Lead Economist Millennium Challenge Account-Indonesia II

Introduction and Background

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. government corporation established in 2004. Its mission is to provide assistance that will support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. In December 2018, MCC’s Board of Directors selected Indonesia as eligible to develop a second compact. The selection reflected the strong partnership MCC and Indonesia built during the first compact. The compact agreement will be valid for a period of five years. MCC’s work with Indonesia on the second compact is currently in the pre-implementation preparation stage, prior to “Entry-Into-Force” (EIF) of the compact agreement at which time the five-year implementation period begins. The Indonesia Compact is designed to improve the country’s transport and logistics infrastructure, developing high-quality, climate-conscious transportation infrastructure in five provinces while increasing access to finance for micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Along with implementing policy and institutional reforms, the proposed grant program will include three separate projects, in alignment with Indonesia’s own development priorities: • The $350 million Advancing Transport and Logistics Accessibility Services Project (ATLAS), which aims to improve transport planning and preparation in target provinces by preparing, structuring, procuring, and delivering support to sub-national governments.

• The $95 million Financial Markets Development Project (FMDP), which will address the root causes of underdeveloped project financing market and capital markets by building capacity for and mobilizing green finance and other blended finance mechanisms.

• The $136 million Access to Finance for Women-owned / Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Finance Project, which aims to increase lending from formal financial service providers to MSMEs and women-owned MSMEs in the target provinces by gathering and analyzing MSME financial and technical performance data as well as providing technical assistance, digital and financial literacy training, and other demand-driven business development support.

The FMDP will focus on the national level while the ATLAS and MSME Finance Projects will be implemented at the sub-national level in the North Sulawesi, Riau, Riau Islands, Bali and South Sumatra provinces. The Government of Indonesia has established an Implementation Independent Agency, called the Millennium Challenge Account – Indonesia II (MCA-Indonesia II or “MCA”), to act as a designee in supervising and managing the implementation of the five-year MCC Compact Program in Indonesia.

Detailed information about the MCC Indonesia Compact program is available on the MCC https://www.mcc.gov/content/uploads/compact-indonesia-infrastructure-and-finance.pdf (refer to Annex I: Program Description of the Compact).

Position Objective

The Lead Economist leads Economic Analysis (EA) for the MCA-Indonesia II, under the guidance of the Deputy Executive Director for Program Support. The goal of the Lead Economist and EA consultant staff are to produce timely, relevant, and reliable data and assessments related to the economic rate of return (ERR) and beneficiary analysis for Indonesia Compact projects and activities. The Lead Economist is also responsible for supporting the independent evaluations of the program, facilitating any necessary updating of the economic analysis related to the program, and managing the program EA budget and EA consultant staff

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with MCC Economists to ensure that the Cost-Benefit Analyses and Beneficiary Analyses, including estimates of the Economic Rate of Return (ERR), beneficiary counts, and potential impacts from each activity under the projects to be supported, are modified and updated in accordance with MCC Guidelines as improved information becomes available (updating key parameters and variables upon the receipt of new or higher quality data from reliable sources).
• Maintain close collaboration and integration between the MCA-Indonesia II Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and ATLAS, FMD and MSME Finance project teams to ensure that EA data and analysis is accurate, up-to-date, and supports cost-effective, evidence-based project design and management.
• Maintain regular communication with MCA-Indonesia II leadership and MCC Economic Analysis staff to provide updates on the status of EA activities, analytical tools/databases and published data sources (at national and subnational levels), and to communicate risks related to the progress of implementation or the achievement of results in terms of observable/measurable outcomes.
• Manage the EA consultant staff and supervise their activities and ensure timely workprogram deliverables.
• Manage the program EA budget and provide updates to MCC on commitments and disbursements on a quarterly basis.
• Manage the procurements and contracts funded by the program EA budget, in conjunction with the MCA-Indonesia II procurement and finance teams, and report progress to MCC on a quarterly basis.
• Establish, maintain, and facilitate communications and working relationships with relevant local think-tanks, academic entities, research centers in Indonesia as it relates to the economic analyses of Compact-supported projects and activities.

Key Qualifications (Education, Experience, Technical Competencies)

Required Qualifications

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, statistics, social sciences or related fields or a related discipline.
• Fifteen (15) or more years of experience, including approximately seven (7) leading teams that conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses of programs.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including managing team of experts, program budgets and work plans at country level.
• Experience applying economic concepts and policy to real-world problems, using data and analysis to reach conclusions and provide recommendations.
• Familiarity with economic cost-benefit analysis and financial cash-flow analysis of projects
• Strong and demonstrable experience in contract management, developing Terms of References (TORs), and managing consultants, including ensuring compliance with TORs.
• Must demonstrate history of consistently delivering high quality projects on time and within budget.
• Ability to communicate findings of complex economic analyses to a non-economist/nontechnical audience.
• Strong analytical, report writing, and oral communication skills
• Organizational experience related to data and document management.
• Strong computer skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Fluency in Indonesian and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with the different stakeholders. Occasional international travel may also be required.

Desired Qualifications

• Indonesia-specific experience conducting economic analysis and problem-solving .
• Experience implementing rigorous, quantitative impact evaluations involving household or business surveys.
• Familiarity with designing and implementing program/project impact evaluations.
• Experience working with national government and international donor organizations.