Economist Consultant for accelerating a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean

Result of Service 2. Objective

The Economist consultant for accelerating a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic recovery in LAC countries will join the Climate Change Unit of the UNEP LACO to provide tehnical expertise and leadership for: i) managing the coordination, implementation, and execution of ongoing recovery projects; ii) designing and implementing the strategy and workplan for the identification of opportunities to implement UNEA 5.2 resolution; iii)formulating proposals and project initiatives that facilitate the understanding and implementation of recovery measures and sustainable budgeting for LAC countries. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Manage the coordination, implementation, and execution of ongoing recovery projects, by: - Managing and overviewing the ongoing activities under the LAC Green Recovery Platform. - Managing and overviewing the ongoing activities under the “Programme to support the post-COVID-19 economic recovery in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean”. - Overviewing and managing the development of country-customized economic modelling tools such as the Green Economy Models (GEM); and others reliable metrics and measurements to assess recovery policy measures in the LAC region (at least 3). - Conducting desk analysis for the GEM Analysis of the impacts of COVID19 and economic stimulus measures on recovery strategies and plans in LAC countries. - Conducting literature review for the Green Economy Model Analysis regarding prioritized measures and economic sectors, including macroeconomic context: (i) existing forecasting exercises (ii) existing legal and regulatory frameworks and policies instruments and plans and (iii) considering the integration of other economic modelling tools, and aligned assumptions. - Supporting data collection and materials required for GEM analysis, plan how the country counterparts could provide access to the information. - Developing country and sector customized policy advice regarding the development of economic and fiscal stimulus packages that spur recovery investment (at least 3). - Coordinating country dialogue platforms across sectors and actors to define and operationalize recovery investment (at least 3). - Providing technical assistance provided to COVID-19 response and recovery plans to UN country offices (at least 3) - Overviewing and managing the development of country customized roadmaps to finance economic sectors for recovery plans, which will contain economic and fiscal incentives, and financing instruments (at least 3) - Overviewing and managing the development of country project portfolios with selection a criteria for investing in a recovery measures (at least 3), with identified sectors and private sector possible investors. - Coordinating the development and implementation of the GEM for the GCF Readiness Resilient Recovery Project in Honduras. - Revising and providing inputs on projects based on evidence based green spending for shock-resistence systmetic transformation. - Overviewing and managing the development of the UNEP study: impact of electric mobility on employment in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), which aims to demonstrate that the electric mobility sector is a strategic sector to be considered in the economic recovery packages of the countries, as a recipient of investment, industry creation, job creation, and economic growth, positively impacting supply and aggregate demand of the economy.

Design and implement the strategy and workplan for the identification of opportunities to implement UNEA 5.2 resolution on the environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive post COVID-19 recovery, by:

• Developing a strategy (2022 – 2023) and workplan for UNEP LACO to operationalize and implement the UNEA 5.2 resolution on the environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive post COVID-19 recovery.
• Identifying the economic measures to achieve a sustainable, resilient and inclusive global recovery, including, but not limited to, continuing to enhance actions to combat climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and implementing the 2030 Agenda.
• Mapping private and public actors to share best practices and provide peer-to-peer learning and technical assistance to LAC countries, to support efforts for resource mobilization, and for strengthening and scaling-up country-level efforts on sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery measures.
• Conducting a roadmap to encourage private sector and multilateral financial institutions to continue to support LAC countries whose economies have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery.
• Assisting the reinvigorated resident coordinator system and the reconfigured United Nations country teams, to support LAC countries on information, knowledge, capacity development and technical support, for a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery.

Based on the previous two activities, formulate proposals and project initiatives that facilitate the understanding and implementation of recovery measures and sustainable budgeting for LAC countries, by:

• Engaging and encouraging regional key stakeholders to conduct dialogue platforms for discussing best practices and lessons learned on recovery measures.
• Promoting measures of sustainable budgeting for more targeted and efficient allocation of scarce public resources, as a a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery measure.
• Organizing high-level and technical events to present the best practices, lessons learned , and technical materials of UNEP’s sustainable budgeting approach.
• Developing and implementing an engagement strategy with the LAC countries for the development of project proposals for piloting the sustainable budgeting approach methodology.
• Developing a concept idea for piloting the sustainable budgeting approach methodology, aligned to recovery measures, for interested LAC countries.
• Developing a project proposal to be submitted to potential donors such as the Joint SDG Fund, INFF Facility, UNDA, among others.
• Procuring (public/private) funds and international cooperation for piloting the sustainable budgeting approach methodology, aligned to recovery measures, for interested LAC countries.
• Overviewing and managing the pilots of the sustainable budgeting approach methodology in specific LAC countries.
• Communicating best practices and lessons learned from the pilots.
• Assessing the feasibility for scaling-up the pilot projects into a LAC regional programme or project.

• Reporting on the project progress, particularly in the implementation of the UNEA 5.2 resolution as the LAC focal point in coordination with the Programme Management Officer.

  Work Location HOME- BASED, then UNEP LACO, Panama City, Panama.

  Expected duration 12 MONTHS

  Duties and Responsibilities 1. Purpose

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACO) Office, located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division supports partners across governments, private sector and civil society to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices for sustainable development. Located within the Economy Division, the Resources and Markets Branch enhances the capacity of partners to integrate environmental considerations into economic policies and practices. A particular focus of Resources and Markets Branch is UNEP’s work related to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive post Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) recovery.

