Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator – the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Dakar, Mali, and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of Office, and Strategic Planner.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer/Economist will be responsible for the following duties: Summary of Functions: 1. Plans, facilitates and consolidates evidence-based analysis of the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), providing substantive advice to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), particularly on elements pertaining to SDG Acceleration, economic transformation agenda (including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work) and SDG financing. 2. Advocates and supports RCs and UNCTs advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships within the UN System, with national counterparts in government and other relevant partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to support the reframing of economic policies and practices for SDG acceleration, economic transformation and leveraging SDG financing. 3. Coordinates the development by the UNCT of a new generation of an integrated SDG programming cycle (including development of roadmaps, Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), UN Joint Programmes via the six transitions for SDG acceleration, as well as Annual Reports and others) that promoted SDG acceleration, advances the economic transformation agenda and outlines a clear approach to SDG financing in programming countries. 4. Plans and directs knowledge generation and management around the SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing agendas, in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in Programme countries. 5. Coordinate the UNs Economist Groups to provide forward-looking technical policy support to the government on SDG acceleration, financial management and PACT of the future. 6. Lead engagement with universities and local think tanks to foster dialogue on emerging economic issues with proposed solutions to mitigate these. Description of Functions: 1. Plans, facilitates, and consolidates evidence-based analysis of the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing substantive advice to the RC and UNCT, particularly on elements pertaining to SDG acceleration, the economic transformation agenda (including green and just transition, digital transformation and the future of work) and leveraging SDG financing:

• Researches, analyzes, consolidates, and presents 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, among others; paying special attention to gender and leave no one behind (LNOB) principles;
• Provides advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing;
• Guides substantive support to the RC/UNCT on SDG-related issues, particularly on policies to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, through incorporating a systems approach, and evaluates and highlights potential synergies and trade-offs between SDGs;
• Works with UNCT counterparts to create common, convergent and coherent key advocacy topics related to SDG acceleration, sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing, helping identify and analyze entry points for catalytic and consolidated UN policy support options, to enable the transition to more efficient, low-carbon and resilient production and consumption patterns, maximizing social, environmental and economic outcomes that impact the implementation of multiple SDGs and their targets, with proposed accelerator interventions’ that can help unlock and accelerate progress towards sustainable development;
• Collects and analyzes data on UN country level operations in support of SDG acceleration and the implementation of the economic transformation agenda and SDG financing, identifies gaps and proposes follow-up actions;
• Working in close collaboration with the UNCT, researches, develops and presents policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge based-tools, and supports discussion in country-level forums to help influence and advance policy dialogue and advocate to reframe economic policies and practices around economic transformation to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs;
• Coordinates the preparation of UN flagship reports on SDG acceleration, economic transformation and leveraging SDG financing, including the analysis of data and the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions to advance multiple SDGs at a time; Support the validation and implementation process of the 3 flagship programs developed by the country team to accelerate the SDGs; coordinate the work of consultants and coleads and monitor the implementation of projects funded by SDG Fund.
• Monitors regional and global economic trends and issues, analyzes their implications for SDG acceleration at the country level and recommends additional issues for consideration;
• Conducts and consolidates analytical work to strengthen the understanding of the catalytic role of innovative SDG Financing in the context of SDG acceleration and the green economic transformation; identifying opportunities to align key SDG Financing stakeholders in the context of economic transformation and green growth;
• Analyzes trends and provides advice and support on new and innovative mechanisms to leverage SDG financing, including on global initiatives by the UN and other development institutions (e.g. IFIs);
• Provides inputs for briefing papers and discussion/talking points on issues related to SDG financing for consideration by the RC/ the UNCT;
• Supports UNCT initiatives to advance SDG financing, including in the context of an Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF), as well as the six transitions for SDG acceleration;
• Provides economic analysis and advice as inputs into the cross-pillar (humanitarian-development-peace) nexus approaches in country. 2. Supports RCs and UNCTs, advocacy efforts for the creation of strong partnerships with the UN system, with national counterparts in government and other relevant partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to support the reframing of economic policies and practices around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing:
• Fosters peer-exchanges and opens a consistent channel of communication and strong partnerships with economists within the UN System at country level to create and consolidate common, convergent and coherent advocacy opportunities on topics related to SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing;
• Working in close collaboration with the RCO Partnerships Officer, ensures effective engagement of all relevant counterparts to develop collaboration and partnerships around SDG acceleration, economic transformation and SDG financing, for example with national planning or economic offices, IFIs, the private sector, etc.;
• Stays abreast and follows latest developments in analytical work, policy, financial and capacity development support provided by other relevant development partners…