Economist

Details

Mission and objectives

The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Nations system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level.

Context

The United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) aims to support the work of the Resident Coordinator who leads the action and interventions of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in consultation with the government and in response to its development priorities. In Mauritania, the RCO ensures that the United Nations System supports the domestication of programs and agendas approved at the international level, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in alignment with national development priorities contained in the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP 2016-2030). The RCO ensures the relevance, coherence, and impact of the UN's joint initiatives in Mauritania, through the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2024-2027) signed in January 2024 with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. To implement its mandate, the RCO is organized around several functions that work closely together, including head of RCO/Strategic Planning, Economic Analysis, Data Monitoring and Reporting, Communication, Peace and Development and Gender equality advisors. Presently the RCO does not have a dedicated person managing the Economic portfolio and there it proposes to recruit an International UN Volunteer Specialist with a proven expertise in Economics to advise United Nations systems and governments on sustainable and durable economic model of development. As part of its economist role, the candidate will manage and monitor economic analysis activities, coordinate work with other functions within RCO and the overall UN teams, and cover for functions in their absence. It is noted that the candidate will take responsibility for several initiatives including updating the Common country Analysis (CCA); producing quality economics analytics, supporting the overall implementation and reporting under the pillar inclusive and sustainable growth of the UNSDCF, the review of the 2nd SCAPP action plan, providing high quality advices during Mauritania’s AU Presidency etc...

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the United Nations System Resident Coordinator in Mauritania, the International United Nations Volunteer Specialist will perform the following tasks: 1. Plan, facilitate, and consolidate the factual analysis of the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing substantive advice to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), especially on elements related to the economic transformation program (including the green and transition, digital transformation, and the future of work) and the financing of the SDGs. - Monitor and regularly assess the development of the national development plan (SCAPP) to exploit new opportunities, development priorities, partnerships, etc., and thus feed into the preparation of the United Nations Framework. - Provide technical advice on innovative policies related to the economy and sustainable development goals. - Help ensure liaison and coordination between the Government's working groups for the development of the SCAPP and the UN program management group to contribute to presenting and defining the UN's operational strategies, including differentiated value propositions aimed at attracting both traditional and non-traditional partners. - provide support to Mauritania AU Presidency and liaise and coordinate policy dialogue and technical assistance with UNDESA, UNECA, UNEP and the UNAU office. 2. Advocate and support the advocacy efforts of the RC and the United Nations Country Team for creating strong partnerships within the United Nations system, with national counterparts within the government and other relevant partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to support the reframing of economic policies and practices around economic transformation and SDG financing. - Contribute to dialogue with partners to improve development aid policies and practices and achieve the SDGs. - Follow regional and global economic trends and analyze their impact on achieving the SDGs at the national level. 3. Support the development or updating by the United Nations Country Team of analysis or programming documents, including the Common Country Analysis (CCA), United Nations joint programs, thematic assessments, as well as annual reports, advancing the economic transformation program and defining a clear approach to SDG financing in beneficiary countries of the programming. 4. Plan and lead the production and management of knowledge around the agendas of economic transformation and SDG financing, supporting a shared understanding by the United Nations Country Team of trends, challenges, and opportunities in sustainable development in program countries. - Support knowledge management. In addition to the above, United Nations Volunteers are expected to: - Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteering by reading the documentation provided by the UNV program, external publications, and actively participating in UNV program activities, such as engaging in commemorative activities of International Volunteer Day (IVD), December 5. - Familiarize and develop any form of traditional and/or local volunteering at the country of assignment level. - Reflect on the type and nature of the voluntary actions they undertake, including their participation in substantive reflections. - Contribute to writing articles on field experiences for submission for publication by the UNV program/website, newsletter, and press notes, etc. - Contribute to the Welcome Program for United Nations Volunteers newly arrived in the country of assignment. - Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteers or encourage individuals and organizations to use online volunteer services when technically possible. 11. Expected results: - The process of preparation and development of the CCA and the implementation of the CF are supported, monitored, and continuously managed in collaboration with the UNCT and DCO (regional and HQ) - Requests and inquiries from DCO (regional and headquarters) are responded to in a timely manner. - Planning, reporting, and evaluation deadlines are met, and the Country Team is supported and regularly informed of the requests and deadlines that fall to them. - The dialogue on economic issues between the United Nations and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) is maintained, and enhanced cooperation is developed and maintained. - Capacity development through coaching, monitoring, and continuous training, working (including supervision) with national staff or counterpart counterparts (governmental or non-governmental, including implementing partners (IP); - high technical support availed to government during their AU presidency and participation to G20 • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.