Job Identification : 12223

Locations : Teheran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Posting Date : 10/04/2023, 03:47 PM

Apply Before : 10/08/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NOB

Vacancy Type : Fixed Term

Practice Area : Effectiveness

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 4 year(s) experience

Required Languages : English and Persian

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

I. Position Information

Job Title: Economist Analyst

Department: Programme Unit

Reports to: Resident Representative

Grade Level: NOB

Bureau : RBAP

Position Number: 00160772

Duty Station: Tehran, UNDP Iran

Career Track: Professional/Expert

Career Stream: Policy/Programme

Contract Modality: FTA Local

Contract Duration: More than a year; Fixed Term Appointment

II. Background and Organizational Context

UNDP supports countries around the world to formulate strategies and policies that promote human development, reduce inequality and poverty, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To advance these aims, UNDP provides technical policy advice and programming tools to help address critical and inter-linked sustainable development challenges such as inequality, climate change, and natural disasters. In that regard, a network of expertise across the SDGs, within and beyond UNDP, has been established to influence, shape, and activate platforms for intersectional collaboration for complex, multi-faceted, and ‘frontier’ issues in sustainable development. In particular, SDG Integration teams are being formed to curate and coordinate support on SDG implementation on the ground and ensure that UNDP’s offers/integrated services are informed by the experience resulting from implementation on the ground and by the broader debates and analytical advancements on SDG implementation.

At the country level, UNDP Offices work closely with government counterparts and other national and subnational stakeholders to support the introduction of integrated, inclusive, and sustainable development policies that are aligned with the national context. National Economists based in UNDP country offices across the Asia-Pacific region contribute to this work, including through support to policy and programming with government officials and other partners, assistance in programme development, and development of research and analysis. The Economist Analysts also collaborate and share experiences and practices across countries inside and outside the Asia-Pacific region. At the core of this support is a focus on complex problems that relate to multiple thematic/SDG areas in defining their complexity, scalability, entry points as well as the integration of policy, data and analytics, innovation, and finance.

III. Position Purpose

In line with the above, UNDP Iran is recruiting a Development Economist to help contribute to implementation of Country Programme Document (CPD) for Iran (2023-2027). The Development Economist will support the country office by providing economic analysis and policy advice to the management of UNDP Country Office and to the government counterparts that favor inclusive development, including the integration of the 2030 Agenda and the national and subnational plans and activities. S/he will also be responsible for helping to develop activities aimed at enhancing UNDP’s programmatic support. The Development Economist is also expected to contribute to knowledge generation through research and analysis and to represent UNDP as required in policy discussions.

The Economist Analyst will be working full-time in UNDP Iran Country Office in Tehran. Domestic and international travel may be required. S/he will work closely with the programme and operations teams in the country office. S/he will ensure strong integration across the country programme and will ensure that the programme design is backed up by strong evidence and analytics. S/he will also collaborate with the Asia-Pacific regional network of country economists and will also have regular engagement with regional economic advisors based in Bangkok. S/he is also expected to develop and maintain a professional network across development partner agencies, government institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

IV. Key Duties and Accountabilities

Summary of key functions:

•  Support in strengthening programme development and integration with advice and analysis.
•  Support development of evidence-based research and data analysis with regard to current and emerging development trends
•  Representation, advocacy, and partner engagement to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate
•  Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including through collaboration with the regional economist network and analysis of priority regional thematic areas.
•  Support in strengthening programme development and integration with advice and analysis:
•  Support UNDP country office management with preparation, roll out, implementation, review and evaluation of country programme, strategies, and approaches.
•  Active participation and substantive contribution to UN Results Group, in particular the Resilient Economy Results Group.
•  Support UNDP programme in better understanding the country’s socio-economic development objectives and needs and how UNDP can respond to these needs.
•  Support in review of portfolios through an economic lens and support economic-related work that forges and strengthens linkages between UNDP’s social, economic, and environmental work.
•  Support transition to portfolios including through undertaking relevant analysis on poverty, inequality, and human development indicators.

2. Support development of evidence-based researchand data analysiswith regards to current and emerging development trends:

•  Provide policy-oriented research in the form of short briefs and analyses on economic trends and develop policy notes and position papers for UNDP on topical issues such as Iran’s socio-economic priorities (including on emerging regional integration issues, digital economy, and circular economy).
•  Support the publication of related policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
•  Provide analytical insights to the annual Human Development Report focusing on inequality and leave no one behind as well as support formulation of related programmatic interventions.

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

•  Develop and/or strengthen partnerships with UN agencies, development partners, private sector entities, and civil society.
•  Represent UNDP country office in relevant forums, conferences, or workshops, including through presenting research or programmatic results.
•  Support UNDP resource mobilization, such as through project pipeline development or identification and engagement of potential partners.
•  Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice

4. Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia Pacific region, including through 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 review.
•  Substantively contribute to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing
•  Act as a regional thematic lead, where possible, to enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches on sustainable development across the region.

V. Requirements:

Education

•  Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Econometrics, SocialSciences, Statistics is required.
•  A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Economics, Econometrics, Social Sciences, Statistics in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

•  Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level that includes experience in research and policy-level analysis, and some experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
•  Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis is an asset.
•  Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience is an asset.
•  Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers is desirable.
•  Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level
•  Politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement.
•  Experience of strategic visioning with strong technical and analytical capabilities is desirable.
•  Experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data is desirable.

Language Requirements

Good written and spoken English and Farsi

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Development

Knowledge Generation

Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Direction & Strategy

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

Business Management

Portfolio management

Ability to select, priorities and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Digital & Innovation

Data literacy

Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation.

Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real-time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement

Data/Analytics for early warning and crisis management

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

SDG Integration

Institutional and Context analysis

Digital & Innovation

Co-creation

Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.

Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity.

Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing

VI. Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Economic policy analysis

Inclusive economic growth

Strategic partnerships

Resource mobilization