Lead Economist – Development Strategy [Open to internal and external applicants]

About the Company

UNDP operates as the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development within the UN development system, helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through evidence-based policy advice and integrated development solutions. Through the Global Policy Network (GPN), UNDP connects global expertise with local priorities to strengthen institutional capabilities and deliver impactful development results.

The Inclusive Growth Team at the Bangkok Regional Hub supports governments and UNDP Country Offices across Asia and the Pacific in analysing economic challenges, improving development strategies, and strengthening institutional capacities for inclusive, sustainable growth. A major component of the team’s work is Building Opportunities for Leadership in Development (BOLD), UNDP’s high-level development strategy advisory initiative.

Responsibilities

Technical and Analytical Leadership (BOLD)

• Lead or contribute to country-specific economic diagnostic assessments under BOLD, including growth analysis, productivity decomposition, sectoral transformation, jobs diagnostics, and inclusion mapping to identify binding constraints and reform priorities.
• Translate analytical findings into forward-leaning development strategies and reform pathways, supporting BOLD countries to prioritize, sequence, and operationalize reforms.
• Integrate economic growth, inclusion, and prosperity frameworks into national and sectoral strategy processes in BOLD countries, ensuring alignment between long-term objectives and near-term policy actions.
• Produce policy briefs, discussion notes, and presentations tailored for senior government audiences to support upstream policy dialogue.
• Provide technical backstopping to UNDP Country Offices implementing capability strengthening pilots under BOLD.

Advisory Services and Government Engagement

• Engage with senior government counterparts in ministries of finance, planning, economy, and related institutions to support upstream dialogue on development strategy and reform priorities.
• Facilitate high-level policy dialogues under BOLD on inclusive growth, economic transformation, job creation, and institutional reform.
• Provide hands-on advisory support to governments on the identification, design, and sequencing of priority reforms, drawing on diagnostics, foresight, and political economy considerations to support implementation readiness.
• Strengthen capabilities for evidence-based decision-making, including support on modelling, data systems, and policy planning tools to inform reform delivery.

Programme Support and Coordination

• Support overall management and delivery of BOLD regional and country-level activities.
• Coordinate with Country Offices to ensure alignment between regional analytical frameworks and country-level implementation needs.
• Contribute to BOLD work planning, reporting, monitoring of results, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Support partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and development partners involved in economic policy and institutional capability work.

Knowledge Generation and Learning

• Lead the development of BOLD knowledge products on inclusive growth, institutional capabilities, and economic transformation.
• Facilitate peer learning across countries participating in BOLD and document lessons learned, methodologies, and country innovations for global dissemination.
• Contribute to regional policy dialogues, workshops, and conferences.

Qualifications

• Well-rounded development professional with strong command across multiple dimensions of development and ability to integrate them.
• Deep technical expertise in economic growth, job creation, and human development, alongside a solid understanding of governance, institutions, and policy processes.
• Analytical rigor combined with strong delivery orientation and hands-on experience leading development and growth diagnostics, strategy formulation, and policy design.
• Extensive experience advising governments at senior levels on national development strategy, reform priorities, and long-term transformation.

Additional Information

Tiered Application Process

• UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process (Tier 0–Tier 3). Applicants should note the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title and ensure eligibility to apply.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Lead Economist reports to the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific Chief Economist (head of the Inclusive Growth GPN Team) and will work closely with regional and country stakeholders.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.