UNDP Jobs - 57843- Economic Specialist

Economic Specialist

Location :

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

19-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 Year renewable

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 Year

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

The Tenth Development Plan (2015-2019) builds on a legacy of holistic development planning and evident achievements of results. For the last thirty years, Saudi Arabia has been gradually, yet steadily, opting for a multi-dimensional development paradigm with the objective of enlarging people’s choices and moving the socio-economic strategies from the conventional focus on the GNP growth to the most critical and wide-ranging choices of living a long and healthy life, attaining education and getting an access to resources needed for a decent standard of living. As a result, Saudi Arabia has achieved and sustained great gains with respect to its progress in the global Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), by persistently ascending to the status of Vey High Development category in 2014, with the ranking of 34th, from that of middle-income ranking in the 1990s. In fact, the Human Development Report for 2014 depicts Saudi Arabia as recording an apparent improvement in the HDI from 0.583 in 1980 to 0.662 in 1990, to 0.744 in 2000, and to 0.836 in 2013. This is accompanied by equally obvious strong performance in the four major HDI components of life expectancy at birth (reaching 75.5), mean years of schooling (up to 8.7), expected years of schooling (amounting to 15.6), and a per capita GNP of $52,109.

A new project on Human Development Policy and Planning has been launched in 2013 with a key focus on enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of public services. Through the new UNDP project, a team of specialist in different specializations will be mobilized to provide substantive and technical support to the Government in its policy analysis and strategic planning efforts, including formulating the 10th National Development Plan for launch in 2015.

The Economic Specialist will report to the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, as first supervisor; and as a Project Funded Post will also liaise closely with the National Project Manager, as a second supervisor. Through the NPM, the specialist will liaise with the Government departments and ministries as well as the development agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide advice in support to Government on economic planning and analysis:

Provide substantive technical assistance to all activities relevant to performance reporting concerning various sectors of the national economy;
Support the preparation of Policy Papers on various Economic;
Support the preparation of Operational Plans for various Economic Sectors within the five-year planning framework;
Provide technical assistance in the field of economic planning and in the formulation of sector strategies;
Assist in carrying out the relevant technical work to follow up the implementation of the development plan;
Provide advice on improvements of database and information system relating to econometric and statistical modeling of economic and social progress;
Provide advice on and undertake the necessary activities for the preparation of the periodic economic reports.

Provide guidance and technical assistance to enhanced indicator and monitoring systems:

Provide substantive and technical assistance to the preparation of Key Performance Indicators for the various sectors of the economy;
Support the process of reviewing development programs, projects and policies, and theireconomic and social implications;
Provide advice on institutional arrangements for their implementation.

Support to capacity development for Government:

To provide on the job training on economic development to the national staff engaged in the planning process;
To assist in organizing training for the national staff;
Undertake other tasks relating to the education sector as requested.

Impact of results

The key results will promote the Government’s capacities to formulate, implement and monitor implementation of the five-year development plan in a framework of robust policy analysis.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects;
Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration;
Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to lead effectively,mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

Possesses expert knowledge and advanced concepts in economic development, policy analysis and formulation;
Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise in economic policy and development issues to support UNDP and the Government;
Demonstrates strong quantitative skills and the ability to carry out high quality research, including statistical analysis;
Possesses proven ability to analyze 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;
Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of economic theory and practice and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters or equivalent in Economics or related field.

Experiance:

7 years of relevant experience, and considerable knowledge of quantitative analyses and the ability to communicate results of research findings and undertake on the job training.

Language:

Fluency in English;
Arabic a strong asset.