Political Economy Analyst (Home-Based)

Background

The Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) provides strategic direction, oversight, and support to Country Offices (COs) in their engagement with countries to achieve the expected outcomes and outputs of UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025), including the acceleration of progress and human development in the region through advocacy, policy advice and dialogue, knowledge generation and sharing, and quality services for national capacity development. RBLAC also contributes to UN reform and coordination efforts by playing the integrator role within the UN Country Team and co-vice-chairing the Regional Collaborative Platform with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

 

The Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) is seeking a Political Economy Analyst to provide the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Development Policy Team with analyses and advice on the interplay between political, social, and economic factors relevant to the advancement of sustainable development in the region. LAC is a middle-income region, but it is NOT a middle-class society. Countries in the region aspire, however, to become strong, cohesive societies where the middle class is a powerful engine of growth and yields healthier and constructive political dynamics. To do so, UNDP is working to support countries in the region to enhance productivity, inclusion, and resilience.

 

The Political Economy Analyst will inform regional, and country programs based on critical socio-political analyses. The Political Economy Analyst will report to the Chief Economist.

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief Economist, the Political Economy Analyst will provide substantive support to the process of dissemination of the Regional Human Development Report (RHDR)2025 for Latin America and the Caribbean. He or she will be in charge of contributing to the dissemination and roll-out of the recommendations of the report at the regional and country level in LAC, ensuring that UNDP continues to be positioned as a thought leader in the region. The duties are:

 

Competencies

• ACHIEVE RESULTS - LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• THINK INNOVATEVELY - LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• LEARN CONTINUOUSLY - LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• ADAPT WITH AGILITY - LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• ACT WITH DETERMINATION - LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• ENGAGE AND PARTNER - LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

• BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
  • SYSTEMS THINKING: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
  • KNOWLEDGE GENERATION: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • COMMUNICATION: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
  • MONITORING & EVALUATION: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Technical Competencies

• 2030 AGENDA: ENGAGEMENT & EFFECTIVENESS
  • INNOVATION: Design Interventions and Socialize Portfolio.
  • EFFECTIVENESS: Capacities on aid transparency.
• 2030 AGENDA: PARTNERSHIPS
  • SDG INTEGRATION: SDG Acceleration.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Economics, Political Economy, Public Policy, Administration, or related fields, is required. or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree, with an understanding of development.

• Minimum 2 years (with a master’s degree) or 4 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in development, policy analysis and research is required.
• Experience in designing conceptual notes and evidence-based frameworks is required.
• Solid publication record on development issues is required.

• Proven experience and knowledge of the UN development system's approaches, policies and practices is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in political, social, and economic context of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as of Agenda 2030 and UNDP’s work in the region, is an asset.
• Proven track record of strong technical competencies to analyze data and development trends in the LAC region are desirable.
• Experience in working with governments, donors, non- governmental organizations and development organizations, is desirable.
• Experience in handling web-based management systems, is desirable.
• Experience in drafting, editing, or reviewing papers and reports is an asset.

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.