Urban Economist at UN-Habitat

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

Responsibilities

Normative and programme development work of the Section by:

Monitoring economic developments in a defined area and identifying recurrent and emerging issues of interest to UN-Habitat and urban development.
Designing and conducting studies of selected issues in urban economic development and draft resulting reports.
Developing models, interpreting and applying results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies affecting urban and regional economies.
Providing analytical inputs and economic perspectives to policy analysis and operational studies, and global reports in the area of urban planning, urban finance, infrastructure and housing.
Identifying themes for research, tools and programme development in the areas of local and urban economic development.
Developing draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
Formulating proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others.
Attending international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions.
Organizing expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on urban economy and development issues.
Preparing speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental process and partnership support by:

Providing substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each).
Providing substantive support to the agency’s work in the area of urban economy with UN system wide processes.
Identifying opportunities and developing partnerships with development bank, UN regional economic commissions, UN agencies, economic research institutions, private sector and other relevant players in the area of urban economy and urban development.
Representing organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation:

Designing, managing and monitoring technical cooperation projects in collaboration with relevant offices.
Backstopping technical cooperation projects through high quality advisory services, research and capacity building activities.
Mainstreaming youth and women economic empowerment and local development issues and responses into operational urban economy projects.
Preparing global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on urban development issues.
Conducting training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
Formulating technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects.

General operation of the Section

Supporting junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
Participating in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit.
Performing other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service.
Undertaking on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
Collecting and analyzing data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Requirements
Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM : Keeps abreast of urban economic theories and concepts and is able to apply economic theories in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Has good understanding of urbanization and regional and urban development and of the tools for urban and regional economic and spatial planning. Ability to conduct independent research on urban and regional economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.  Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
ACCOUNTABILITY : Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
CREATIVITY : Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required.  A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
Experience in development and planning of projects and programmes in the field of urban economy is desirable.
Experience in developing partnerships with development banks, UN regional economic commissions, UN agencies, economic research institutions, private sector and other relevant players in the area of urban economy and urban development is desirable.
Experience in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies on urban economy is desirable.
A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

Languages

English and French are the official working languages of the United Nation Secretariat. For this position, fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French is required; Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.