UNDP Jobs - 29364- Economics Advisor

Economics Advisor

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Apr-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Three years

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

In order to meet today’s global challenges, UNDP is transforming itself into a knowledge based organization that is strategically focused on achieving the MDGs with programme interventions that include the provision of cutting edge policy support and development expertise. Although the Asia–Pacific region has made remarkable progress in economic development in recent decades, the progress on MDGs has been undermined by increasing inequalities across countries and within countries in the region. In this context, UNDP’s strategic goal is to develop the region’s capacity to promote inclusive growth and policies in the context of accelerating its progress towards the MDGs. This requires a sharper emphasis on upstream policy advisory service and strengthening UNDP’s internal capacity. To this end, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia-Pacific (RBAP) has established a Regional Policy Unit in New York to enhance the positioning of UNDP on substantive policy developments at the regional level and to inform and support upstream policy advice in country offices to advance national efforts to promote human development and progress towards the MDGs. In 2011 UNDP/RBAP established economic advisors (senior economists) at selected country offices in the region to further enhance this advisory capacity. RBAP now seeks to strengthen UNDP-Myanmar internal technical capacity by fielding a resident economic advisor to be based in Yangon in Myanmar.

The Economic Advisor provides cross-disciplinary analytical and advisory support to the implementation of UNDP Capacity Development for Inclusive Growth and Policies in line with RBAP priorities related to the MDGs namely social protection, climate change, and gender equality. She/he analyses economic and social trends; drawing lessons and making recommendations to the Government and UNDP officials on continuous improvements and fine-tuning of the pro-poor growth dimension of the government and UNDP programmes. To achieve this goal the incumbent prepares policy papers and policy briefs on relevant topics. She/he provides substantive inputs and quality assurance to UNDP programmes on poverty, governance, gender and climate change programmes from the perspective of inclusive growth and human development. She/he develops knowledge products and maintains knowledge networks and strengthens partnerships with national and regional institutions.

Under the supervision of the Resident Representative of UNDP-Myanmar, and in cooperation with the UNDP Asia-Pacific Chief Economist based in New York, the Economic Advisor follows the latest academic literature and policy debates, undertakes original policy analysis and research, and synthesizes analytical and substantive findings in policy advice to support policy makers in Myanmar. The Economic Advisor monitors economic policy developments and advises UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative (RC/RR) and other members of the UN Country Team in Myanmar and its partners on development policy issues. He/she contributes to UNDP’s policy dialogue with Government and donors. He/she supports and complements the policy and analytical work of Policy Advisors based at UNDP/RBAP and UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre in Bangkok to help ensure corporate priorities and perspectives are reflected in relevant substantive areas.

The Economic Advisor will be assigned for a period of three years in Myanmar. During this period, she/he shall ensure that there is sustainability in terms of the support provided through an exit strategy based on the mentoring of appropriate national staff who must be able then to continue with the upstream policy advisory work. This will be a joint responsibility between the Economic Advisor and UNDP-Myanmar. In this regard, she/he supervises and leads a small team of national staff and consultants, as designed by the UNDP RR in Myanmar. After three years, the Economic Advisor, subject to satisfactory performance, will be reassignment to suitable UNDP Country Offices on the basis of potential opportunity to support countries on specific policy areas.

Post category

Development Project Funded (DPF) post.

Duties and Responsibilities

Function/ Expected Results:

I. Monitoring and advising UNDP on innovative approaches, entry points and performance indicators for capacity development in support of inclusive growth and attainment of the MDGs in Myanmar

Generates and continually updates socio-economic country briefs to support the advocacy function of the UNDP;
Monitors and reports, including through position papers and ad hoc reports, on inclusive growth and policies;
Monitors, reports and advises the UNDP on strategies to strengthen national macro-economic frameworks as foundations for inclusive growth, poverty reduction and human development;
Continuously collects, aggregates and analyzes macro-economic data and MDG-related information;
Advises the UNDP on significant changes in national economic trends and their implication for Myanmar’s development; e.g. export-oriented growth strategies, improved management of natural resources for human development, etc.
Initiates and participates in research work to better inform Myanmar’s positioning and its capacity to deal with global and regional changes;
Keeps abreast of economic and other trends affecting Myanmar’s development, and maintains close linkages with Economists and Development Specialists in other development partner organisations operating in Myanmar;

Expected results:

Analytical papers on the country’s emerging socio-economic development issues and priorities
Socio-economic briefs
Policy papers.

II. Provision of high quality technical input to UNDP programmes and ensures that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities:

Develop strategies and work with mechanisms for mainstreaming specific policy instruments such as national MDG report, national poverty reduction strategy papers, national and regional development strategies etc. into national development initiatives.
Identify areas for UNDP programme support and interventions.
Advise and formulate UN and UNDP programmes and projects (including UNDAFs, CPDs, and CPAPs) based on sound economic analysis.
Review and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt from implementation of projects and programmes with a view to strengthening programme policy and intervention strategies.
Contribute to formulation of One UN programmes and projects as requirement of the RC/UNCT.
Develop project documents relating to UNDP support for capacity development in development planning, aid coordination and other related project areas.
Coordinate with UNDP and UN Agency support programmes for national statistical systems and nation-wide socio-economic surveys to specify data requirements.
Undertake development analysis of selected thematic topics based on statistics generated from above-mentioned surveys and other information and knowledge pieces.
Act as learning manager and mentor National Economist and provide support to the UNDP-CO management in knowledge management and sharing as well as cross-Practice strategies.

