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.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP supports countries around the world to formulate strategies, policies, and programme interventions that promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To advance these aims, UNDP provides technical policy advice and programming tools, especially to help address critical sustainable development challenges.

UNDP country offices work closely with government agencies and other national stakeholders to support the introduction of inclusive and sustainable development policies that are aligned with the national context. National economists based in country offices across the Asia-Pacific region contribute to this work, including through support to policy dialogue with government officials and other partners, assistance in programme development, and production of research and analysis. These colleagues also collaborate and share experiences and practices across countries inside and outside the Asia-Pacific region.

In this context, UNDP Nepal is recruiting a Development Economist to help contribute to its overall work programme. The Development Economist will support the country office by providing economic analysis and policy advice to management and government counterparts that favor inclusive and resilient development, including the integration of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs into national, provincial and local level plans/policies and activities. S/he will also work closely with all programme team, particularly with the strategic engagement team and be responsible for helping develop large-scale development solutions and activities aimed at enhancing UNDP’s programmatic support for SDG integration. The development economist will work closely with the Programme Team to ensure mainstreaming of the gender and inclusion issues in the proposed development solutions and activities aimed at enhancing UNDP’s programmatic support. The Development Economist is expected to contribute to knowledge generation through research and analysis, represent UNDP as required in policy discussions, and work closely with the country programme teams and the regional network on SDG integration, acceleration, and innovation. 

The Development Economist will be based full-time in the UNDP country office. Domestic and international travel may be required. S/he will work closely with the programme and operations teams in the country office, UNDP’s national acceleration lab, and colleagues in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH). S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists. This will include systematic engagement with and oversight from the lead regional economic advisors based in Bangkok and Beijing. S/he is also expected to develop and maintain a network of colleagues across development partner agencies, government institutions, the private sector, academia, media and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative with matrix reporting to the Regional Economic Advisor in Bangkok Regional Hub, the Development Economist will be primarily responsible for the following work streams:

1. Provision of support to UNDP country office management, including to help strengthen programme development and implementation:

• Facilitate UNDP country office management with preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the Country Programme Document (CPD) and/or its mid-term implementation review;
• Support produce country specific analysis to inform UNDP about country’s economic performance and growth trends; assist in the development of theories of change for new project ideas, prepare concepts notes and project proposals for funding based on the research on funding opportunities and priorities of the UNDP Country Programme;
• Contribute inputs to UNDP CO team’s new project formulation and project pipeline development;
• Work closely with the Strategic team and Portfolio managers to prepare models of innovative finance and explore opportunities for leveraging investments from private sector for UNDP programmes and projects to contribute to achieve the SDGs
• Support UNDP country office teams to develop and manage relevant thematic portfolios, such as activities to support inclusive growth and resilience building and progress towards the SDGs;
• Provide analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including through the publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs;
• Compile and analyse statistical data as required in support of country strategies, activities and indicator reporting;
• Collaborate across UNDP teams, especially to ensure linkages to the work emerging from the network of acceleration labs for new project formulation;
• Facilitate the creation of large-scale development solutions to help address complex development challenges and recommend how to adapt existing programme portfolio to reflect new solutions.

2. Provision of technical advice to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies:

• Facilitate evidence based dialogue on sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society including women’s and marginalized groups, and the private sector;
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning and policy formulation at the national, provincial and local levels;
• Facilitate the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time;
• Carry out research and analysis in support of the SDGs localization, based on requests by the Government;
• Ensure monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks.

3. Representation, advocacy, and partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate:

• Develop and/or strengthen partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society including with women’s and marginalized groups;
• Represent UNDP country office in relevant forums, conferences, or workshops, including to present research or programmatic results;
• Support UNDP resource mobilization and future growth strategies through project pipeline development and design of large-scale programme and development solutions;
• Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.

4. Contribution to UNDP’s analytical and advisory work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas:

• Participate actively in the UNDP Asia-Pacific regional network of economists, including through attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews;
• Contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing);
• Support enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible;
• Contribute to UNDP’s global communities of practice as relevant

5. Contribute in mainstreaming gender and social inclusion:

• Ensure gender analysis and integrate GESI in key reports, programme/strategies developed including relevant thematic portfolios;
• Ensure analysis, research in priority themes, knowledge products reflect gender and inclusion considerations;   
• Ensure policy and programmatic advice integrates gender considerations and the principle of leave no one behind

Competencies

Core behavioural 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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: SDG Integration

• Economy-wide analysis

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: Strategic Policy Engagement

• Economic forecasting

2030 Agenda : People: Gender:

• Women's Economic Empowerment, including labour issues

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth:

• Fiscal and SDG financing policy support in view of the socio-economic impact of COVID 19

Business direction and strategy: Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business management: Partnerships Management:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Economics or related fields  
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics or related fields with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be given due consideration in lieu of the Master's degree.
• Ph.D. in Economics will be an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English languages.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience (Master’s degree), or  7 years (Bachelors Degree) at the national or international level in relevant areas of economic research and policy and implementation support. 
• Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis;
• Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience;
• Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement;
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers is desirable;
• Experience of strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities is desirable;
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is desirable.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English languages

Important Notice:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.