UNDP Jobs - 49768- Chief Economist

Chief Economist - Country Office

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initially on yeare with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Bangladesh is a global leader in development economics creating some of the most exciting and innovative work in the field. UNDP Bangladesh works closely with Government, NGOs, academic institutions and think tanks to help develop new and more powerful solutions in poverty reduction, democratic governance and human rights, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. With a programme delivery of $80 million per annum, our focus is on development of policy, better interventions and most importantly of all, impact on the ground.

The post is based in the Poverty Reduction unit but serves the country office as a whole. Critical work in this unit includes UNDP support to the emerging social protection strategy that seeks to pull together all 99 of the Government of Bangladesh’s SP programmes within a more efficient and effective framework, boosting their impact on extreme poverty reduction and pro-poor economic growth. Another flagship programme in the unit is an urban poverty programme covering 3 million people living in informal urban settlements in 24 towns and cities, using community empowerment, financial inclusion and land tenure reform to address fundamental causes of poverty.

Although housed with the PRC, the Chief Economist will work across the other clusters, delivering his/ her expertise to secure improvements in policymaking support and delivery. Another main focus of our work is in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Major projects include supporting 18 Government ministries to develop embedded and coordinated preparedness mechanisms within and between each ministry, in line with the Hyogo framework of action. This is combined with community level interventions to support climate resilient projects.

Working under the overall supervision of the UNDP Deputy Country Director, the Chief Economist and in close consultation with Assistant Country Director, Poverty Cluster, will advise the Senior Management on economic policies and trends; and through rigorous research, analysis and dialogue provide high-quality technical assistance to management and programmes. This will encompass a board range of topics including macro and micro-economics, Human Development poverty and inequality. The Chief Economist will work closely with national counterparts at the highest level to identify policy options and to enhance the dialogue with national authorities, civil society, private sector as well as improving the impact of UNDP projects.

The Bangladesh development context is a dynamic and challenging one. While growth and human development outcomes have been strong, the country faces a series of issues; these are: difficult demographics (a highly dense population and mass internal migration); ongoing high levels of poverty; a fractured polity and weakly functional governance and environmental threats exacerbated by climate change. The socioeconomic domain is dominated by the pressures of the rapid economic transition taking place (notably industrialization, urbanization and global integration).

In the near term, there are key three areas which are likely to dominate the Chief Economistt’s work:

(1) Monitoring of the social and economic inputs of the current political impasse (following the January 2014 elections);
(2) Pressures towards inequality and social dislocation as the country approaches middle income country status; and
(3) the response to the green growth agenda, with ongoing (brown) industrialization alongside global moves to a new climate change framework.

The Chief Economist also works in close collaboration with Programme and Projects colleagues, the staffs of other local UN agencies, UNDP HQ staff and Government officials, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society. His/ her role is to strengthen UNDP position in the coordination of the international community’s poverty reduction and economic development interventions in Bangladesh. As such the Chief Economist will also represent UNDP with UNCT structures and at the donor-government forum – the Local Consultative Committee (and its working groups).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Advice, technical assistance and in-house consultancy services to UNDP Senior Management, Programmes and Projects on economics and development issues;
Advice to national authorities at the highest levels and facilitation of knowledge building;
Building of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization;
Advocacy and promotion of UNDP’s mandate and mission.

Provide advice, technical assistance and in-house consultancy to UNDP management, programmes and projects focusing on achievement of the following results:

Strategic policy advice:

Advising UNDP senior managers on emerging and long-term economic trends affecting sustainable human development, and their policy and programmatic implications.

