The inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth of the CPD will support the Government in accelerating structural transformation, creating an enabling gender- and age-responsive policy and business environment, and establishing institutional mechanisms that promote effective economic governance and resilience to crisis and shocks; foster sustainable and green productivity, and facilitate access to finance through private-sector participation, development of entrepreneurial skills, and innovations among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly youth- and women-led. And as such, enhanced policy support, development of transformative and portfolio-based programmes is imperative where the potential incumbent is expected to lead.

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Programme Specialist (National Economist) acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of Country Office (CO) Programme, specifically in the area of inclusive, green, resilient and sustainable economic growth, economic empowerment, trade and private sector development etc.

In close collaboration with the Senior Economic Advisor and other Programme Unit Heads she/he assists the RR and DRR in strategic planning, development intelligence, economic analysis and identifying new programme areas while ensuring consistency with the priorities of the Lesotho  United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF), the Country Programme Document (CPD) and National Strategic Development Plan (extended NSDPII) and other strategic plans identifying, recommending and leading the implementation of creative responses to emerging, challenges and opportunities. She/he also works in close collaboration with Regional Technical Teams, UNDP HQs (RBA) Advisors, the CO Programme and Operations Teams, other UN Agencies, Government Officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP Programme.

The Programme Specialist (National Economist) heads and supervises the staff in the Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth team in the planning and implementation of programmes and liaises with partners on the subject matter.  She/he builds strategic partnerships and establishes networks to advocate and mobilize resources for the implementation of the aspect of the CO Programme.

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.

• Provides strategic direction of UNDP’s programmme on inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth.
• Ensures effective management and supervision of staff under the inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth programmatic area/unit.
• Provides policy advice and options to Government counterparts and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
• Facilitates creation of strategic partnerships with diverse group of partners including government, private sector, academia, civil society organizations, donors, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) as well as United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.

1. Provides strategic direction of UNDP’s programmme on inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth.

• Strategic analysis of the areas under her/his portfolio to serve as a basis for programme planning and implementation;
• Collaborating with other UN Agencies (resident and no resident) on programme planning and implementation, support the preparation/revision/update of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), The UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD), the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and other documents ensuring consistency with the NSDPII and other national and local development strategies, polices and plans  focusing on special and vulnerable groups including women, youth and people with disabilities;
• Lead UNDP contribution to joint programmes in the subject areas;
• Analyze and presenting UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO relating to the subject areas;
• Advocate for sustainable development and contribute to the discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Unon Agenda 2063 and other country’s international commitment on sustainable development;
• Collaborates with the Accelerator Lab to promote learning and innovative approaches or policy planning programme implementation, as well as to enable cocreation of joint programmes and contribution to portfolio;
• Ensure fruitful collaboration and coordination with the Implementing Partners;
• Follow up on NIM audit making recommendations for projects under his/her supervision;
• Prepare and present periodic plans, reports to senior management and donors;
• Ensure compliance with programming policies and procedures for the portfolio.

2. Ensures effective management and supervision of staff under the inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth programmatic area/unit.

• Lead the staff in the unit for the successful implementation of the UNSDCF and the CPD in the area of inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth;
• Effective application of results-based management principles, processes and tools for monitoring achievement of results;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of Programme/ projects and tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Identity Access Manager (IDAM) for development projects transactions approval;
  Ensure effective control of the workflows in the Unit;
• Supervise members of the Unit, provide feedback and guidance.

3. Facilitates creation of strategic partnerships with diverse group of partners including government, private sector, academia, civil society organizations, donors, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) as well as United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.

• Facilitates creation of strategic partnerships with diverse group of partners including government, private sector, academia, civil society organizations, donors, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) as well as United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes;
• Build strategic partnership with donors, implementing partners, civil society, private sector and UN agencies working the Strategy and Policy area;
• Assist in the cooperation with programming funded by GEF and other vertical windows;
• Support implementation of the CO partnership and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes, resource mobilization and communication;
• Analyze and research information on donors, and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify of opportunities for cost-sharing;
• Leads resource mobilization efforts for the inclusive green, resilient and sustainable growth programmatic area and supports similar efforts for the Country Office.

4. Provides quality policy advisory services to the Government and facilitate knowledge management, focusing on the following results: 

• Collects, analyses and synthesizes macro-economic and SDGs-related information and best practices, paying attention to poverty, gender, inequality, diversity and governance aspects, and be able to propose policy options to relevant government departments;
• Facilitation of policy dialogue on economic issues with Government, donors, civil society, private sector, and relevant contributions to policy development;
• Keeps abreast of regional and global economic trends and issues and analyses their implications for the realization of the SDGs, NSDP II and other government priorities;
• Advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP mandate and mission;
• Identify and synthetize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Establish and participate in advocacy networks at national, regional and international levels;
• Participate and contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organize trainings for the operations/ projects staff on the subject areas of the unit;
• Mentor and guide CO staff and promote learning in the office;
• Contribute to communication of the UNDP, including providing articles and other content to the website, public events, and publications.

5. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:  supervision of staff under the inclusive green, resilient and sustainable economic growth programmatic area/unit.

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 inclusivity

Partnerships Management:

Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

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, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Digital & Innovation: 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 sharing

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness SDG Integration : Economy-wide analysis

2030 Agenda: Prosperity Inclusive Growth: Economic Diversification:

2030 Agenda: Partnerships SDG Integration : Financial Inclusion: