Assists UNSDCF Result Groups and/or other coordination entities in the implementation of joint workplans to promote SDG-relevant and SDG-responsive UN operational activities for development. • Proposes recommendations, plans and facilitates UN support to governmental and multi- stakeholder processes on SDG policy development and capacity development. • Provides economic analysis and advice to RC, UNCT, national counterparts in governments and other relevant stakeholders on country's smooth transition away from the LDC status. 4. PLANS AND DIRECTS SDG 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: • 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’s system, across the UN (including the UN Economist Network and beyond; • Researches, analyzes and presents best practices and lessons learned from implementation of UNCT projects and programmes, with a view to advising the RC and UNCT on actions to strengthen the policy orientation of the UN. • Monitors and analyzes best practices and successful models implemented by the UN in country and suggests options for developing these into bankable national SDG investment policies and programmes. • Provides advice on and contributes to global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to sustainable development policy. • Keeps abreast of emerging innovative approaches in the area of economic transformation and SDG financing, LDC graduation, 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. 5. OTHERS • 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. • Ensures that requirements, background information used for data analysis are documented. • Performs other duties as required.

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. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. 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. 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. 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 or finance is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research and analysis in the context of development cooperation or related areas is required. Advanced theoretical and practical understanding of development economics and global development agenda along with practical knowledge of their application at the national is required. Demonstrated knowledge of the SDGs and the UN Normative agenda and their application at the national level is desirable. Demonstrated understanding of issues related to SDG financing, particularly in relation to the post-LDC graduation financing needs, is desirable. Previous experience of working with IFIs or establishing strategic partnerships with IFIs is desirable. 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 desirable. Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization 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 United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Nepali is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IINepaliUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice This is a Temporary Job Opening. Appointment against this position is available for a limited duration until 31 August 2026 and does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF NEPAL ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, NEPAL nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to NEPAL in the event of an employment offer. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. 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