The ultimate result of this consultancy is to strengthen UNDRR’s analytical capacity to support the Government of Maldives in understanding and managing the macroeconomic and fiscal impacts of disasters, with a particular focus on critical infrastructure systems.
Responsibilities:
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries.
Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices.
Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyzes, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework, catalyzes action, and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk, working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.
The Maldives is a small island economy highly dependent on tourism and related services, with total GDP estimated at about USD 7.0 billion in 2024. Tourism directly contributes roughly 20–30% of GDP and is the dominant driver of foreign exchange earnings and government revenue, with around 2.05 million tourist arrivals recorded in 2024, a new peak for the country’s tourism sector.
Real GDP growth has remained positive, with estimates ranging around 3–5% in recent years, supported by tourism, transport, and communication services. However, the economy continues to face macroeconomic challenges, including inflation pressures, fiscal vulnerabilities, and a high public debt burden exceeding 130% of GDP, which limits fiscal space for countercyclical and disaster-responsive spending. Due to its low-lying geography and reliance on coastal and marine-based activities, the Maldives is highly exposed to climate and disaster risks.
Coastal flooding, storm surges, and extreme weather events pose significant threats to critical infrastructure sectors such as transport, power, telecommunications, and water systems.
Damage to these systems can lead to large direct losses, disruptions in tourism operations and connectivity, and indirect macroeconomic impacts, including reduced output, employment, and government revenue.
Requirements:
An advanced university degree in economics or a related field is required.
A first-level university degree in economics or a related field, combined with a minimum of two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in macroeconomic analysis, econometric and statistical modeling, regressions, time-series analysis, and analysis of extreme events and disaster impacts is required.
Proven experience in country-level macroeconomic and macro-fiscal modeling, including the assessment of disaster and climate-related shocks, is required.
Demonstrated expertise in quantitative economic analysis and scenario-based modeling, with a strong focus on disaster risk, climate change, fiscal impacts, and resilience policy, is required.
Extensive experience working with international organizations, governments, and policy stakeholders on disaster risk, climate change, and macroeconomic policy issues is desirable.
