SDG Researcher & Economist

Background
The UN Secretary-General's Development System reform, launched on 1 January 2019 in response to General Assembly resolution 71/243, repositions the UN Development System to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for dignity, prosperity, and peace on a healthy planet. Central to this process, and as further mandated by General Assembly resolution 72/279, a new generation of UN Resident Coordinator Offices across the world are being strengthened under the leadership of an empowered UN Resident Coordinator, the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System at country level.

To effectively support the work of the UN Country Team and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in alignment with national development priorities and Vision 2030, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) seeks to commission analytical research on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are particularly relevant to the national context. This includes Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Climate Action (SDG 13), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and other priority areas. The research will be guided by the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle and a strong socioeconomic perspective.

The assignment will contribute to SDG-centric research papers focusing on the KSA context, support updates to the UN Country Analysis (UNCA) with evidence-based inputs, and undertake other related ad hoc analytical activities that inform policy engagement, programming, and strategic decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the RC Office and the RCO Economist, the Research Consultant will:

1. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant UN policy frameworks, treaties, conventions, and reports, including the UN 2030 Agenda, SDG progress reports, Special Rapporteur reports, socioeconomic analyses, and sector-specific studies.
2. Examine national strategies, policies, and data related to priority SDGs in the KSA context, focusing on areas such as Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, Climate Action, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and other interconnected goals.
3. Identify international and regional good practices that can be adapted to the KSA context, emphasizing LNOB, inclusive growth, and sustainability.
4. Prepare a structured research matrix summarizing key findings, data gaps, and actionable insights across thematic areas.
5. Develop an annotated outline for the analytical paper, integrating cross-sector linkages, socioeconomic considerations, and policy implications.
6. Draft initial versions of SDG-centric research papers for consultation with UN KSA and relevant stakeholders.
7. Revise and finalize research papers based on feedback, ensuring alignment with national priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and global best practices.
8. Provide substantive analytical inputs to the UN Common Country Analysis (CCA) update, ensuring integration of the latest socioeconomic and SDG-related data.
9. Undertake related ad hoc analytical assignments, as requested, that support policy development, advocacy, and programming on SDG implementation in the KSA context.
10. Develop a set of targeted policy and advocacy recommendations grounded in evidence and international standards.
11. Design a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to track progress and assess the impact of recommended actions across the selected SDGs.