Development Coordination Officer / Economist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN Development System has undergone significant reforms to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCO) play a crucial role in supporting countries to meet their development priorities and implement the SDGs. The UN RCO in Libreville, Gabon, is part of this global initiative, working under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking UN official in the country.

Job Overview:
The Development Coordination Officer / Economist position is integral to the UN's efforts in Gabon, focusing on sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs. The role involves conducting in-depth analyses of the SDGs, identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities, and providing policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of UN operations in the country. The officer will collaborate with various stakeholders, including national government counterparts, to promote innovative policies and programs that align with the SDGs. This position requires a strong understanding of economic analysis, sustainable development policies, and the ability to facilitate discussions among diverse groups to foster a common understanding of sustainable development goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, facilitate, and merge factual analyses of the SDGs to promote a common understanding within the UN Country Team of trends, challenges, and opportunities in sustainable development. This includes researching and analyzing data related to the SDGs, proposing policy solutions, and assessing risk factors that may hinder progress.
• Provide technical advice on innovative policies related to the economy and the SDGs to Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, guiding them on how to optimize national UN operations.
• Coordinate the design of new SDG-focused programs that emphasize investment and accelerate actions to achieve the SDGs, ensuring alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Gabon.
• Plan and guide the production and management of knowledge on the SDGs, facilitating networks that promote collaboration and sharing of best practices.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends and provide insights through various data visualization methods.
• Perform other duties as assigned, ensuring that all requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in sustainable development policies, economic analysis, and project management. They should demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research and analysis, with familiarity in using various research sources. The role requires a commitment to gender perspectives and the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Professionalism, planning and organizing skills, teamwork, and creativity are essential competencies for this position.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, development studies, public policy, or public finance is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is an advantage.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable development policies, economic analysis, or project and program management in development cooperation or a related area is required. Additionally, two or more years of experience in data analytics or a related field is desirable, along with experience in supporting SDG financing.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in both languages is required, with a minimum level of II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a Temporary Job Opening for a limited duration of six months, with no expectancy of renewal. The position is open to nationals of Gabon only, and candidates must be recruited within the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, nationals of Gabon residing elsewhere may be considered. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Staff members are expected to adhere to the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, and the recruitment process is designed to ensure a diverse and inclusive environment.