Development Coordination Officer / Economist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was reformed on January 1, 2019, to enhance 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 this reform, led by an independent UN Resident Coordinator who represents the UN Secretary-General and oversees the UN Development System at the country level. The organization aims to support countries in achieving their development priorities and the SDGs, operating in multiple countries worldwide with a focus on sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Development Coordination Officer / Economist position is situated within the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The role involves providing substantive advice and facilitating evidence-based analysis regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The officer will focus on SDG acceleration, economic transformation, and leveraging SDG financing. This includes researching and analyzing best practices, guiding UN Country Team (UNCT) support on SDG-related issues, and coordinating the preparation of UN flagship reports. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government counterparts and international financial institutions, to foster partnerships that support economic policies aligned with the SDGs. The officer will also be responsible for knowledge management around SDG acceleration and economic transformation, ensuring a shared understanding of 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 Resident Coordinator (RC) and UNCT, particularly on SDG acceleration and economic transformation.
• Supports advocacy efforts for strong partnerships with national counterparts and relevant partners to reframe economic policies around SDG acceleration.
• Coordinates the development of an integrated SDG programming cycle that advances the economic transformation agenda.
• Plans and directs knowledge management around SDG acceleration and economic transformation, 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 identify and analyze issues effectively. They should demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and strong planning and organizing skills. The role requires the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and to communicate effectively. Candidates should also have a commitment to gender equality and the ability to incorporate gender perspectives into their work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Completion of degree and non-degree 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 supporting development financing related to SDG financing is desirable, as is working experience within the United Nations or similar organizations, particularly in inter-agency coordination and programming. Two or more years of experience in data analytics or related areas 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 knowledge of another official UN language is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as being able to read, write, speak, and understand the language proficiently, while knowledge is defined as being 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 United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. Candidates are urged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening is posted.