Economist
Organizational Context
The UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in the Philippines operates under the UN Secretariat's reformed Development System, supporting national development priorities and the SDGs. Led by an empowered Resident Coordinator, the RCO is part of a global network recalibrated for the UN 2.0 shift, emphasizing data, digital innovation, and strategic foresight. This role reports to the Head of RCO, with functional alignment to SDG policy and financing sections.
Job Purpose
This Economist role is crucial for providing substantive economic analysis and evidence-based advice to support sustainable development, economic transformation, and SDG financing in the Philippines. The incumbent will analyze economic and social data, identify trends, and develop policy options for the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team (UNCT). Key contributions include supporting the localization of global guidelines, identifying integrated policy support entry points, and preparing analytical products. The role also involves fostering partnerships with national counterparts and stakeholders, contributing to UN programming cycles like the Common Country Analysis and UNSDCF, and enhancing knowledge management on economic transformation and SDG financing to strengthen the UN's strategic positioning and impact.
Responsibilities
The Economist will provide substantive economic analysis and evidence-based advice on sustainable development, economic transformation, and SDG financing. This includes researching, analyzing, and synthesizing economic and social data, identifying trends, and translating findings into actionable policy recommendations for decision-makers. The role supports the RC and UNCT by conducting economic and policy analysis to accelerate SDG progress, ensuring gender equality and 'leave no one behind' principles are considered. Responsibilities also encompass supporting the implementation of global guidelines, identifying integrated policy support entry points, and preparing various analytical and knowledge products. Furthermore, the Economist will foster partnerships and engagement with national counterparts and stakeholders, contribute economic and financing analysis to UN programming cycles (CCA, UNSDCF), and support knowledge management and learning initiatives on economic transformation and SDG financing.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in economic research, analysis, macroeconomic/socioeconomic policy, or development economics is required. Experience in economic/policy analysis, translating trends into policy options, and SDG financing is essential. Desirable experience includes work in development finance, public finance, supporting strategic planning, multi-stakeholder engagement, applying inclusive approaches, resource mobilization, UN inter-agency coordination, and data analytics.
Skills
Professionalism, accountability, and creativity are core competencies. Specific skills include applying sustainable development theories, conducting data collection and analysis, conceptual and evaluative skills for independent research, interpreting data for decision-making, and incorporating gender perspectives. The role requires conscientiousness, efficiency, persistence, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Creativity involves seeking program improvements, offering new solutions, and persuading others to consider innovative ideas.