Job Description

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

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