Economics and Statistics Associate

Description of assignment title

Economics and Statistics Associate

General

Assignment country

Türkiye

Duty stations

Istanbul

Work location

On UN premises

Expected start date

12/15/2026

Duration

6 months

Sustainable Development Goal

13. Climate action

Host entity

UNDP

Modality

Onsite

Type

International

Volunteer category

Associate UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Details

Mission and objectives

Established in 1965, UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network, operating in nearly 170 countries and territories. Its mission is to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and shocks. The Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is UNDP’s primary knowledge and advisory center for the Europe and Central Asia region.

Context

The UN Volunteer will be part of the UNDP RBEC Chief Economist Team at the Istanbul Regional Hub, working closely with the Chief Economist and other economists on the region’s green growth agenda. Decarbonization and the development of green skills, particularly in light industry, are central to the region’s transition to a low-carbon economy and to Sustainable Development Goal progress. The UN Volunteer will support the team’s analytical and statistical work on these themes, contributing to knowledge products, data analysis, and policy recommendations that inform UNDP’s regional programming. This assignment offers exposure to UNDP’s economic analysis and policy work in an international setting, with mentorship from senior economists.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of RBEC Chief Economist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Contribute to the collection, cleaning, and statistical analysis of data on decarbonization trends and green skills development in light industry-related fields across the region;
• Support the preparation of analytical notes, briefs, and knowledge products on green industrial transition and its labour-market and skills implications;
• Assist in monitoring and reporting on relevant SDG and climate-related indicators, and in maintaining databases and reference materials used by the team;
• Participate in the design and testing of statistical tools and dashboards to track progress on decarbonization and green skills initiatives;
• As part of the team, support coordination with country offices and partners on data requests and knowledge-sharing related to green industrial policy;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Donor priorities

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

As this assignment is funded by CYVA, specific eligibility criteria apply. Candidates must be Chinese nationals affiliated with a university participating in CYVA’s programme.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

No experience required

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Turkish, Level: Basic, Desirable

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Statistics, Environmental/Sustainability Studies, Public Policy, Engineering, or a related field.

Competencies and values

Accountability

Adaptability and Flexibility

Building Trust

Client Orientation

Commitment and Motivation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Communication

Creativity

Empowering Others

Ethics and Values

Integrity

Judgement and Decision-making

Knowledge Sharing

Leadership

Managing Performance

Planning and Organizing

Professionalism

Respect for Diversity

Self-Management

Technological Awareness

Vision

Working in Teams

Skills and experience

Experience in:

• Interest in international development and willingness to learn new analytical tools,
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multicultural team,
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:

• Statistical and data analysis (e.g. Excel; STATA, R, or Python an advantage),
• Familiarity with decarbonization, green skills, or industrial/energy policy frameworks

Area(s) of expertise

Finance, accounting, Economics, poverty reduction, livelihoods, Natural resources management

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul and responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. The Summary of UN Volunteer Entitlement (International Associate):

• Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 2,309
• Private insurance coverage by CIGNA
• Entry allowance (one-time): USD 3,500 upon arrival to duty station
• Exit allowance (one-time after end of assignment): USD 225 per month upon the satisfactory completion of assignment
• Dependent entitlements are provided based on eligibility criteria
• Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month
• Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network

Notes:

1. You can check full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator
2. Please read the complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Istanbul is a large, cosmopolitan city offering generally good living conditions for international personnel and their families. The city has a wide range of furnished accommodation, private health-care facilities, supermarkets, restaurants, cultural venues, and recreational opportunities. Public transportation is extensive and includes metro, tram, bus, and ferry services, although traffic congestion can be significant and commuting times vary considerably depending on the area of residence. English is commonly spoken in many professional, commercial, and service environments, particularly in central districts, while basic knowledge of Turkish is useful for everyday life. Istanbul is well connected internationally through its airports and offers frequent air links to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Living costs vary significantly according to location and lifestyle, with housing generally representing the largest expense for expatriates. As in any major metropolitan area, personnel are expected to exercise normal security awareness and follow applicable United Nations security guidance. Istanbul is a family duty station and very well connected in the region and globally.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

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