Result of Service

Strengthened national capacity to conduct quantitative analysis to help formulate robust plans, policies and strategies for sustainable development with solid scientific and analytical underpinnings to rebuilding better and greener from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work Location

New York or Home-based

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The launch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 represented a commitment to transforming our world and achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. A plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, the 2030 Agenda seeks to eradicate poverty, strengthen peace, human rights and freedoms and put humanity on a sustainable and resilient path. Today, as we approach the halfway mark of the implementation period, we are not on course for this transformation. Evidenced by the failure to meet the climate crisis, the unequal distribution of vaccines during the COVID pandemic, the increase in income inequality, the current global crisis in food, fuel and finance and continued denial of basic human rights it is clear that the whole agenda is at risk if an urgent change in course is not made. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine is further exacerbating this challenge by reversing years of development progress and threatening to cause major setbacks to poverty eradication and the achievement of other sustainable development goals. Virtually all developing countries have been adversely affected, with sharp increases in prices and borrowing costs accompanying shrinking fiscal space that further limit policy options. The recovery from the pandemic is complicated by these emerging pressures and challenges, requiring well-designed policies to achieve a short term rebound and accelerate progress on the SDGs over the coming years. With both domestic resource mobilization and international development finance under pressure, it is imperative for participating countries to develop evidence-based and integrated policies based on the latest science and data to develop cost effective strategies for sustainable development, while promoting growth, macro-economic stability and inclusion. The capacity of national government agencies for data collection and analysis to support policy formulation remains constrained. For this reason, Economic Analysis and Policy Division (EAPD), United nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, has partnered, both formally through joint projects and implementing agreements as well as informally through ad-hoc arrangements with other UN entities as well as academic and research institutions to support Member States to apply quantitative analytic methodologies such as macro-economic modelling tools including World Economic Forecasting Model (WEFM), and the Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) integrated assessment methodology to inform development policy. These track the complex interactions of different dimensions of sustainable development. Countries are using these tools to move forward on core objectives such as achieving sustainable economic growth, tackling climate change and advancing social inclusion. A key objective of the capacity development programmes of EAPD has been to strengthen national capacity to conduct quantitative analysis to help formulate robust plans, policies and strategies for sustainable development with solid scientific and analytical underpinnings. Building on years of support to member states to achieve the MDGs, SDGs and other policy priorities, EAPD and its partners are committed to continue these efforts to assist countries in their strategies to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild more robust, resilient, stable and greener economies. An international individual contractor is needed to provide both substantive and organizational support to these two projects. In particular, the individual contractor will act as coordinator and facilitator of national training programs and workshops, provide substantive inputs to training and analysis, support finalization of papers, reports and documentation and provide content for the modelling tools website and other online resources. The individual contractor will support the following outputs of the project: A. Support analysis and research to identify institutional arrangements that are conducive to successful modelling development to inform coherent sustainable development strategies and produce working documents as required; B. Interact with programme officers, inter/national individual contractors and project focal points, and elaborate substantive documents; C. Provide technical and substantive support to the UN DESA and national teams in target countries by supporting the organization of a national workshop and facilitating engagement with national focal points; D. Support the organization of missions, workshops and expert group meetings both administratively and substantively; E. Preparing the draft programme details, training materials, and agenda/curriculum, and expected outcomes of the regional/national training workshops; F. Drafting and providing substantive inputs to the concept notes for the scoping missions and coordinating logistics for the missions; G. Identifying speakers of the regional training workshop and national experts from each participating country to contribute to individual country studies; H. Support the development and dissemination of knowledge products from project, including economic, energy and social country profiles in relation to modelling, online materials and substantive reports to disseminate the findings and impacts of the capacity development program and country projects. I. Support in updating capacity development news and social media, website and dissemination of project outputs; J. Performs any other duties as required.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s level university degree in international/regional development, economics, political science, social science or related field. Related bachelor degree with 7 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of Masters degree. • A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in economic, social and environmental sciences research and analysis, policy formulation, application of sustainable development principles in development programmes or related area. • A minimum of 5 years of experience in project implementation. Experience with capacity development projects, including communication with government officials and implementation of workshops, is highly desirable. • Knowledge of application of modelling tools in developing countries is highly desirable. • Experience in working with United Nations entities is an asset. • Experience in organizing multi-country workshops related to economic and sustainable development is an asset. • Experience in working with the CLEWS or WEFM model is an asset.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN Language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.