Country Economist

UNDP
Location: KATHMANDU
Salary: Negotiable
Posted Date: 2025-06-21 Deadline: 2025-07-11 (19 days left)
  • Nos. of Opening : 1
  • Location : KATHMANDU
  • Experience : 5 years +
  • Qualification Degree : Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics or related field is required
  • Salary : Negotiable
  • Category : Others
  • Nature : Full Time
Job Description

Summary of key functions:

  • Advise UNDP Country Office management and programme teams to strengthen programme development and implementation.
  • Provide technical expertise to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies.
  • Advocate and engage with partners to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate, when directed by the Resident Representative.
  • Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with RBAP’s Economist Network, sub-regional and other Country Offices, and analytical work on priority regional thematic areas.

Advise UNDP Country Office management and programme teams to strengthen programme development and implementation:

  • Advise UNDP Country Office management with the preparation and implementation of country programmes and strategies, including the development of country programme document (CPD) and related analyses.
  • Advise and support UNDP Country Office teams to develop and manage relevant thematic portfolios, such as activities to support inclusive growth and progress towards the SDGs, and related financing solutions.
  • Lead UNDP Country Office efforts to implement recommendations of the Development Finance Assessment (DFA), Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and accompanying processes and to use existing financial resources more effectively and efficiently to achieve the SDGs.
  • Provide analysis and research in priority thematic areas at the country level, including publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
  • Support the preparation of policy briefs, background notes, speeches, talking points, presentation materials, etc., on critical development issues within the SDG framework for senior management at the country and regional levels.
  • Support the production of the National Human Development Report (HDR), in close coordination with the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) (Inclusive Economic Transformation) and ensure that it provides added value in terms of development economic analysis, updated data, and information for policy formulation.
  • Compile data and perform statistical analysis as required to support innovative knowledge work country strategies and activities.
  • Collaborate across UNDP teams, especially to ensure linkages to the work emerging from the network of acceleration labs.
  • Advise and support the creation of large-scale development solutions to help address complex development challenges.
  • Lead the expansion of Country Office service offers on financing for development, including innovative financing models and country specific/sector specific studies. 

Lead policy advice to national government counterparts and other partners, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies:

  • Advise and facilitate dialogue on sustainable development issues with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning and policy formulation at the national, sub-national, and local levels, with particular attention to innovative SDG financing solutions.
  • Advise and support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time.
  • Advise and support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity.
  • Guide to leverage UNDP’s regional and global programmes, to provide holistic and effective support to the country.
  • Leverage support and expertise from the UNDP’s global/regional Economist networks to strengthen UNDP’s support on economic analysis and policy development for the Government and the UN Country Team.

Advocate and engage with partners to support UNDP’s institutional positioning and advance its mandate, when directed by the Resident Representative:

  • Contribute, in close collaboration with senior management, to the development and/or strengthening of partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral development agencies, private sector entities, and civil society.
  • When delegated, represent the UNDP Country Office in relevant forums, conferences, or workshops, including presenting research or programmatic results.
  • Support the Resident Representative in resource mobilization and future growth strategies and contribute to the design of large-scale programme and development solutions.
  • Contribute to national, regional, and global knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Contribute to UNDP’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including collaboration with RBAP’s Economist Network, sub-regional and other Country Offices, and analytical work on priority regional thematic areas:

  • Substantively contribute as possible to UNDP regional knowledge products and development of programming offers in regional priority areas (e.g., inequality, future of work, innovative financing, development strategies, economic governance, political economy)
  • Participate actively in the Economist Network of RBAP by attending regional meetings (in-person and/or virtual), sharing relevant experiences, and conducting peer reviews.
  • Collaborate and contribute to regional and sub-regional publications, practice notes, and Regional Human Development Reports.
  • Stay informed about broader developments, contribute to cross-border and cross-GPN initiatives, and support the economist network through common analyses, frameworks, and templates.
  • Enhance UNDP’s understanding and design of new approaches to sustainable development across the region by acting as a regional thematic lead where possible.

Other Duties:

  • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Job Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics or related field is required, Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Economics or related field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree 
  • A Ph.D. in Economics will be an advantage.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

  • Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience at the national or international level in relevant areas of development finance, economic research, and policy and implementation support is required. 
  • Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis is required. 
  • Proven policy, advisory, and advocacy experience is required. 
  • Experience in preparing high-quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policymakers is required.
  • Experience in strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities is desired.
  • Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level, politically astute with demonstrated experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement is an asset.
  • Experience in handling data and software programmes for statistical analysis is desired. 
  • Previous work experience in Asia and the Pacific region and cross-country experience would be an asset.

Language Requirements: 

  • Fluency in oral and written English is required.  

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Organization Summary

UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

Industry Type NGO / INGO / Social Work
Location Kathmandu
Organization Size 100+
Active Jobs By UNDP
Country Economist
UNDP
Deadline 2025-07-11