Senior Economist - Field Operations at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Duties

Strategy & coordination

• Provide strategic vision and lead engagement with senior management, internal business units and external partners for the design and implementation of research and analytical products generated from comparable socio-economic data.
• Provide guidance/recommendations on obstacles and possible improvements to UNHCR¿s programming, ensuring effective links and coordination with Field Operations and stakeholders at Headquarters through the preparation and use of available economic statistics, industrial surveys and other available data.
• Provide strategic vision for UNHCR comparable socio-economic data agenda and lead the overall coordination with the relevant World Bank teams and Joint Data Center and associated workstream.
• Provide guidance and input to the annual programme planning and review process to support the development and approval of sound operational plans and the effective allocation and use of resources for livelihoods, energy, environment, food security, solutions, health, shelter and water/sanitation.
• Ensure good communication and coordination among members of the country team, Governments, researchers and partners, serving as a link between these parties.
• Lead drafting and writing of presentations, analytical reports, research and policy briefs.
• Participate in official missions and deliver capacity building and training activities for partners and governments.
• Identify research opportunities and contribute to proposals for research partnerships and funding.

Data Collection and Analysis

• Provide oversight, vision and guidance for the collection of raw primary and secondary datasets into final datasets to be used for analysis, as needed.
• Supervise cleaning of all datasets and creation of necessary indicators for measuring livelihoods and other socio-economic indicators, impact and related. Work with the research team to design a thorough plan for data analysis including production of descriptive statistics and regression analysis for various outputs such as briefs, presentations and academic papers.
• Lead the preparation of research papers including formatting and creating tables, graphs, and related analysis.

Project Management

• Lead the design and implementation of assessments and other data-driven products related to the socio-economic welfare of refugees, forcibly displaced persons and host communities, wherever possible through coordination with the National Bureau of Statistics and World Bank Country Economist in inclusion of forcibly displaced into National Poverty Assessment.
• Successfully manage all partnerships and activities in the collection of comparable socio-economic (poverty) data on forcibly displaced
• Contribute to defining and promoting a vision for the use of socio-economic data, particularly in planning, programming and advocacy at the country, regional and headquarters levels.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the state of literature on poverty analysis for forcibly displaced.
• Manage data collection activities, as appropriate. This may take place at all stages of data collection (preparation, survey design, sampling, onsite data collection oversight and supervision and quality assurance, data analysis and report writing).
• Conduct data analysis using econometric programs (R, Stata).
• Guide colleagues and operations on factors influencing efficiency and effectiveness of programming.
• Represent UNHCR in negotiations and meetings relating to data and monitoring impact of programming.
• Clear documents and reports coming out of DRS/Country Operations.

In addition to the responsibilities outlined At HQ the tasks include

• Provide the strategic vision for the global technical team and oversee budget and staffing decisions
• Provide technical assistance to UNHCR Country Offices and Regional Bureaus on the collection, analysis and operationalization of socioeconomic data for programming, planning and advocacy purposes. A more intensive focus is anticipated in a limited number of countries and may include travel to these areas.
• Provide technical assistance to UNHCR Regional Bureaux/Country Offices on the design and implementation of socioeconomic assessments (SEAs). Provide remote assistance, generally to Livelihoods Officers, including review of survey concept notes, outlines and methodologies, as needed.
• Manage and contribute to development of survey modules on forced displacement (may be attached to national surveys), skills, social cohesion and/or education, among other topics.
• Facilitate coordination, collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and experience between UNHCR and development actors and across UNHCR operations globally by documenting and disseminating good practices.
• Manage and contribute to analytical work to facilitate the transition of forcibly displaced into national social safety net and social protection programming.
• Lead and contribute to other studies and analytical activities that build the conceptual framework and evidence base for comprehensive, development-oriented responses to forced displacement.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Years of Experience / Degree Level
• For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Economics or other relevant field.
• (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Not specified.
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in economics, analysing data and conducting research. Familiarity with processes of the World Bank, the African Development Bank or other international financial institutions, bilateral development agencies or research institutions. Demonstrated skills and experience with measuring welfare through socio-economic profiling. Excellent conceptual and analytical capability and track record in developing tools/methodologies to ensure informed and responsible decision making. Ability to manage and supervise teams. Ability to think creatively, and to explore, harness and translate innovative concepts into practice. Capable of multi-tasking and managing several programmes/projects at the same time.
• Desirable

Experience of working with the private sector. Experience working in applied development economics. Experience in poverty modelling. Experience leading primary data collection effort and data analysis. Experience of working with synergies between the humanitarian-development nexus. Good relevant publication record in economic journals is desirable.