UNDP Jobs - 55577- Economics Advisor

Economics Advisor

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

24-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

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

As the UNDP Strategic Plan (2014-17) highlights, the world is going through an unprecedented transition marked by great uncertainty. Consequently the development challenges faced by Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States are becoming ever more complex. In this context, UNDP’s strategic goal in Asia and the Pacific is to develop the region’s capacity to implement effectively the post 2015 development agenda, develop a robust and credible financing strategy for SDGs achievement, prepare LDC graduation strategies (where relevant), address exclusion and vulnerability, tackle youth unemployment, leverage extractive industries for sustainable human development, etc. This requires a refocusing of UNDP’s resources in the region on upstream policy advisory services, and strengthening its own internal capacity in critical substantive areas. To this end, RBAP established a Regional Senior Strategic Advisor/Chief Economist post in New York in 2010 to enhance the positioning of UNDP/RBAP on substantive policy developments at the regional and country level. In this regard, UNDP/RBAP also established economic advisors (senior economists) at selected country offices in the region.

Since 2010/ 2011, the Government of Myanmar has embarked on a series of far-reaching political, economic and administrative reforms. Reducing poverty, and transitioning from Least Developed Country (LDC) status to Middle Income Status (MIC) are clearly articulated policy priorities of the government of Myanmar. UNDP has been asked by the Government of Myanmar to provide specialized and sophisticated advisory and technical services support on LDC graduation, post-2015 development agenda and other emerging development challenges. UNDP has a long history of engagement in Myanmar. In 2010, a new three year Country Action Plan (CPAP) was signed between the Government of Myanmar and UNDP. This CPAP presented a change in the way that UNDP worked in Myanmar shifting UNDP from a programme focused on human development at the community level to a programme that focus on, among other things, upstream policy advisory and technical backstopping support services to the government. Against this background, through this TORs, UNDP/RBAP seeks to recruit a resident economic advisor to be based in Yangon in Myanmar.

Under the joint supervision of the Country Director, UNDP Myanmar and UNDP/RBAP Senior Strategic Advisor based in New York, the Economic Advisor will provide support for economic research and policy support as well as technical advice to UNDP-Myanmar on both programmatic and upstream development policy support area. He/she will conduct analysis on 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 Myanmar programmes. In particular, the Economic Advisor provides technical and economic advice to LDC graduation and the post 2015 agenda. She/he develops knowledge products and maintains knowledge networks and strengthens partnerships with national and regional institutions to help position UNDP more strongly as a key provider of high quality economic research and policy analysis and advisory support to the Government of Myanmar.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of key functions:

Monitors and advises UNDP on support to inclusive growth and attainment of the MDGs in Myanmar, and the post 2015 Development Agenda;
Provision of high quality technical input to UNDP programmes and ensures that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities;
Provision of high quality technical input to UNDP programmes activities collecting and analysing poverty and socio-economic data;
Provision of high quality policy economic advisory services to the Government of Myanmar on inclusive growth, the attainment of the MDGs and post 2015 development agenda and Least Developed Country (LDC) Graduation;
Creation and maintenance of strategic partnerships;
Advocacy and promotion of UNDP activities and agenda.

Monitors and advises UNDP on support to inclusive growth and attainment of the MDGs in Myanmar, and the post 2015 Development Agenda:

Generates and continually updates socio-economic country briefs to support the advocacy function of the UNDP;
Provides high-quality development advice to Senior Management on 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;
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 analyses macro-economic data and MDG and post 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 regional and global economic trends and issues and analyses their implications for the realization of the MDGs and the post 2015 Development Agenda in Myanmar.

Expected results: (i) socio-economic briefs; (ii) policy papers.

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

Contributes to alternative policy advice through the preparation, launch and follow-up of national, regional and global human development reports;
Advise and formulate UN and UNDP programmes and projects (including CPAPs) based on sound economic analysis;
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;
Review and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt from implementation of projects and programmes with a view to strengthening programme policy and intervention strategies;
Act as learning manager and mentor national staff and provide support to the UNDP-CO management in knowledge management and sharing as well as cross-Practice strategies;
Line manage one national associate in line with UNDP Corporate Standards.

