UNDP Jobs - 73307- DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST, AGENDA 2030

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST, AGENDA 2030

Location :

Beijing, CHINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

06-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English Chinese

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

UNDP works with developing countries in Asia Pacific to improve how sustainable development policies and programmes are designed and implemented. We help develop the capacity of governments to formulate strategies and public policies that promote human development, reduce poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP responds to requests from countries to adapt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the SDGs at its core, to national sub-national and local conditions and realities, incorporating regional and global perspectives. It offers support to both national and local governments in localizing, mainstreaming, and accelerating the SDGs implementation as well as works to influence national policy-making with a view to creating an enabling environment for action at local and regional levels.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of UNDP’s support to the 2030 Agenda in China, Mongolia and the region overall through the provision of high-quality economic analysis. Under the overall supervision of the Country Director of China Office, and with coordination with the Asia Pacific Team Leader, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, the consultant will support the work of the China and Mongolia UNDP Country Offices with high-quality economic analysis and policy advice to facilitate the integration of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs into national development systems. S/he will collaborate with other Development Economists in Country Offices in the region, programme management colleagues at China and Mongolia office, as well as staff of the Bangkok Regional Hub to exchange knowledge and share analysis in order to inform UNDP’s regional and global analysis and positioning on the 2030 Agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will provide analytical support and policy advice to UNDP’s projects, programmes and policy engagements in China and Mongolia in areas including:

Analysis of economic, social and political economy issues relevant to the successful implementation of the SDGs in the focus countries, and/or the region overall;
Analysis of the national development planning system, and provision of policy advice and support to effectively integrate the SDGs into national planning policies and processes;
Analysis of the national fiscal and budget planning and implementation systems, and provision of policy and technical advisory support to integrate the SDGs into national and local budget and finance systems;
Assisting in the identification and analysis of issues that impact upon multiple SDG Goals and targets and the development of ‘accelerator interventions’ that help unlock sustained progress across multiple development areas.
Expert analysis and policy advice in specific sectors of relevance in the focus countries including [poverty, inequality, gender, health, environment, climate change, risk-informed development, urbanization, youth, demographics, conflict, agriculture, jobs and livelihoods]
Supporting the formulation and implementation of national projects and programmes on the SDGs in China, including for strengthening institutional capacities to implement the SDGs at national and local levels, to strengthen data and statistical capacities and/or to strengthen the engagement of civil society and the private sector in SDG achievement.
Supporting the development and implementation of SDG localization initiatives, including at the city or municipal level where relevant.

Specific tasks will be outlined in quarterly work plans to be agreed between the Consultant and the Supervisor, in consultation with the Asia-Pacific Team Leader, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development. These may include tasks such as:

Undertake research and analysis on sustainable development challenges to inform implementation of the SDGs;
Work with Policy Advisors in the Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development team, and other experts and resource people as required, to develop and pilot initiatives which contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
Support the research for and compilation and preparation of speeches, talking points, presentation materials, background notes. etc. on the SDGs and related development issues for senior management at the country and regional levels;
Besides the daily routine, The consultant is expect to take 3-4 missions to Mongolia during the course of the year with specific deliverables for Mongolia

The economist will work under the primary supervision of Country Director with technical oversight and quality assurance by the Asia-Pacific Team Leader, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, Bangkok Regional Hub. S/he will work in close collaboration with other staff of the country office and policy advisors of the Bangkok Regional Hub, as well as other Development Economists on assignment in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Competencies

A proven track record in providing high-quality, development-relevant analysis and policy advice in areas such as development planning, public financial management, macroeconomics, microeconomics or poverty reduction.
Prior experience in the Asia-Pacific region required. Experience in China or countries at similar levels of development would be an advantage.
A desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds;
Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.

Application Procedure:

“Qualified and interested individual consultants are hereby requested to apply and must submit the following documents/information uploaded to their online application":

Documents to be included when submitting application

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal (download the format in below link) together w ith your CV while submitting application;
Please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading;
In the Offeror’s Letter and proposal, you will be asked to confirm your interest and availability for the assignment, and provide technical and financial proposal.

Offeror’s Letter and proposal Download Link https://pan.baidu.com/s/1o771hDg

Selection criteria:

Technical evaluation - 70%; Financial Evaluation - 30%; The final offer goes to the highest combined score winner.

Required Skills and Experience

An advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in development economics and preferably, with a focus in public finance.
Language skills: written and spoken proficiency in English, and proven ability to produce high-quality written outputs in English. proficiency in Mongolian and Chinese is highly desired