Antecedentes

A.      ADMINISTRATION

To apply, interested persons should upload the combined* Technical Proposal/Methodology (if applicable), CV and Offeror’s Letter to “UNDP Jobs” by navigating to the link below and clicking “APPLY NOW”, no later than the date indicated on the “UNDP Jobs” website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted**: -

UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=100798 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

* PLEASE NOTE: The system allows the upload of one (1) document ONLY – if you are required to submit a Technical Proposal/Methodology, this document along with your CV/P11 and Offeror’s Letter, MUST be combined and uploaded as one.

NOTE: The Financial Proposal should not be uploaded to “UNDP Jobs”**.

<IMPORTANT>

**Please email the password-protected Financial Proposal to procurement.bb@undp.org. The subject line of your email must contain the following: “BBRSO150136 Financial Proposal – Your Name”

If the password for your Financial Proposal is required, it will be requested by the Procurement Unit.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.bb@undp.org within three (3) days of the publication of this notice, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. The UNDP Barbados & the OECS Procurement Unit will post the responses*** two (2) days later, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to: -

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=81348 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

A detailed Procurement Notice, TOR, and all annexes can be found by clicking the above link.

*** UNDP shall endeavour to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary

B. Background

Even before COVID-19 pandemic the Eastern Caribbean States (EC)  region was among the most heavily-indebted in the world . Governments’ responses to the emergency, which focused on public health and social spending measures, in combination with the drastic fall in tax revenues, has increased fiscal deficits and exacerbated debt burdens, especially in smaller economies, including in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Challenges facing the region before COVID-19 were identified as slow productivity, stagnant economic growth, high debt, rising inequality, socioeconomic vulnerability, limited institutional capacity to effectively respond to strategic development challenges, the need for disaster prevention and preparedness and reconstruction relief and rehabilitation efforts due to climate change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean region exposed the need for policy actions for effective support to protect the most vulnerable and ensure participatory growth.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The project seeks to analyse how growing external debt levels and accompanying projected budget cuts and austerity measures, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context, may impact access to ESCR in the Eastern Caribbean, with a particular focus on education and health spending.

It also intends to identify existing best practices and recommend mitigation measures for the socio-economic effects of the current economic and debt crisis, based on ESCR standards (identifying policy options for maximum available resources) to influence action by state authorities, and provide recommendations for key regional actors (CARICOM, Caribbean Development Bank) as well as UN actors working in the region. Following the recent strengthening of a regional structure for the English-speaking Caribbean under the leadership of the Regional Representative in Panama, the project will be a strategic tool for advocacy with governments but also donor countries and potentially creditors as well as other relevant international actors (ECLAC, IMF, World Bank).

Specifically, this project will cover an analysis of the impact and/or relationship of external debt on public expenditures in the region and 3-4 Eastern Caribbean countries and the Sustainable Development Goals relevant to the debt issue, as well as health, including SDG 17.4, 3.8, 4.1 in these countries. This project is envisioned as a desk-based study of debt, budget and socio-economic data that will allow to produce an analysis of the impact of debt on ESCRs in the relevant countries.

Competencias

Years of experience:

At least 10 years of professional experience in economics and public policies

Competencies:

·         PhD in Economics, preferably with technical experience in both social and economic fields. A master’s degree and at least 10 years of experience would also be acceptable;

·         A solid experience in the areas of economic development, poverty analysis, development and planning, strategic planning of the projects focused on economic development through providing evidence-based policy advice;

·         Ability to link macroeconomic policies and practices with States’ human rights obligations with the aim to identify measures and interventions towards “transformative economies” at the national, local and community level;

·         Ability to apply heterodox economic theories and concepts, related to the structure and performance of the economy, to build the case for human rights and identify advocacy and programmatic responses;

·         Ability to do an intersectional analysis especially on “Leave No One Behind”;

·         Experience of working with national budgets and in social development and/or human rights field;

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic Qualifications:

·        Mandatory PhD or Master’s degree in economics or law;

·         A sound understanding of development, human rights, and gender would be considered an advantage.