Expected results: (i) technical inputs into NSDGRs, NHDRs; and (ii) strategic notes/background papers to support formulation of UNDAFs, CPDs and/or CPAPs and Regional Programmes.

Provision of high quality technical input to UNDP programmes activities collecting and analysing poverty and socio-economic data:

Coordinate with UNDP, UN Agency support programmes and Government of Myanmar Counterparts for national statistical systems and nation-wide socio-economic surveys to specify data requirements;
Represent UNDP in the Statistical Working Group;
Provide technical assistance to develop UNDP’s plans to support socio-economic surveys in particular the next rounds of the Business Census and the Integrated Household Conditions Living Assessment;
Provide comprehensive technical assistance to the design and implementation of the next round of the Integrated Household Conditions Assessment due to be implemented in 2015/2016;
Ensure that long term capacities are built within the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development to take forward the next round of the IHCLA after 2015/2016 and other socio-economic surveys;
Act as the main technical focal point with the World Bank and other interested development partners on the implementation on next the Integrated Household Conditions Assessment;
Undertake development analysis of selected thematic topics based on statistics generated from above-mentioned surveys and other information and knowledge pieces.

Provision of high quality policy economic advisory services to the Government of Myanmar on inclusive growth, the attainment of the MDGs and post 2015 development agenda and Least Developed Country (LDC) Graduation:

Synthesise macro-economic and MDG-related information and propose policy options to relevant government departments including the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development and the Offices of the Vice-Presidents and President;
Provide technical advice and analysis to government counterparts on issues relating to LDC graduation and act as the focal for UNDP on this issue with the Government and other UN Agencies and Development Partners;
Ensure that analysis derived from the statistics from UNDP Socio-economic survey informs planning processes and policy frameworks;
Provide technical advice to capacity building efforts to improve the use of data and analysis in national and regional and state plans;
Organize capacity development opportunities for Government officials in the formulation of MDG-based policies, plans and programmes, including appropriate macroeconomic, fiscal and medium term expenditure frameworks.

Expected results: (i) policy briefs; and (ii) documents on good practices.

Creation and maintenance of strategic partnerships:

Maintains close linkages with Economists and Development Specialists in UNDP and other development partner organizations operating in Myanmar;
Works closely with the RBAP, BPPS and Asia Regional Hub to provide technical support on MDG-related issues to the Chief Economist, RBAP;
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.

Expected results: (i) establishing and maintaining a network of economists/researchers among national and international organizations; and (ii) UNDP strategic partnerships with relevant academic institutions, CSOs, NGOs, and the private sector.

Advocacy and promotion of UNDP activities and agenda:

Present and communicate results of UNDP research findings at public events and meetings;
Organize seminars and workshops in collaboration with other development partners and/or academic institutions to address emerging development issues in Myanmar.
Undertake advocacy for the MDGs/SDGs by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
Monitoring of poverty reduction and progress towards the achievement of the MDGs/SDGs leading to management of the production and launch of economic and MDG/SDG related reports/publications.
Substantive contribution to knowledge exchanges amongst UNDP global and regional policy advisors on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, MDGs/SDGs, etc.
Follow the corporate debate on key emerging issues and liaise with ministries, civil society and the business community.

Expected results: (i) act as resource person in workshops and seminars; and (ii) organize seminars and conferences on emerging development issues.

Impact of Results

The results obtained by the occupant of this position are critical to the achievement of the MDGs and post 2015 development agenda 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 and creation of strategic partnerships.

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.

Functional 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 & Judgment:

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 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

10 years of relevant experience at the national or international level;
Substantial experience with poverty reduction strategy processes in developing country contexts and awareness of post 2015 related policy matters;
Knowledge and experience of the Asia-Pacific regional development context would be an advantage;
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 essential;
Knowledge of other UN languages languages would be an advantage.