Development Economist

The current UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021, establishes as a vision for the organization to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for the sustainable development and creating resilience in the face of crisis and shocks. The foregoing, in response to the changing panorama of development and the evolution of the needs of the UNDP Partners.

By 2021, it´s s expected for UNDP to 1) Strengthening its relevance as a trustworthy partner in a complex and changing development landscape, firmly committed to its mandate to eradicate poverty; 2) Be more agile, innovative and enterprising: an intellectual reference that assumes and manage the risks; 3) Be more effective and efficient in the use of resources to obtain results. In the same way, the following progress aims to be consolidated: 1) The eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, and the maintenance of people outside poverty; 2) The acceleration of structural transformations for sustainable development, in particular through innovative solutions that have multiplier effects in all the Sustainable Development Goals; 3) The creation of resilience in the face of crises and disturbances, in order to safeguard the achievements made in terms of development. UNDP intends to strengthen the commitment to work in collaboration with governments, civil society and the private sector, in order to respond to the needs of the country.

In addition, the UNDP Country Program Document (CPD) for 2015-2019 seeks to support the efforts of the Colombian government for the transition to peace and the consolidation of its position as a middle-high income country with the membership of the OECD. The CPD proposes three work priorities: 1) Peace building and peaceful conflict transformation; 2) Inclusive and sustainable growth; and 3) Inclusive governance for urban and rural development.

Within this framework, the UNDP Colombia Office with a presence in 25 territories works in partnership with the Government - at the national and local levels - the private sector and social organizations to prioritize actions that allow transforming the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations. Currently UNDP in Colombia faces challenges of national relevance, related to his contribution to the National Government, to other Agencies of the United Nations system and to counterparts, in matters that have to do with a post-conflict scenario in Colombia and other important initiatives for the country.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Resident Representative in close articulation with the Deputy Resident Representative, the Development Economist will lead the SDG and Development Policy publications of UNDP Colombia. The Development Economist will provide analytical, policy-relevant, support to the Resident Representative and through her to the Country Office (CO) and to key stakeholders and decision makers on a range of policies to promote sustainable development and achieve the SDGs. These policy areas include but are not limited to: (i) productivity, (ii) inclusion; (iii) resilience; and (iv) effective governance. S/he will also provide guidance on the CO’s programs and activities, ensuring relevance and coherence of the programme with the Strategic Plan and Country Programme Document. Furthermore, s/he will lead on monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the economic conditions, trends, and forecasts of the country.

To achieve this goal the Development Economist will create and maintain expert networks on development issues in the country and when relevant in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. He/she will be a policy expert under the oversight and supervision of the Resident Representative, maintaining direct working relations with other units, such as Sustainable Development, Poverty Eradication, Governance, Peace and the overall Global Policy Network, Panama Regional Hub and others. The incumbent will also play a critical role in directly supporting the public advocacy function of the Resident Representative by strengthening UNDP’s brand as a thought leader on human development and the SDG in the country. In so doing he/she lends support to the joint efforts of the UN inter-agency effort to support Colombia’s HD and SDG agenda in a coordinated manner. He/she will work in coordination with a team of experts and will be responsible for coordinating with the staff in other units and for promoting the full use of staff potential within the teams and keeping them informed.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

1. Provide technical expertise and advise to Colombia CO on key economic and development issues including productivity, resilience, inclusion and effective governance.
2. Strengthen knowledge creation and analysis on development issues within Colombia and position UNDP as a thought leader on development issues in the country.
3. Participate in, convene and represent the Office in relevant fora to deepen the conversation about the technical expertise necessary to achieve the SDGs.
4. Support the Resident Representative’s oversight role, proposing issues to be addressed through the national programme boards and following-up on decisions involving UNDP or requiring action from UNDP on economic issues, HD and SDGs.

Provide technical expertise and advise to Colombia CO on key economic and development issues including productivity, resilience, inclusion and effective governance:

• Analyze economic data and monitor development trends and issues.
• Prepare briefs and speeches, as required for the Resident Representative, on emerging global and regional development trends, and advise on implications for policies and programmes in the region.
• Coordinate the provision of regional analysis and perspectives into corporate publications and communications -- especially Human Development Reports -- in the areas of sustainable development (integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions/) and related issues.
• Maintains close links with Economists in other development partner organizations (UN system, think tanks, Regional Entities, IFIS and Partners) operating in Colombia and when pertinent in the LAC region to develop synergies and establish quality benchmarks for UNDP in promoting the national agenda;
• Generates and continually updates the socio-economic country brief to support the advocacy function of the Resident Representative.

