ECONOMIST, NOC

Overview

Provides substantive support for evidence-based analysis of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through economic and policy analysis to support the Resident Coordinator (RC) and United Nations Country Team (UNCT). Supports the RC and UNCT in developing and strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders to advance SDG acceleration, sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts economic, fiscal, financial, social and sustainable development analysis, including emerging trends and good practices related to economic transformation, green and just transition, digital transformation, the future of work, investment and SDG financing.
• Supports implementation and localization of global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Provides substantive inputs to analysis and briefing materials on economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Supports the identification and analysis of entry points for integrated UN policy support related to socio and economic transformation, EU accession-related economic reforms.
• Collects, analyzes and interprets economic and development data relevant to UN country-level operations.
• Prepares substantive inputs to policy papers, analytical notes, briefing materials, reports and other knowledge products on economic transformation, macroeconomic trends, investment, SDG financing.
• Monitors national, regional and global economic developments and analyzes their potential implications for sustainable development and achievement of the SDGs at the country level.
• Conducts analysis on the role of the private sector in sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Researches and analyzes emerging and innovative approaches to SDG financing.
• Prepares inputs for briefing notes, talking points and background materials for the RC and UNCT on economic transformation, macroeconomic developments and SDG financing.
• Supports UNCT initiatives related to investments, SDG financing, including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).
• Provides economic analysis and substantive inputs to humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches.
• Supports the RC and UNCT's engagement with government counterparts, United Nations entities, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), development partners, the private sector, academia, think tanks and civil society on issues related to economic transformation, investment and SDG financing.
• Leads the Resident Coordinator Office's technical engagement with the Ministries of Finance, Economy, National Central Bank, International Financial Institutions and other multilateral development banks and the private sector on macroeconomic reforms, EU accession-related economic reforms, investment, innovative financing and financing for development.
• Leads working-level collaboration and exchanges with economists across the UN system and other relevant institutions.
• Supports engagement with national planning, economic and finance institutions, IFIs, private sector actors and other partners to identify areas for collaboration on sustainable economic transformation, EU accession related reforms, and SDG financing.
• Monitors analytical work, policy developments, financing initiatives and capacity-development support provided by development partners.
• Supports engagement with private sector and civil society stakeholders to identify potential contributions to sustainable economic transformation and catalytic financing opportunities.
• Facilitates engagement, as appropriate, with data communities, innovation ecosystems, academic institutions, digital actors and foresight networks.
• Contributes economic and financing analysis to the development and implementation of the UN Country Analysis (UNCA), United Nations Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework), joint programmes, annual reports and other elements of the UN sustainable development programming cycle.
• Supports the preparation of macroeconomic, fiscal, socioeconomic and SDG financing analysis including financing gap assessments, investment diagnostics and debt sustainability analysis, for the UNCA and other analytical exercises.
• Identifies economic trends, policy issues and emerging development challenges and provides substantive inputs and recommendations to support UNCT programming and integrated policy responses.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the United Nations Cooperation Framework.
• Provides substantive support to the development of UN joint programmes related to economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Supports UNCT Results Groups and other coordination mechanisms by providing economic analysis and substantive inputs.
• Researches and proposes options to strengthen UN support to national and multi-stakeholder processes related to economic policy, financing and capacity development.
• Supports the identification and development of investment-ready SDG initiatives suitable for co-financing with International Financial Institutions, private investors and/or relevant public institutions.
• Contributes to knowledge management on economic transformation, macroeconomic trends and SDG financing.
• Participates in local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks.
• Researches and analyzes good practices and lessons learned from UN policy initiatives and programmes related to economic transformation.
• Monitors macroeconomic and fiscal trends, public expenditure patterns, debt sustainability and fiscal space.
• Keeps abreast of emerging economic research, policy developments, analytical methodologies and innovative approaches relevant to sustainable development.
• Documents lessons learned and knowledge generated through analytical and programme-support activities.
• Supports knowledge-sharing and learning activities that promote the use of data, digitalization, innovation and foresight.
• Works closely with the Data Analyst and Communications officers on data, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), reporting analytics and communication of same.
• Promotes innovative analytical methods, digital tools and data-driven approaches.
• Collects, documents and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through reports and data visualization methods.
• Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Required Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, macroeconomic or socioeconomic policy, applied economics, development economics, or a related area in the context of development cooperation is required. Experience in conducting economic and/or policy analysis and translating development trends and data into policy options, recommendations or other analytical products is required. Experience in SDG financing, development finance, public finance and/or innovative financing approaches is desirable. Experience in supporting strategic planning, policy development or financing solutions with government institutions and/or other development partners is desirable. Experience working with multiple stakeholders, facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and coordination across government, IFIs, the private sector, civil society, academia and/or development partners, in support of sustainable development priorities is desirable. Experience in applying inclusive approaches that take into consideration gender equality, youth, persons with disabilities and/or leave no one behind principles in economic analysis, policy or development programming is desirable. Experience in supporting partnerships and/or resource mobilization initiatives in the context of development cooperation is desirable. Experience in knowledge management, research, or the preparation and dissemination of analytical and policy products in the context of development cooperation is desirable. Experience working on policy reforms related to Albania’s European Union integration process is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Qualifications

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Economics is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Other Details