Senior Development Coordination Officer, Economist

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 Brazil and reports to the Resident Coordinator, with direct supervision of the Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planner and RCO Head of Office.
- Responsibilities
- Within delegated authority, the Senior Development Coordination Officer /Economist will be responsible of the following duties: Summary of Functions 1. Coordinates evidence-based Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) analysis in support of a shared understanding by the UN Country Team (UNCT) of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in programme countries. 2. Oversees the provision of substantive advice on innovative economic and SDG policies to Resident Coordinators (RC) and UNCTs, as well as to national counterparts in government and other relevant partners. 3. Leads the development by the UNCT of a new generation of SDG programmes with a strong investment orientation and focus on acceleration towards achieving the SDGs. 4. Directs SDG knowledge generation and management. Description of Functions: 1. Coordinates evidence-based SDG analysis in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in programme countries: - Directs research, analysis, consolidation and presentation of SDG-related data, as well as information on emerging best practices in sustainable development, paying special attention to gender and capacity development, and proposes policy options to RCs/UNCTs;
- Leads and oversees research, analysis, and consolidation of macroeconomic, social, and environmental data and indicators from the host country, with the aim of identifying structural bottlenecks and developing integrated scenarios of fiscal, monetary, social, and environmental conditions. This work supports evidence-based policymaking to promote sustainable development, reduce inequalities, and enhance climate resilience—contributing directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- Oversees the identification and analysis of issues that impact multiple SDGs and their targets and proposes ‘accelerator interventions' that can help unlock and accelerate progress towards sustainable development across multiple areas;
- Directs the assessment of sustainable development trade-offs and risk factors, as well as early-warning indicators that may undermine the achievement of SDG targets and impact the UN’s role and programme in the country and identifies appropriate measures to address them;
- Supervises collection and analysis of data on UN country level operations in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, identifies gaps and proposes follow-up actions;
- Manages research, development and presentation of policy papers, guidance notes and other knowledge based-tools and directs discussion in country-level forums to help influence and advance policy dialogue on achieving the SDGs;
- Coordinates the preparation of UN flagship reports, including the analysis of data, and ensures the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions on SDGs;
- Oversees the monitoring of regional and global economic trends and issues, analyzes their implications for the realization of the SDGs at the country level and recommends additional issues for consideration. 2. Oversees the provision of substantive advice on innovative economic and SDG policies to RCs and UNCTs, as well as to national counterparts in government and other relevant partners: - Guides substantive support to the RC/UNCT on SDG-related issues, particularly on policies to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, including through Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) and similar processes, and evaluates and pursues potential trade-offs between SDGs;
- Leads the identification of issues and recommendations for the UNCT on how UN country-level operations can be optimized and better respond to sustainable development needs and emerging trends in country;
- Elicits, evaluates and consolidates policy options proposed by UNCT members, ensuring an integrated approach to the UN’s policy advice to national counterparts in government and other external partners;
- Provides substantive support to RC/UNCT to develop and implement initiatives related to national d