In the medium-term strategy (MTS) for 2022–2025 and the programme of work and budget for 2022–2023, developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis and in recognition of the existence of three planetary crises – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution; there is an enabling subprogramme named: Finance and economic tranformations. Its main objective is to shift finance and business practices towards sustainable patterns of consumption and production – and towards reducing climate impacts, biodiversity loss and pollution – for realizing the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda. One of its goals, in light of the COVID19 crisis, is to catalyse green investment for an inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in support of jobs and ecological resilience and restoration that will ultimately provide sustained long-term support for a sustainable recovery.

During the UNEA 5.2 session (February – March 2022) countries took a resolution on Environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive post COVID-19 recovery; which recognizes the relevance of addressing the environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery from the COVID19 pandemic crisis. As such, UNEA encourages Member States to strengthen measures to achieve a sustainable, resilient and inclusive global recovery, including, but not limited to, continuing to enhance actions to combat climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and implementing the 2030 Agenda; and also encourages the private sector and multilateral financial institutions to continue to support countries whose economies have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery.

During the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) (Barbados, February 2021), the Ministers stressed the need to integrate ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation measures at the heart of the region’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategies, recognizing that an economic recovery aligned with the Paris Agreement would enable countries to build back better, with low-emissions and climate-resilient investments driving economic growth, job creation, and significant environmental and social co-benefits. Therefore, the Ministers requested UNEP, as Secretariat of the Forum, to support LAC countries in developing COVID-19 recovery response measures aligned with low-emission and climate-resilient economies that leave no one behind. To support this formal request, UNEP designed the “Programme to support the post-COVID-19 economic recovery in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean” and launched the Green Recovery Platform.

In the context of understanding, analyzying, and finding solutions for countries to achieve a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery, the UNEP LACO Office together with UNEP’s Economy Division is looking for an Economist Consultant for accelerating a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main objective will be to overview the ongoing and future initiatives of UNEP in LAC countries regarding sustainable, resilient, and inclusive recovery measures from the COVID19 crisis.

The incumbent will work 40 hours per week, from Monday to Friday, full time and will be supervised by the Programme Management Officer for Climate Finance and Programme Officer at the Economy Division. The position is initially home-based (with availability during office hours timezone Panama City, Panama) then UNEP LACO, Panama City, Panama.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Master's degree (or equivalent degree/experience) in an economic field such as economics, public policy, public finance, public administration, fiscal policy or a related field is mandatory. - Bachelor’s degree in economics is desirable.

Experience: - At least five (5) years of proven experience in fiscal policy and/or public finance is required. - At least three (2) years of proven experience in sustainable budgeting and/or green recovery is desirable. - Experience in the analysis and formulation of economic strategies and policies, and considerable knowledge of net-zero emissions and green recovery frameworks and global trends, is desirable. - As the role requires a knowledge of the climate public finance as well as knowledge of sustainable budgeting, the successful candidate should have a combination of educational qualifications and work experience that address these two needs. - Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities on sustainable budgeting. - Strong project design, project management, sales, and client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up. - Good knowledge of the public finance of the region and developed ability to identify and engage relevant stakeholders, both public and private. - Experience on supporting fiscal policy formulation. - Experience with Integrated assessment modelling. - Demonstrates strong quantitative skills and the ability to carry out high quality net-zero and climate resilient economy research, including statistical analysis. - Possesses proven ability to analyse a climate change and green recovery topics from a national/regional/global perspective, with the ability to offer practical policy advice on issues based on local realities. - At least 3 years of solid experience, technical specialization and proven experience working on economy modelling issues is desirable.

Language: - Fluency in Spanish and English, both written and spoken, is required.

Competency: - Professionalism: ability to perform a wide range of administrative functions, for example, human resources, budget / work program, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and achievements; is thorough and efficient in fulfilling commitments, meeting deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence in the face of difficult problems or challenges; keeps calm in stressful situations; stablishes and maintains productive partnerships with customers by gaining their trust and respect; identifies customer needs and combines them with appropriate solutions.

- Communication: He/she speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, interprets others' messages correctly and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and shows interest in having two-way communication; adapts the language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness to share information and keep people informed.

- Teamwork: He/she works in collaboration with colleagues to achieve the objectives of the organization; solicits contributions by genuinely valuing the ideas and experience of others; is willing to learn from others; shares credit for team achievements and accepts joint responsibility for team deficiencies.

- Planning and organization: He/she develop clear objectives that are consistent with the agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and tasks; adjusts priorities as necessary; allocates the appropriate amount of time and resources to complete the work; foresees risks and allows contingencies when planning; supervises and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Skills: - Proficiency in using Microsoft Package (Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) collaborative platforms (i.e., Teams, Google Drive) and virtual meeting platforms (i.e. Webex, Zoom, etc.) is desirable. - Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills - Ability to identify and implement innovative solutions and challenge the status quo to build the business. - Ability to build long-term engagement with clients and credibility by demonstrating knowledge of their business, sector, and culture, and maintain an ongoing dialogue on their business needs, operations, and strategies as well as opportunities for strategically aligned business deals. - Sound business judgment and problem solving, negotiation and commercial skills. Proven ability to engage with high-level officials from governments, financial institutions, and the private sector. - Superior quantitative skills a plus, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to write for both policy and technical audiences. - Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both written and oral; proven ability to communicate complex concepts and prepare reports that are clear, concise and meaningful. - Ability to carry out research activities, gather information and effectively transfer into a desired format. - Ability to work independently, with initiative and responsibility, and establish work priorities.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.