Background
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
In Pakistan, UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national and international development partners, and the people of Pakistan to find solutions to persistent development challenges. Its work derives from and contributes to four outcome areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) which include: governance; sustainable, inclusive and green economic transformation; climate change resilience and environment; and gender equality and women’s empowerment. Supported by enablers such as innovation and integrated portfolio approaches, our work in Pakistan aligns with UNDP’s global Strategic Plan 2022-2025 to drive structural transformation, leave no one behind, and build resilience to climate change risks and natural disasters
UNDP's 2023-2027 Country Programme Document for Pakistan, with its four pillars (governance, green economic transformation, climate change and environment, and gender) envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.
The Economist/ Head of Development Policy Unit (DPU) provides strategic-level policy and programme support on economic, development and social issues at the country office level in alignment with national development priorities, the 2030 development agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The incumbent plays an important role in designing and conducting research and producing analytical briefs and reports – including the flagship National Human Development Report – and advocacy pieces that inform decision making on inclusive economic development growth, the design of programme and projects, and assessment of UNDP impact.
Position Purpose
Under the strategic guidance of the Resident Representative (RR) and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Senior Economist/Head DPU advises Senior Management, other members of UNDP and our national and international stakeholders and partners on economic policy, future-oriented development trends and relevant linkages to UNDP programmes and acts as a senior advisor to the Country Office (CO) Management on all aspects of the Country Office (CO) programme in policy development. The Economist/ Head of Development Policy Unit monitors economic policy developments and provides analysis and reports for the formulation of strategies and senior level briefings. The Economist/ Head of Development Policy Unit works closely with federal and provincial Government counterparts to identify and implement effective development policy pathways, constantly enhancing and aligning the policy impact of UNDP projects, programmes and advisory support. As a member of the Senior Management Team, s/he also works in close collaboration with other policy and programme portfolios and the Operations Team to ensure a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme. Cross-cutting coordination with the CO Communications, Gender and other relevant experts is required to strengthen the impact of the development interventions. S/he develops innovative development solutions, builds national and global partnerships, mobilizes domestic and international resources, while supporting overall CO risk management strategies and ensuring oversight of the DPU team.
The Economist/ Head of Development Policy Unit leads and supervises a team of UNDP experts, international and national consultants and project staff. The Economist/ Head of Development Policy Unit interacts collaboratively with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, IFIs, Government officials, partners, and civil society to contribute to UNDP’s policy dialogue and maintain networks.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead policy advice and support UNDP and CO management, programmes and projects on economic and development issues.
Analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative economic and statistical data, conduct thorough research of the economic and development issues in the country, and produce forward-leaning foresight reports aimed at promoting equitable economic growth and human development. Provide top quality analysis and substantive inputs to Common Country Assessments (CCA), UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Country Programme Document (CPD), and other strategic documents. Provide advice on thematic areas for UNDP support and adjustment of ongoing programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national priorities and policies. Select future-oriented strategic research topics, surveys and/or case studies. Utilize digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to promote human-centered, institutions-oriented top-quality research Produce and launch economic reports, including Global and National Human Development Reports. Formulate and facilitate UNDP inputs and CO support to national poverty reduction, and inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development.Lead policy advice to Government counterparts and knowledge management on economic and development issues.
Facilitate policy dialogue on national development priorities and economic issues with the Government, partners, civil society, private sector; and contribute to design of policies as relevant. Provide policy and implementation support to provinces in the framework of the SDG Plus programme Provide policy options, particularly from pro-poor and sustainability perspectives, on economic and development issues to governments and other development actors. Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Assess regularly the country’s economic policies and strategies, and performance, for their impact on poverty reduction, and inclusive and sustainable growth, etc. Provide continuous training and capacity building support for UNDP staff, Government officials and public institutions on economic and development issues.Build strategic partnerships, feed into programme design and implementation of the Country Office resource mobilization strategy.
Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, federal and provincial government institutions, private sector, civil society and development partners based on strategic goals of UNDP and country’s priorities. Research and analyze information on donors and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation. Produce periodic updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ. Undertake selected studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into UNDP Programme, and national policies and strategies.Promote awareness and facilitate advocacy for UNDP’s mandate and mission.
Contribute to policy advocacy for Human Development and inclusive sustainable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and training. Provide support to monitoring progress and formulation of strategies towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Produce high quality research papers for UNDP presentations at national and international workshops and conferences. Produce blogs, op-eds, articles, etc. on development issues and UNDP Programmes and projects activities. Maintain and expand the reach and impact of the flagship publication, Development Advocate Pakistan (DAP) Manage events and publications on economic issues, including annual Global and National Human Development Reports (HDR) launches in the country, and advocacy of the Reports’ findings among relevant Governmental agencies, civil society organizations and donors.Manage the DPU team to align the systems for improved coherence between policy and programme at the CO level
Manage and supervise a team of professional staff within the DPU, including the SDG Plus team at the provincial level Provide guidance on annual work plans and set strategic priorities, assisting roles and responsibilities, leading their performance assessments, and facilitating the Team’s engagement with other units in the CO, within the UNCT, and external partners Supervise the administrative and financial aspects of the unit and as per the project document Support synergies and between policy work and the programme portfolio and initiatives implemented by the CO Mobilize resources, domestically and internationally, to contribute to the maintenance and explanation of the DPUThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Team of Development Policy Unit.
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 inclusivityPeople Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
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, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio managementBusiness Development
Human-centered Design. Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices.Digital
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 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 them as a source for creativity. Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing2030 Agenda: Partnerships
SDG Integration. Economic Forecasting2030 Agenda: People
Gender. Financing for Gender EqualityRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, Development Financing or related field is required, or A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree. A Ph.D. in Economics/Development or relevant will be an advantage.Experience:
Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s Degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level that includes extensive experience in management of teams, providing policy and/or management advisory services, oversight services, research and policy-level analysis, and solid experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Experience in the use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data. Extensive experience in providing advisory services, including risk management, to multiple complex development projects in the area of economics, policy development is desired. Sound understanding of global and domestic development policy trends, including UNDP corporate development policy priorities and programmes is an advantage. Demonstrated experience in working with the Government Ministries, departments, commissions and beyond on collaborative initiatives to address key development challenges pertaining to economics and policy development and implementation is desired. Demonstrated multi-stakeholder process facilitation and coordination skills. Demonstrated experience in an advisory role in the development sector, think-tanks, specialized UN agencies at national, regional or international level is highly desired. Experience in preparing high-quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers; Experience of strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities; Extensive understanding and knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, including politically astute experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement; Experience in handling web-based management systems and advanced software programmes for statistical analysis of data;Required languages:
Fluency in the English and Urdu languages is required.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
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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