Expected results:

Technical inputs into MDG, HDI and poverty reduction strategy reports
Analytical reports and strategic notes on formulation of UN country assistance strategy, UNDP country programme and action plans.

III. Provision of high quality policy advisory services to the Government and facilitation of capacity development and knowledge building and management in support of inclusive growth and the attainment of the MDGs in Myanmar:

Collect, analyse and synthesise macro-economic and MDG-related information and best practices, paying attention to the gender and capacity development aspects, and propose policy options to relevant government departments.
Provides high-quality development advice to RR/RC in policy dialogue with government, UN System and other strategic partners on economic and human development issues, most notably in relation to pro-poor economic growth and achievement of the MDGs.
Contribute to alternative policy advice through the preparation, launch and follow-up of national, regional and global human development reports.
Organize capacity development opportunities including support to UN staff and Government officials in the formulation of MDG-based policies, plans and programmes, including appropriate macroeconomic, fiscal and medium term expenditure frameworks.
Keeps abreast of regional and global economic trends and issues and analyse their implications for the realization of the MDGs in Myanmar.
Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice, including the development of tools for needs assessments and policy analysis, in close collaboration with UN agencies, the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other development partners.
Works closely with the RBAP, BDP and APRC and provide technical support on MDG-related issues to the Chief Economist, RBAP.

Expected results:

Policy briefs
Adoption of economic and development advice by government
Documents on good practices

IV. Creation and maintenance of strategic partnerships:

Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs in relation to the MDGs and national development priorities.
Analyse and research information on donors; preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation.
Keeps track of the changes in the aid effectiveness/development cooperation environment and external resource management matters and assist Government and UN/UNDP in resource mobilization through, among other things, preparation of documentation for donor and consultative meetings.
Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs, particularly in relation to the MDGs, and donors’ priorities.

Expected results:

establishing and maintaining a network of economists and development specialists among national and international organisations
UNDP strategic partnership with CSO, NGO, and private sector.

V. Advocacy and promotion of UNDP activities and agenda:

Present and communicate results of UNDP research findings at events and meetings;
Organize seminars and workshops in collaboration with other development partners to address emerging human development issues.
Advocate for the Millennium Development Goals and human development by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
Monitor of poverty reduction and progress towards the achievement of the MDGs leading to management of the production and launch of economic and MDG-related reports/publications.
Substantive contribution to knowledge exchanges through the UNDP poverty and MDG e-network
Follow the corporate debate on key emerging issues and liaise with ministries, civil society and the business community.

Expected results:

Acting as resources persons in workshops and seminars
Organisations of seminar and conferences on emerging issues.

Impact of Results:

This post deals with one of the main substantive dimensions of the RBAP priority, namely, inclusive growth and policies. The results obtained by the occupant of this position are therefore critical to the achievement of MDGs in Myanmar. Another key result is to strengthen the visibility of UNDP’s contributions to the national policy dialogue and enhance the policy impact of UNDP programmes and projects. In particular, the key results should have an impact on the design of programmes, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets, particularly in relation to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and (Myanmar) national development priorities.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility & Direction:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP

People Skills:

Promotes a learning and knowledge sharing environment
Facilitates the development of individual and multi-cultural/team competencies

Managing for Results:

Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet Organizational goals
Strategic approach to problem solving

Partnering & Networking:

Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external/ bilateral/ multilateral/public/private; civil society)
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP
Demonstrates ability to handle working relationships with senior officials, academics and technical experts.

Innovation & Judgement:

Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate
Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviours

Communication:

Demonstrates outstanding communication skills, verbal and written, in English.

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands
Possesses extensive knowledge of economic development issues and familiarity with major macro-economic policy issues and models and the MDGs
Capable of applying economic theory to the specific country context
Demonstrates strong quantitative skills and the ability to carry out high quality economic research, including statistical analysis
Possesses proven ability to analyse from a global perspective, with the ability to offer practical policy advice on economic issues based on local realities.
Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (preferably PhD) in economics, development economics, economic planning, quantitative economics, or equivalent qualifications.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years post Master’s relevant experience at the national or international level.
Substantial experience with poverty reduction strategy processes in developing country contexts and awareness of MDGs related policy matters and aid effectiveness issues.
Extensive experience in research, process consultation and policy-level analysis, including in formulation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies and development programmes/projects.
Substantive knowledge of macroeconomics issues with good synthesizing and English writing skills.
Excellent analytical skills as demonstrated, for example, by prior experience in policy-oriented studies.
Prior experience in international institutions involved in development cooperation.
Demonstrated experience in handling of web-based data systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.
Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.