UNDP Jobs - 9707- Consultant: Research Support on Economic Crisis Re

Consultant: Research Support on Economic Crisis Related Issues

Location :

New York (office based)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2009

Application Deadline :

22-Apr-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SSA

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months (contingent on satisfactory performance)

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

UNDP's work on poverty reduction is governed by several internationally agreed frameworks such as the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs, and the International Development Goals. UNDP’s work on poverty reduction is anchored in three basic principles – the multidimensionality of poverty, the centrality of equality including gender equality and the critical importance of a cross-practice approach.

The core services of the Poverty Practice are structured around three thematic clusters: Inclusive Development, Inclusive Globalization, and MDG Support to countries. In addition, UNDP's work is reinforced by the International Poverty Centre, a joint project between UNDP and the Brazilian Government that promotes South-South Cooperation on applied poverty research, and by its network of over 166 country offices. The services of the Practice also benefits from its Community of Practitioners.

The Poverty Practice contributes substantively to global debates and dialogues through knowledge products. Its core service is to support national efforts to reduce poverty and inequities through: (1) Policy advice and technical support; (2) Strengthening capacity of institutions and individuals (3) Advocacy, communications, and public information; (4) Promoting and brokering dialogue; and (5) Knowledge networking and sharing of good practices. The Practice also provides as a platform for intra-regional and inter-regional dissemination of knowledge.

The Poverty Group (PG) of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on poverty reduction and MDG support. It provides core services designed to support global, regional and national efforts to reduce poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These include technical and policy advice, policy analysis and advocacy and knowledge brokering.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Consultant will provide research assistance support to the Policy Adviser (Microeconomics), in both substantive and management functions, in the following areas:

Provide support on economic and cross-sectoral social analysis on emerging global and regional issues such as the financial/economic crisis, commodity price volatility and climate change
Analyze national, sub-national and supra-national policies for managing emerging crises and reaching the MDGs
Cross-practice perspectives on emerging issues and strategic corporate positioning
Micro-economic and macro-economic design and evaluation of policy

The consultant will be responsible for:

Research and Content Development:

Provide analysis on different economic and social aspects of emerging global and regional issues, and the policy interventions being designed to combat them, with a particular focus on the poor and vulnerable.
Frame guidelines, templates and protocols for the collection of data from countries/regions to capture the variety of national/regional experiences with these issues.
Based on the analysis of such data, work with Country Offices and Regional Bureaus to identify key elements of UNDP support.
Contribute to the development of quantitative macro- and micro- models, adapted to country specific circumstances and to develop instruments that capture the impact of these events on human development.

Policy and Programme Support:

Provide support and feedback to the work of the country programmes, ranging from assistance in drafting ToRs for related projects to commenting on policy research carried out in the regions.
Support the Policy Adviser in providing policy advisory services that respond to country office needs, and assist in exercising quality assurance.

Co-ordination:

Assist with preparations for workshops and regional consultations among various stakeholders.
Assist in regional level analysis and the collation and writing of reports related to these workshops.

Practice Advocacy:

Provide substantive support through drafting of speeches/presentations, providing comments on papers, etc.

Knowledge Management:

Assist in drafting papers/pieces aimed at a variety of audiences including academics, policy makers, activists, NGOs and others.
Contribute to global and regional knowledge networks
Contribute to production of knowledge products in accordance with corporate standards

Tasks

The consultant will provide key research support to the Policy Adviser (Microeconomics). The consultant’s tasks include:

Provide research support on economic and cross-sectoral social analysis on emerging global and regional issues such as the financial/economic crisis, commodity price volatility and climate change;
Prepare knowledge products analyzing national, sub-national and supra-national policies for managing emerging crises and reaching the MDGs, including through the organization of regional or country level consultations;
Collect, analyze and elaborate knowledge products reflecting cross-practice perspectives on emerging issues and strategic corporate positioning;
Prepare micro-economic and macro-economic design and evaluation of policy in support to the preparation of Poverty Group’s knowledge products;
Other tasks and assignments that may be requested by the consultant’s supervisor.

Payment

The payment shall be made every two weeks based on the daily rate.

Travel

Where the consultant is expected to travel to participate in meetings or to perform tasks identified in these ToRs, travel-related expenses will be reimbursed by UNDP, based on the current practice and UNDP rates.

Reporting

The consultant shall report to the Policy Adviser (Microeconomics), and shall liaise with the Policy Specialist, Trade and Human Development, for any queries and assistance on a day-to-day basis.

Competencies

Excellent ability to independently analyze various aspects of emerging issues and to critically synthesize policy research by other agencies/ organizations on these themes;
Can strongly support, and build knowledge products such as toolkits, policy briefs papers and other pieces directed at different audiences;
Well developed writing skills and quantitative ability;
Knowledge of and experience in dealing with Government and non-governmental institutions that form the context within which policies relating to these issues are made;
Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships across a range of disciplines and organizations;
Work effectively in a small team, managing multiple areas of work under tight deadlines;
Ability to reason strategically in practice area; and
Fluency in English (written and verbal). Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree in Economics, Development Economics, or public policy (with focus on economic policy analysis). PhD (ABD) also acceptable.
Minimum 3 years of full-time, progressively responsible experience in policy research and analysis.
Demonstrated excellence in preparing papers, briefs and other documents for a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.
Demonstrated competence and effectiveness with computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc), and statistical analysis packages (STATA, SPSS, etc).
Demonstrated ability in quantitative economic analysis through master’s level course work and/or research.
International organization experience is an advantage.