Economist, NOD

The Economist, NO-D position is located within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Beijing, China. The incumbent will provide substantive advice and analysis on the status of the SDGs in China, economic transformation, and SDG financing, supporting the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team in advancing sustainable development priorities aligned with China's 15th Five-Year Plan.

Responsibilities

• Plan, facilitate and consolidate evidence-based analysis of the status of the SDGs in China and their links to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and relevant national policy developments, providing substantive advice to the RC and UNCT on SDG acceleration, economic transformation, and SDG financing.
• Research, analyze, consolidate and present information and data on emerging best practices in SDG acceleration, economic transformation for sustainable development, including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work, with attention to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan priorities and related policy measures.
• Provide advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Guide substantive support to the RC/UNCT on SDG-related issues, assessing alignment with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and evaluating potential synergies and trade-offs between SDGs.
• Work with UNCT counterparts to create common advocacy topics related to SDG acceleration, sustainable economic transformation, and SDG financing, identifying entry points for catalytic UN policy support.
• Collect and analyze data on UN country level operations in support of SDG acceleration and economic transformation and identify gaps and propose follow-up actions.
• Research, develop and present policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge-based tools to influence and advance policy dialogue and advocate economic transformation aligned with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
• Coordinate preparation of UN flagship reports on SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing, including data analysis and evidence provision.
• Monitor regional, global and China-specific economic and policy trends and analyze their implications for SDG acceleration at the country level.
• Conduct analytical work to strengthen understanding of the catalytic role of innovative SDG financing in China’s economic transformation.
• Analyze trends and provide advice on new and innovative mechanisms to leverage SDG financing, including global initiatives by the UN and other development institutions.
• Provide inputs for briefing papers and discussion points on SDG financing for consideration by the RC and UNCT.
• Support UNCT initiatives to advance SDG financing, including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF).
• Provide economic analysis and advice as inputs into the cross-pillar nexus approaches in country.
• Support RC’s and UNCT’s advocacy efforts for creating strong partnerships with the UN system, national counterparts, and other partners including IFIs to support economic transformation and SDG financing.
• Foster peer exchanges and maintain communication channels with economists within the UN system to consolidate advocacy opportunities.
• Ensure effective engagement of relevant counterparts to develop collaboration and partnerships around SDG acceleration and financing.
• Stay abreast of developments in analytical work, policy, financial and capacity development support by other development partners and identify collaboration opportunities.
• Engage with the private sector to strengthen understanding of its contribution to SDG acceleration and identify catalytic financing opportunities.
• Coordinate development by the UNCT of integrated SDG programming cycles that advance economic transformation and outline approaches to SDG financing.
• Support preparation of Common Country Analyses and other analytical exercises with strong SDG acceleration and financing analysis.
• Guide development and implementation of UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks with integrated engagement on SDG acceleration and financing.
• Contribute to UN joint programming to promote SDG acceleration oriented towards investment and national impact.
• Assist UNCT Results Groups in implementing joint workplans ensuring SDG-responsive UN operational activities.
• Propose recommendations to enhance UN support to governmental and multi-stakeholder processes on policy and capacity development for SDG acceleration.
• Plan and direct SDG knowledge generation and management around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and financing agendas.
• Promote collaboration, peer support, innovation, good practices, lessons learned and opportunities through participation in communities of practice and knowledge networks.
• Research, analyze and present best practices and lessons learned from UN policy initiatives and programming for SDG acceleration and economic transformation.
• Monitor and analyze good practices and successful models to leverage SDG financing and suggest options for bankable national SDG investment policies and programmes.
• Keep abreast of emerging innovative approaches in SDG acceleration, economic transformation and financing and propose new ways of working.
• Reflect on work processes and generate knowledge valuable to others in the RC system and UN Country Teams.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights using data visualization methods.
• Ensure documentation of requirements and background information used for data analysis.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research and analysis in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.
• Knowledge of economics is essential; familiarity with development economics and relevant development experience at the national or international level is desirable.
• Ability to apply development economic 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, the UN Normative agenda, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and relevant national policy developments, and their application at the national level is desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to SDG financing is desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of existing governance structures in the country, relevant national planning and policy processes, including the 15th Five-Year Plan, and existence of a network of contacts in the national/sub-national government, civil society, etc. 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.
• Experience using computers and office software packages, including programmes for statistical analysis of data is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Chinese (Mandarin) is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Economic Research
• Sustainable Development Policies
• Development Economics
• Data Analytics
• Business Analytics
• Statistical Analysis
• SDG Financing
• Economic Development Research
• Policy Analysis
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Participatory Assessment
• National Planning Processes
• Governance Structures Knowledge
• Analytical Writing
• Office Applications
• English Language
• Chinese Language

Languages

English, Chinese (Mandarin)