Location : New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline : 25-Oct-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Oct-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months (possible extension)
Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO), the direct supervision of the Head of the Research Team (Senior Policy Advisor) and in close collaboration with other members of the Human Development Report (HDR) Team, the Senior Research Analyst will contribute to the background research and writing of the HDR 2011.
Duties and Responsibilities
The principal responsibilities of the Senior Research Analyst include:
1. Undertake thematic analysis on human development research related to risk, vulnerability and sustainability.
* Write 2-3 research papers that provide original contributions to further our understanding of several topics, including:
1. the relationship between progress in human development and risk, vulnerability and sustainability and how these dimensions evolve along the development process.
2. What are the potential trades-offs between vulnerability and sustainability on the one hand and economic and social development on the other?
3. What are the most relevant recent advances on the measurement of risk, vulnerability and sustainability, and how these relate to the human development approach?
4. What are the policy implications of taking into account risk, vulnerability and sustainability as an integral part of society’s objectives? What specific innovations in policy making and institutional design would this approach lead to? What does the empirical evidence tell us about the best policies to manage these multiple objectives?
5. Specific topics like climate change and the tension between intragenerational and intergenerational equity, among others.
* Conduct general background research and analysis on the theme of the 2011 report, including the production of literature surveys, in-depth analysis of theoretical models, design of specific data analyses using statistical modeling and other quantitative techniques
* Contribute draft text for inclusion in chapters of Human Development Reports
* Take part in panel discussions and consultations; make presentations at conferences on the results of analyses conducted
2. Contribute to the production of the global Human Development Report
* Participate in various brainstorming meetings and in-house discussions on various aspects of the Report production, contribute to the selection of the theme and the structure of each Report especially in relation to theoretical and empirical analysis;
* Contribute to/participate in consultations, brainstorming meetings and attend some 3-4 conferences and other events relevant to the assignment.
* Advise on potential authors of background papers and other research materials for the analytical parts of the Report; assist in commissioning and coordinating their work where requested and comment on their draft papers
* Prepare technical notes or any other material or note for the Report as required.
* Participate in various rounds of proof-reading, data-checking and providing comments on draft chapters and sections of the Report as required including proof-reading of translated text in languages other than English.
Competencies
Intellectual Qualities:
* Possesses good grasp of substantive and policy issues related to human development.
* Demonstrates analytical rigor, intellectual creativity and contributes original ideas about people, poverty and development.
* Maintains open-minded attitude towards new ideas.
Working in teams:
* Creates team spirit, inspires and motivates colleagues at all levels;
* demonstrates willingness to integrate ideas of others into own thinking.
* Remains composed under stress;
* manages moods and creates positive attitude in the team even in times of crisis.
Required Skills and Experience
* PhD in economics or related social science.
* Relevant professional work experience of 7-10 years.
* Solid record of publication in peer reviewed journals in the areas of risk, vulnerability or sustainability.
* Extensive experience of using information technology (Excel, Word, Email, Internet) and in particular relevant statistical and computational software for analysing large datasets (e.g., STATA, SPSS, SAS, RATS, MATLAB)
* Very strong analytical skills and knowledge and application of quantitative techniques.
* Solid knowledge of economic theory; ability to write and solve complex mathematical problems, such as derivation of comparative statics results, axiomatization of indices or solution of dynamic optimization problems.
* Excellent command of English (oral and written).
* Fluency in one or more additional UN official languages will be an asset.
* Effective team player
* Good communication and inter-personal skills
* Good understanding of the human development paradigm and its policy implications
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