Antecedentes

The UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the SDGs and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. Anchored in the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the GPN has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

An SDG Integration Team located with the GPN aims to build a coherent and consolidated menu of services (the SDG Integrator “offer”) emphasizing direct short-to-medium-term engagements to respond rapidly to requests from country offices for support on national implementation and monitoring of integrated policy solutions, qualitative and evidence-driven analysis for accelerated progress, and knowledge sharing and upscaling of innovative approaches to sustainable development.

To support this work, UNDP is updating its pool of experts to support economic analysis and modeling. The roster of experts will be positioned to provide a continued pool of expertise to countries focusing on supporting implementation of actions and delivering results on the ground.

The roster is recruiting for four profiles (further description below):

• Economist – computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling
• Economist – partial equilibrium analysis (such as integrated assessment models)
• Economist – microeconomic and behavioral economic analysis
• Economist – macro econometrics and dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) modeling

The Experts Roster for Rapid Response (ExpRes) is a recruitment and deployment mechanism which maintains pre-vetted consultants on a roster and contracts them quickly for Country Office support. The primary purpose of this roster has been to deploy technical experts to UNDP Country Offices/regional teams/ HQ units on short notice. The ExpRes roster provides pre-selected and technically vetted consultants across 30 profiles and 198 sub-profiles to support the work of UNDP and other UNDP partner agencies.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Four types of skills are being sought for this roster:

• Economist – computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling
• Economist – partial equilibrium analysis (such as integrated assessment models)
• Economist – microeconomic and behavioral economic analysis
• Economist – macro econometrics and dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) modeling

The consultant, when selected from the roster for an assignment, may take on the following duties and responsibilities:

• Stocktaking of publicly available data and government reports for assignment specific themes centered around but not limi.
• Author ToRs and agreements to acquire relevant data; and document and manage all data.
• Specify scope and technology (software and computing) requirements for analysis and document the code used for the analysis.
• Write short policy briefs on a range of economic policy matters as background papers oriented toward UNDP country offices and national governments.
• Execute analysis in the following areas:  (role specific):
  • Economist: computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling
    • Lead in the formulation of relevant scenarios to conduct simulations for policy analysis
    • Based on the formulated scenarios, specify, calibrate and execute CGE model(s) to quantify economic impacts
  • Economist: partial equilibrium analysis
    • Lead in the formulation of relevant scenarios to conduct simulations for policy analysis
    • Set up, calibrate PE tools to generate analysis on households, firms and the environment.
  • Economist: microanalysis/behavioral economics
    • Analysis of survey data to quantify economic impacts
    • Generating quantitative estimates of economic impacts on households and firms (e.g., broader social, poverty and environmental impacts)
  • Economist: macro econometrics and dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) modeling
    • Lead in the formulation of relevant scenarios to conduct simulations for policy analysis
    • Specify, calibrate and execute DSGE models to quantify dynamics of sector-specific policy choices on the economy
• Write detailed reports that document analytic work that capture context, methods, results, discussion and policy recommendations.

Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will work under the guidance and overall supervision of Global Policy Advisor of the SDG Integration, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support/Global Policy Network, along with the Offices selected to support for various assignments as they arise, and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified in the roster assignment.
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The Consultant will engage with relevant UNDP colleagues and national stakeholders, as appropriate.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.
• The Consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for consultations with various stakeholders who may be based across different time zones

Competencias

Functional Competencies:

• Professionalism: In-depth understanding of economic theory and its application; demonstrated technical knowledge and proven research and analytical skills on issues related to regional integration, macroeconomic convergence, financial and monetary integration, social protection, sectoral policies as well as international development economics; ability to interpret and apply results of analysis or modeling (CGE models, PE models, micro-econometric analysis and DSGE models) .
• Technological Awareness: Ability to use relevant software.
• Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, ability to present complex concepts in a concise and accurate manner, ability to prepare written reports and papers that are clear, concise and meaningful.
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize, plan and organize own work and ability to integrate work into the work of the unit; ability to monitor and adjust plan and priorities as necessary and to work according to deadline.

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;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in economics (masters or PhD), development economics or related quantitative social sciences.

Experience:

• At least 10 years’ experience in economic modelling, policy analysis in development contexts (required);
• Country-specific and thematically relevant knowledge:
  • CGE modelling, social accounting matrices and existing analysis using CGE models (for Economist – CGE modeling)
  • PE models and IAM, along with calibrating datasets and existing analysis using PE models and IAMs (for Economist – PE and integrated assessment modeling)
  • Knowledge of appropriate micro datasets and empirical analytic methods (econometric and statistical analysis) and existing analysis using micro data (for Economist – microeconomic analysis)
  • DSGE models, any calibrating datasets and existing analysis using DSGE models (for Economist – DSGE modeling)
• Extensive experience in modelling and policy analysis using quantitative methods with internationally recognized academic institutions or research think tanks (required);
• Expertise in designing, constructing and application of position specific quantitative methods (required);
• Professional experience with a UN agency (desirable).

Language:

• Fluency in English (required);
• Knowledge of another UN language or local language (desired).