Economist – SDG Economic Transformation and Financing

About the role

The Economist position is based in the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, under the direct supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office. It works in a matrixed relationship with the SDG Policy and Financing Section of the SDG Coordination, Policy and Programme Division and collaborates closely with the Regional Policy Analyst. The role provides evidence-based economic analysis and advice on SDG acceleration, economic transformation (green and just transition, digital transformation, the future of work) and SDG financing.

Key responsibilities

• Research, analyze and present economic, social and sustainable development data, including trends and good practices on economic transformation, green and just transition, digital transformation, the future of work and SDG financing.
• Conduct economic and policy analysis to help the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team identify challenges, opportunities and policy options for advancing the SDGs, with due regard to gender equality and the leave no one behind principle.
• Support the implementation and localization of global guidelines, tools and methodologies for integrated SDG analysis, strategic foresight, data-driven decision-making and digital transformation, in close collaboration with the Regional Office and the SDG Coordination, Policy and Programme Division.
• Collect, analyze and interpret economic and development data, identify trends and gaps and propose follow-up actions to strengthen evidence-based programming and decision-making.
• Prepare inputs to policy papers, analytical notes, briefing materials and reports on economic transformation, macroeconomic trends and SDG financing.
• Analyze the role of the private sector in sustainable economic transformation and SDG financing, and research innovative approaches to SDG financing, including those of the UN, IFIs and other development partners.
• Support UNCT initiatives such as Integrated National Financing Frameworks and follow-up to the Sevilla Commitments, and contribute to humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches where relevant.
• Engage with government counterparts, IFIs, development partners, the private sector, academia, think tanks and civil society, and maintain working-level collaboration with economists across the UN system.