Intellectual leadership on applied research and policy development:

Leading high-quality and relevant development economics research, providing forward-looking economic policy advice and strengthening human development approaches and tools;
Compilation, analysis and interpretation of economic, and statistical data, thorough monitoring of trends and through research of the economic and development issues in the country and production of relevant reports aimed at promoting equitable economic growth and human development;
Provision of top quality analysis and substantive inputs to UN and UNDP policy and programming instruments, including CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other strategic documents;
Provision of authoritative 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;
Production and launch of economic reports, and inputs to other thematic reports, including National Human Development Reports, from an economics policy perspective. Formulation and facilitation of UNDP inputs and CO support to national planning at poverty reduction;
Provision of ad hoc technical and consultancy services to UNDP projects and activities, especially in the PRC focus areas and in the use and application of economics and statistical techniques;
Provision of high quality economic input to UNDP programmes and ensures that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities;
Identification of areas for UNDP support and interventions;
Provision of advice on formulation and adjustments of UNDP programmes and projects based on thorough economic analysis;
Participation within wider monitoring work associated with the political and governance situation, via political economy analysis.

Provide advice to national authorities at the highest levels and facilitation of knowledge building focusing on achievement of the following results:

With national authorities, donors, civil society, private sector, analysis, assessment, facilitation of policy dialogue and provision of policy options, particularly from human development and pro-poor perspectives, on a range of macroeconomic and development issues, including;
Macroeconomic policies (e.g., fiscal and monetary policies), economic growth, regional development, labor markets, poverty assessments, and impact evaluation of government programmes;
Macro-micro linkages to economic growth, public/ private partnerships, enabling environment for private sector development, inequality/ poverty reduction linkages, labour market and improved access to gainful employment;
Understanding the changes in the global economic environment, trends and their implications at the regional and country level, and corresponding policy responses (notably the economics of climate change);
Analysis of poverty and inequality dynamics and the impact of the broader economy as welfare and human development outcomes;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice through identification of best practices and lessons learned;
Training and capacity building support for UNDP staff and Government officials on economic issues.

Participate in the building of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of 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 and donors’ priorities;
Research and analysis of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;
Production of periodic updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by stakeholders, (chiefly the CO and HQ);
Undertaking selected studies/ research on emerging development concerns that feed into government/ development partners processes;
Assistance to the Government and UNDP in resource mobilization by preparing documentation for donor and consultative meetings.

Advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP’s mandate and mission focusing on achievement of the following results:

Policy advocacy for the Millennium Development Goals and post-2015 development framework, Human Development and pro-poor and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conference and training events;
Production of high quality research papers for UNDP presentation at international workshops and conferences (especially within the key PRC topic areas);
Support to monitoring progress and formulation of strategies towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 framework;
Management of events and publications on economic issues, including annual Global Human Development Reports launches in the country, advocacy of the main Reports findings among relevant Governmental agencies, civil society organizations and donors.

Impact of Results

The key results of the post strengthen UNDP’s contributions to the national policy dialogue and enhance the policy impact and visibility of UNDP programmes and projects, the key results have an impact on the design of programmes, and creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets. The post increases visibility of UNDP in the discussion about economic policies and analysis.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on economic issues;
Established track record of delivering strong analytical products with policy relevance;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead discussions and dialogue and advise on complex economics matters at the highest political levels;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes;
Ability to work with minimal supervision;
Ability to lead formulation and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
Ability to apply economic policy to the specific country context, carry out high-quality economic research.

Management and Leadership:

Ability to interact with policy officials at the highest levels of society;
Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Development Economics, Economics;
PhD is desirable.

Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant experience at the international level in:

Experience in Research and policy-level analysis and provision of advice and TA;
Experience in acroeconomic management or public expenditure management;
Experienc in use of advanced statistical treatments and econometrics;
Experience in Political economy analysis and the interplay between governance and economics;
Experience in Development economics, with in depth knowledge of poverty or climate change or related field;
Knowledge and/ or experience of one or several of Poverty reduction;
Knowledge of Social protection policy reform and delivery;
Experience in Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation;
Green growth and resource economics;
Experience in Private sector development, trade and labour markets;
Experience in Urban policy, urbanization;
IT experience and use of software packages for statistical analysis of data.

Language:

Excellent verbal and written communications skills in English;
Knowledge of one or more South Asian languages an asset.