Strengthen knowledge creation and analysis on development issues within Colombia CO:

• Undertake /commission analysis and research on specific topics and emerging issues related to the implementation of the country vision and strategy.
• Prepares and reviews policy, concept papers and other studies as part of the process around Human Development Reports, both global/regional and national.
• Contributes towards selection of economic/SDG-related subjects to be discussed in internal and external fora bringing together recognized experts on the selected subjects.

Participate in and organize relevant forums to deepen the conversation about the technical expertise necessary to achieve the SDGs.

• Represent Colombia CO, as required, at high-level meetings and professional gatherings in the country and when pertinent in the region, articulating UNDP’s positioning on development in Colombia.
• Leads the development of an HD and SDG advocacy plan, building on the recommendations of the CO programme, UNDP Strategic Plan, as part of the CO’s Partnership and resource mobilization strategy;
• Liaises with Colombia and RBLAC HD and SDG Specialized Support Teams in the region to build proper advocacy strategies into HD and SDG-based planning processes at national level;
• Develops a strategy to support the public advocacy function of the Resident Representative and strengthening his/her role as the CO’s chief HD and SDG advocate.
• Supports CO in integrating SDG advocacy and RM issues into country programming processes by reading and providing inputs on draft UNDAF, CPAP, NHDR and RHDR from an HR and SDG advocacy perspective.
• Liaises within the CO and BPPS and other UNDP/HQ units as appropriate to harness available internal resources to strengthen the CO’s HD and SDG advocacy efforts.

Support the Resident Representative’s oversight role, proposing issues to be addressed through the Country Programme and following up on decisions involving UNDP or requiring action from UNDP on economic issues, HD and SDGs

• Oversees the provision of timely and coordinated responses from the Senior Management to the CO Programmes requests for RBLAC/HQ support;
• Supports the team to enhance the Resident Representative’s coordination oversight function, through liaison with the Country and when pertinent Regional Programme, structured monitoring and support on all matters of UN support policy and strategy requiring RBLAC/HQ inputs, raising issues for national discussion, and facilitating implementation.

Core Competencies:

Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them.

• Integrates diverse contributions to formulate coherent approaches.
• Aligns innovation to service delivery components.
• Manages prototype / pilot efforts and seeks feedback.

Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow.

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers.

• Creates awareness of substantive opportunities and risks among others.
• Navigates complex circumstances thoughtfully and is solution-minded.

People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others.

• Coaches team members to appropriately share knowledge across teams.
• Addresses conflicts in a timely, sensitive manner; escalates to leadership when appropriate.
• Recognizes members of the team for their efforts and successes.
• Optimizes individual and team abilities.

Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others.

• Persuades others to embrace new ideas, even when controversial.
• Empathizes with client perspectives and needs and communicates messages with the clients’ experiences in mind.
• Creates opportunities for developing new client relationships.

Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions.

• Anticipates constraints and identifies solutions.
• Expands capacity of team to deliver on time, on target, and within organizational standards.
• Ensures high quality of work in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to client needs.
• Accepts responsibility for implementation / team deliverables / client satisfaction consistent with organizational standards.
• Exhibits thorough organizational awareness of UNDP’s approach to client service delivery and integrity and accountability.
• Exhibits sound judgment and the ability to make reasonable decisions in complex situations.

Technical/Functional Competencies:

Strategic Planning: Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision and mission.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Marketplace Analysis: Ability to research, discover trends, and make recommendations pertaining to a particular market.

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Data Analysis/Measurement: Ability to evaluate, transform and model data to derive relevant findings. Ability to set goals and indicators and to interpret and synthesize results into usable information to inform policy, strategy, and/or action.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Relationship Management: Ability to engage with other parties and force productive working relationships.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Knowledge Management: Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Education:

• Master's degree in Economics with specialization on development microeconomics, Public Policy, social protection and income distribution, or related areas.
• Ph.D. degree in the above topics will be desirable.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level providing economic advice in development issues as well as demonstrated research/survey experience, backed up by publications on poverty-related subjects.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Spanish. Knowledge of another UN Official Language will be an asset.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NO categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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.

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UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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