Chief Economist
Job details
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. 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. The UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia (RBEC) works in 18 countries and a territory across the Western Balkans, Caucasus, Western CIS, Central Asia, and Türkiye. RBEC consists of 17 Country Offices; there is also an Office in Kosovo (UN Security Council 1244/1999), and one Project Management Office (PMO) located in Cyprus. RBEC HQ is in New York, USA, while RBEC’s Regional Hub for Europe and Central Asia – Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) – is in Istanbul, Türkiye. Under the direct supervision of the RBEC Regional Hub Manager in Istanbul and with a secondary line to the Director of the Inclusive Growth Team in BPPS in New York, the Chief Economist will lead the implementation of RBEC substantive engagements on economic policy and inclusive growth and financing for the SDGs to broaden influence, build partnerships and unlock technical and financial resources to deliver on UNDP’s strategic offer in Europe and Central Asia. The Chief Economist will lead the Istanbul-based Inclusive Growth (IG) Team and work closely with the SDG Finance Team, with other IRH-based teams. The Inclusive Growth team and the SDG Finance team are part of the wider Global Policy Network and focus on integrated solutions that tackle inequality of opportunities and advance sustainable human development to achieve prosperity for all. Such solutions include:
- Developing new poverty and inequality metrics and tools.
- Expanding and improving social protection, including promoting the care economy, focusing on the most vulnerable first.
- Protecting and enhancing the productivity and resilience of informal workers and informal enterprises.
- Supporting national counterparts to harness and shape the future of work opportunities.
- Undertake a continuous review of the economic, political, and social environment in the region, identifying and analyzing economic trends and emerging issues that may impact the region’s development, the Bureau’s programming portfolio and the strategic planning process.
- Analyze and aggregate development trends at regional level to inform the formulation of UNDP’s policy advice, knowledge products and diagnostic tools.
- Analyze and advise on key areas for action on sustainable development and SDGs in the RBEC region.
- Ensure the representation of UNDP on regional economic policy and inclusive growth issues in various forums for policy dialogue, partnership negotiations and advocacy to position the UNDP Strategic Plan in the region.
- Initiate and steer high-level policy dialogue series for diverse groups, including policymakers, academics, think tanks, and journalists.
- Identify business development opportunities to enhance partnerships with International Financial Institutions, Development Finance Institutions, and other financial actors.
- Collaborate closely with the RBEC Strategy & Planning Team and with IRH teams to translate analyses and emerging opportunities into new regional programmes and country projects.
- Work closely with the partnerships team in IRH to ensure coordinated and effective engagement with partners.
- Prepare and launch flagship reports on key issues facing the region, and lead and/or provide substantive direction and guidance on major publications.
- Lead the production and quality assurance process of knowledge products (regional reports, joint analyses, policy papers) on aspects of economic policy.
- Contribute actively to strategic documents, concept papers, and messages on development solutions and the SDGs in the region.
- Maintain an active roster of world-class academics, researchers, and policymakers for periodic engagement and consultations.
- Foster a culture of evidence-based policymaking on inter-disciplinary topics.
- Represent RBEC on the Editorial Board and support the elevation of key regional and CO policy papers for UNDP.
- Oversee, influence, and promote policy dialogue in the thematic areas through cross-regional exchange of knowledge and collaboration.
- Provide substantive expert advice in the Community of Practice for Poverty and inequality.
- Guide and coordinate the cross-regional exchange of knowledge.
- Oversee the knowledge generation, analysis, documentation, and codification of results/lessons learned on inclusive growth.
- Lead the Inclusive Growth Team by establishing the business process design and its implementation for effective workflows, teamwork, and equitable distribution of workload.
- Oversee and direct the planning, resource provision, management, operations, activities, and priorities of the Team.
- Ensure close collaboration between and within the teams and with the other RBEC teams in the IRH and New York.
- Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the Team.
- Ensure close coordination of policy engagements between RBEC HQ, the Istanbul Regional Hub, and Country Offices.
- Achieve Results: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact.
- Think Innovatively: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, have the foresight.
- Learn Continuously: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all.
- Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes.
- Act with Determination: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence.
- Engage and Partner: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Create an ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion.
- 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.
- Business Management: Portfolio Management - Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives.
- Digital & Innovation: Systems thinking & transformation - Understand that complex problems need a non-reductionistic, holistic approach.
- Business Management: Communication - Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and unambiguously, both through written and verbal communication.
- Business Management: Partnerships Management - Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners.
- Business Development: Collective Intelligence Design - Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, or closely related academic fields is required; or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Holding a Ph.D. in a field related to the above is an advantage.
- Minimum of 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in providing policy advice, advancing the development and implementation of inclusive growth, poverty eradication, and equality approaches.
- Experience with international institutions and donors are desired.
- Proven track record and leadership experience in the UN System or multilateral organizations related to economic policy, inclusive growth, poverty eradication and reducing inequality is desired.
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