Org. Setting and Reporting

Job Summary: 

The highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Syria and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer /Economist will be responsible for the following duties: Summary of Functions 1. Plans, facilitates and consolidates evidence-based analysis in support of a shared understanding by the UN Country Team (UNCT) of socio-economic development trends, including the impact of the protracted Syrian crisis, the influence of the regional economic dynamics, the impact of the economic measures to which the country is subject, challenges and opportunities for programmatic engagement to address some of these trends. 2. Supports UN RC/HC’s and UNCT’s advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships within the UN System and with other relevant partners to support the reframing of economic policies and practices in the context of the Syrian crisis and the global Agenda 2030. 3. Coordinates the development by the UNCT of a new generation of programmes with a strong orientation and focus on investing in resilience and early recovery, to pave the way for future efforts towards achieving the SDGs. 4. Plans and directs knowledge generation and management, in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of challenges and opportunities in programme countries. Description of Functions: 1. Plans, facilitates, and consolidates evidence-based analysis in support of a shared understanding by the UN Country Team (UNCT) of socio-economic development trends, including the impact of the protracted Syrian crisis, the influence of the regional economic dynamics, the impact of the economic measures to which the country is subject, challenges and opportunities for programmatic engagement to address some of these trends: • Researches, analyzes, consolidates, and presents socio-economic data, related to the SDG areas and the main sectors of impact of the crisis in Syria, as well as information on emerging best practices in resilience and early recovery investments, sustainable development; paying special attention to gender and leave no one behind (LNOB) principles; and proposes policy options to the UN RC/HC and the UNCT; • Provides advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to the UN Strategic Framework (UNSF) and socio-economic policies; • Works with UNCT counterparts to create common, convergent and coherent key advocacy topics around the UNSF; • Identifies and analyzes issues that impact multiple socio-economic sectors and proposes resilience and early recovery interventions that can help prepare future activities towards sustainable development across multiple areas; • Collects and analyzes data on UN country level operations in support of the implementation of the main planning instruments and the 2030 Agenda, identifies gaps and proposes follow-up actions; • Working in close collaboration with the UNCT, researches, develops and presents policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge based-tools, and supports discussion in country-level forums to help influence and advance policy dialogue on addressing some of the key challenges towards the achievement of the SDGs; • Coordinates the preparation of UN flagship reports, including the analysis of data and the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions; • Monitors regional and global economic trends and issues, analyzes their implications for the country’s socio-economic context and recommends additional issues for consideration; • Analyzes trends and provides advice and support on new and innovative mechanisms to leverage resilience and early recovery financing, including on global initiatives by the UN; • Provides inputs for briefing papers and discussion/talking points by the RC/HC and the UNCT. 2. Supports RC’s and UNCT’s advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships within the UN system and with other relevant partners to support the reframing of economic policies and practices in the context of the Syrian crisis and the global Agenda 2030: • Fosters peer-exchanges and opens a consistent channel of communication and strong partnerships with economists within the UN System at country level to create and consolidate common, convergent and coherent advocacy opportunities on topics related to the UNSF; • Works in close collaboration with the RCO Partnerships Officer, ensures effective engagement of all relevant counterparts to develop collaboration and partnerships in support of the UNSF, including IFIs, the private sector, etc. • Stays abreast and follows latest developments in analytical work, policy, financial and technical support provided by other relevant partners (including IFIs, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia, the private sector, and others) on socio-economic topics and identifies opportunities for collaboration; • Engages with the private sector to strengthen understanding of its potential contribution to the UNSF, and to identify private and/or public-private catalytic financing opportunities in support of the UNSF. 3. Coordinates the development by the UNCT of a new generation of programmes with a strong orientation and focus on investing in resilience and early recovery to pave the way for future efforts towards achieving the SDGs: • Actively engages and informs the development and implementation of the UNSF to ensure that the UN’s country-level operational activities effectively support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in country, as relevant to the Syrian context; • Working in close collaboration with the RCO Data Management and Monitoring Officer, coordinates and supports the preparation of analytical and planning documents as well as results reporting related to the UNSF; • Identifies issues and proposes recommendations for the UNCT on how UN country-level programming based on sound socio-economic analysis; • Guides the development and implementation of the UNSF, ensuring a strong and integrated UNCT engagement; • Contributes to the UN joint programming to strengthen the formulation of a new generation of UN joint programmes that are oriented towards investment in resilience, and have impact at the national level; • Assists UNCT Results Groups in the implementation of joint workplans to ensure relevant and responsive activities in the Syrian context; • Proposes recommendations to enhance UN support to multi-stakeholder processes to increase the impact of UN assistance in Syria. 4. Plans and directs knowledge management in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of challenges and opportunities in programme countries: • Promotes collaboration, peer support, innovation, good practices, lessons learned, needs, and opportunities through active facilitation and/or participation to local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks within the Resident Coordinator System, across the UN (including the UN Economist Network) and beyond; • Researches, analyzes and presents best practices and lessons learned from implementation of UN policy initiatives and programming, with a view to advising the RC/HC and UNCT on actions to strengthen the policy orientation of the UN; • Monitors and analyzes good practices and successful models implemented by the UN in country, and suggests options for adapting these to the Syrian context in the form of policies and programmes; • Reflects on processes of his/ her work area at key milestones and generates knowledge valuable to others in the RC system/ UNCT.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, development studies or public policy, public finance. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, resilience and early recovery policy development or project/programme management in the crisis countries or related contexts is required. Programme, policy and/or research familiarity with countries under economic measures (unilateral coercive measures, economic and trade sanctions, banking system sanctions) is desirable. Ability to apply development economics theory and specific global agendas/processes to the specific country context and carry out high-quality economic development research is desirable. Knowledge of the SDGs and the UN Normative agenda and their application is desirable. Proven experience coordinating multi-stakeholder spaces and participatory assessment processes; ability to collaborate with others, to give his/her own perspective, and to be open to diverse perspectives is desirable. Outstanding analytical and writing skills with an ability to convey complex ideas in a simple, clear, and lively style is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Knowledge of other United Nations official languages is an advantage. “Fluency equals a rating of “Fluent” in all four areas (read, speak, write and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “Confident” in two of the four areas.