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Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Specialist

Remote | Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Economics
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

 
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.
 

Workers and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Arab fragile and crisis States entered a series of shocks that started with the pandemic with relatively low resilience capacity as they have suffered from inability to plan, start and expand businesses, absorb shocks, smooth consumption, and access services (such as education and health). 

Economic livelihoods programs provide the opportunity to scale support to vulnerable groups, extend the reach of social safety nets, support access to public service systems, and provide opportunities for MSME-led recovery. 

The UNDP Crisis Bureau (CB) and Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) are looking for a technical specialist to support RBAS and UNDP country offices in the region to design and expand economic livelihoods and recovery solutions within the fragile and crisis affected countries to support the implementation of recovery and response plans through analytical, programmatic and policy dialogue technical support. This will also involve supporting development solutions for migration and displacement, including supporting relevant activities of the UNDP Sub-regional Facility for Syria crisis in connection to the Regional Refugee Resilience Plan (3RP), with a particular focus on jobs and livelihoods- related issues, as well as support to stabilization plans, etc. 

 

Institutional Arrangement

The Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Specialist will report to the Team Leader, Regional Lead Economist at the UNDP Regional Hub.
 

 
Duties and Responsibilities

Specific key areas of focus:

  • Provide support to  COs and other regional teams in the implementation of programmatic work in the field of economic livelihoods and recovery solutions, value chains, access to finance/microfinance/innovative finance, and MSME support for fragile and crisis affected countries including displaced populations and migrants; 
  • Provide technical support to UNDP COs and counterparts in the design of national policies, strategies, and programmes to progress the above-mentioned solutions and support for fragile and crisis affected countries;
  • Provide support for policy advice to Governments in the region on how to create an enabling environment for the above-mentioned solutions and support and identify and help remove existing policy constraints;
  • Develop knowledge and learning products in the above-mentioned fields including dimensions related to women, youth and vulnerable categories;
  • Lead efforts in building and maintaining strategic partnerships with major multilateral, bilateral organizations, and the private sector;
  • Contribute to regional level and country office resource mobilization efforts;
  • Offer close support to other UNDP regional teams to build and develop the regional portfolio. 
 
Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 

Technical and Cross-Functional Competencies:

  • Business Direction and Strategy:
    • Entrepreneurial Thinking: Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate
    • System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system 
  • 2030 Agenda (Prosperity):
    • Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility: 
      • Economic Recovery 
      • Jobs and Livelihoods 
      • Enterprise, Private Sector Recovery 
  • 2030 Agenda (Partnership):
    • SDG Finance: 
      • Financial Inclusion
      • Innovative finance

 
Required Skills and Experience

 
Education:
  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or related discipline; or 
  • A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above mentioned field of study in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree 
Experience:
  • Minimum of five (5) years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in economic livelihoods and recovery solutions, value chains, access to finance/microfinance/innovative finance, and MSME support for fragile and crisis affected countries including displaced populations and migrants

Required Skills:

  • Demonstrated strong technical knowledge in financial inclusion and MSME support; 
  • Experience in providing technical advice to third parties in economic livelihoods and recovery solutions, financial inclusion, and MSME support;

Desired Skills:

  • Relevant experience working in fragile and crisis countries, particularly in the Arab region preferred;
  • Experience working with IFIs or other relevant multilateral/bilateral development agencies preferred;

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in English essential, knowledge of Arabic or French is an advantage.
 
Disclaimer
 

 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

 
Applicant information about UNDP rosters

 
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

 
Non-discrimination

 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

 
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This vacancy is now closed.
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