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 since January 1, 2019, aimed at enhancing its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO) play a crucial role in supporting countries to meet their development priorities and achieve the SDGs, led by an independent UN Resident Coordinator who represents the UN Secretary-General at the country level. The UN operates in numerous countries worldwide, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to various development initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Development Coordination Officer / Economist position is situated within the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The role is pivotal in facilitating evidence-based analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and providing substantive advice to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT). The officer will focus on SDG acceleration, economic transformation, and leveraging SDG financing, ensuring that gender perspectives and the principle of 'leave no one behind' are integrated into all analyses and recommendations. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government counterparts, international financial institutions, and the private sector, to foster partnerships that support the reframing of economic policies around sustainable development. The officer will also coordinate the development of integrated SDG programming cycles and contribute to knowledge management efforts related to sustainable development trends and challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans, facilitates, and consolidates evidence-based analysis of the status of the SDGs, providing substantive advice to the RC and UNCT on SDG acceleration and economic transformation.
• Supports advocacy efforts for creating strong partnerships with national counterparts and relevant partners to reframe economic policies around SDG acceleration.
• Coordinates the development of a new generation of integrated SDG programming cycles that advance the economic transformation agenda.
• Plans and directs knowledge management around SDG acceleration and financing agendas, promoting collaboration and sharing of best practices.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends and provide insights for decision-making.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of sustainable development theories and concepts, with the ability to analyze and resolve complex issues. They should demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and effective planning and organizing skills. The role requires leadership capabilities, including the ability to empower others and drive change. Candidates should also be committed to gender balance and inclusivity in their work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics is required for this position. 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 programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is considered an advantage.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research, and analysis is required. Candidates should have proven experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder processes and participatory assessments. Experience in development financing related to SDG financing is desirable, as is familiarity with inter-agency coordination and programming within the UN or similar organizations. Two or more years of experience in data analytics or related fields is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of English is also required, and proficiency in another official UN language is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking, understanding), while knowledge is rated as 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
The appointment is for an initial period of one year, subject to the availability of the post or funds. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is open to applicants from under-represented member states, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. The UN does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.