Development Coordination Officer / Economist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was restructured on January 1, 2019, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO) play a pivotal role in this reform, supporting countries in their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The UN RCO operates under the guidance of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System at the country level. The organization aims to foster partnerships and collaboration among various stakeholders to facilitate sustainable development across nations.

Job Overview:
The Development Coordination Officer / Economist position is integral to the UN Resident Coordination Office in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The role involves providing evidence-based analysis and substantive advice on the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). The officer will focus on SDG acceleration, economic transformation, and SDG financing, advocating for strong partnerships within the UN System and with national counterparts. The position requires coordination of the development of integrated SDG programming cycles, including roadmaps and annual reports, to promote sustainable development initiatives. The officer will also be responsible for knowledge generation and management related to sustainable development trends and challenges, ensuring a shared understanding among UNCT members.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Development Coordination Officer / Economist will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Planning and facilitating evidence-based analysis of the SDGs, providing advice on economic transformation and financing.
• Advocating for partnerships within the UN System and with national counterparts to support economic policy reframing.
• Coordinating the development of integrated SDG programming cycles, including roadmaps and annual reports.
• Conducting research and analysis on best practices in SDG acceleration and economic transformation.
• Monitoring regional and global economic trends and their implications for SDG acceleration.
• Providing technical advice on innovative policies related to the economy and sustainable development goals.
• Supporting UNCT initiatives to advance SDG financing and conducting analysis to support government investment programs.
• Promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing within the UN system and with external partners.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The role requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research, and analysis. Experience working with international financial institutions or similar organizations is essential, along with proven experience in providing policy advice at the national level. Knowledge of economics, particularly development economics, and familiarity with the SDGs and UN normative agenda is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate outstanding analytical and writing skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of sustainable development and economic policies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic research, and analysis. Candidates should have experience working with international financial institutions or similar organizations, as well as proven experience in providing policy advice to senior government officials. Familiarity with development economics and relevant experience at the national or international level is desirable. The ability to apply development economics theory to specific country contexts and conduct high-quality economic research is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and Arabic is desirable, and knowledge of another UN official language is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'Fluent' in all four areas (reading, speaking, writing, and understanding), while 'Knowledge of' indicates a rating of 'Confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
The appointment for this position is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on funding availability. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is open to applicants from various Member States that are underrepresented in the UN Secretariat. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.