Position Title	Economist
Engagement Type	Long-Term Personnel (Local)
Group / Workstream	Macro Fiscal Finance
Grade / Level	B2
Approval Required	Operations Director sign-off required
Reports To	Lead Macro
Location	Jakarta — Prospera Office
Duration	12 months – 1 November 2026 - 31 October 2027

 

Prospera Phase 2 is Australia’s flagship economic development partnership with Indonesia, supporting the Government of Indonesia (GoI) to advance sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth. Building on nearly three decades of cooperation, the program delivers high-quality, demand-driven policy advice, institutional strengthening and Australian Public Service (APS) partnerships aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities and Australia’s economic diplomacy objectives.

The program is structured around two mutually reinforcing End-of-Program Outcomes:

strengthened macroeconomic, financial and public financial management systems that support sustainable, climate-resilient and inclusive growth; and

expanded markets, jobs, trade and investment through improved economic policy and reform implementation.

Across both outcomes, Prospera Phase 2 emphasises politically informed and evidence-based reform, sustained institutional capability, and locally led solutions rather than short-term technical fixes. Gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), sustainability, climate and energy transition considerations, and localisation are embedded across all areas of engagement.

The Economist delivers high-quality economic analysis and insights to support Prospera Phase 2's economic development objectives in Indonesia. This role focuses on macro fiscal finance, providing evidence-based recommendations that inform program strategy and policy decisions. The Economist engages with local stakeholders, interprets complex economic data, and ensures that Prospera's initiatives align with Indonesia's economic landscape.

Day-to-day, the Economist combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving to navigate the dynamic economic environment. Reporting to the Lead Macro, this role collaborates closely with other economists in Financial Sector Team and Fiscal Team, and other stakeholders to deliver impactful results. The ideal candidate brings enthusiasm, a commitment to continuous learning, and innovative thinking to drive Prospera's mission forward.

A. Economic Analysis and Insight

Data Interpretation

○       Analyse macroeconomic indicators and fiscal data to identify trends and inform strategic decision-making.

○       Evaluate the impact of economic policies on Indonesia's macroeconomic landscape and Prospera's program objectives.

Report Preparation

○       Draft high-quality economic reports and briefs that communicate complex analysis in an accessible manner.

○       Present findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external partners.

B. Stakeholder Engagement

Collaboration

○       Engage with local government agencies, financial institutions, and academic experts to gather insights and validate analysis.

○       Participate in working groups and forums to represent Prospera's economic interests.

Advice Provision

○       Provide evidence-based economic advice to program managers and policymakers to support informed decision-making.

○       Assist in the development of economic components for program proposals and strategies.

C. Process Improvement

Methodology Enhancement

○       Review and refine economic analysis methodologies to ensure relevance and accuracy in the Indonesian context.

○       Incorporate feedback from stakeholders to improve the quality and impact of economic insights.

Documentation

○       Maintain up-to-date documentation of economic analysis processes and tools.

○       Contribute to the development of training materials and guidelines for economic analysis within Prospera.

As a vital part of the Macro Fiscal Finance team, the role works closely with:

Lead Macro — reporting and supervision line; direction, support and professional development

Fiscal Team and Financial Sector Team — understanding macroeconomic interrelation with public finance and financial sector in shaping policy recommendations

Communications Team — ensuring economic insights are effectively communicated across the program

In addition to internal collaboration, the Economist engages with:

Government of Indonesia counterparts — exchanging economic data, insights, and policy feedback to align Prospera's initiatives with national fiscal strategies.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) — providing economic analysis and recommendations to inform funding decisions and program direction.

Australian Public Service (APS) partners — collaborating on cross-agency projects and sharing best practices in economic analysis and policy development.

Local financial institutions — gathering market insights, understanding fiscal trends, and exploring partnership opportunities for Prospera's economic initiatives.

Academic and research institutions — engaging in knowledge exchange, leveraging research findings, and contributing to the academic discourse on Indonesia's economic development.

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

Master Degree (S2) in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or International Development: Advanced educational background, providing deeper expertise and research capabilities. A Bachelor’s degree in similar fields will also be considered for candidates with proven relevant experience as a macroeconomist.

5–8 years of relevant professional experience in macroeconomics, economic policy, economic research, or a closely related field.

Macroeconomic in Practice: Proficiency in delivering macroeconomic surveillance, diagnostics, and forecasting to inform strategic decision-making.

Policy Impact Assessment: Proven track record in evaluating the impact of macroeconomic policies.

Stakeholder Engagement: Strong history of engaging with government agencies, financial institutions, and academic experts to inform economic strategies.

Desirable

Bilingual Proficiency: Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and English, facilitating effective communication with local stakeholders and within the team.

Experience with International Development Programs: Experience in economic development projects, particularly in Indonesia, would be an advantage, providing valuable contextual understanding and practical insights.

Published Research: A record of published economic research or articles, demonstrating thought leadership and contribution to the field.

The role requires the following skills and competencies:

Macroeconomic Data Analysis: Skilled in interpreting complex macroeconomic data and translating it into actionable insights.

Report Writing: Expertise in drafting high-quality economic reports and briefs that communicate complex analysis in an accessible manner.

Effective Communication: Ability to present complex economic data and analysis in an accessible manner, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders understand and can act on the insights provided.

Stakeholder Engagement: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with local government agencies, financial institutions, and academic experts.

Professional Judgement: Exercise sound professional judgement in making recommendations and managing priorities across the workflow, escalating only material risks or policy exceptions.

Professional proficiency in English is essential, with working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia highly desirable to effectively engage with local stakeholders and navigate Indonesia's economic landscape.

Performance will be assessed against:

Quality of Economic Analysis: Deliver insightful, accurate, and relevant macroeconomic analysis that informs Prospera's strategic objectives and policy decisions.

Timeliness of Deliverables: Consistently meet deadlines for reports, briefs, and other outputs, ensuring that stakeholders receive timely and relevant economic insights.

Effectiveness of Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with local government agencies, financial institutions, and academic experts to enhance Prospera's economic strategies.

Clarity of Communication: Present complex economic data and analysis in an accessible manner, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders understand and can act on the insights provided.

Professional Judgement and Recommendations: Exercise sound professional judgement in making recommendations and managing priorities across the workflow, escalating only material risks or policy exceptions.

This position is expected to demonstrate the following core competencies:

Communicates clearly and effectively

Works collaboratively with others

Plans and organises work effectively

Identifies and solves problems

Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility

Prospera Phase 2 operates in a transparent, accountable, and collaborative manner. All team members are expected to share information early, manage risk proactively, and maintain clarity about decisions, roles and responsibilities. The program values respect, professionalism, integrity, and a shared commitment to high-quality, timely delivery.

The postholder must uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and comply with all DFAT policies, contractual obligations and Prospera operational requirements, including:

DFAT Child Protection and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
(PSEAH) policies;

Fraud, bribery and anti-corruption prevention requirements;

The Program Code of Conduct;

Conflict-of-interest obligations; and

Privacy, data-protection and confidentiality requirements.

All materials produced under this assignment will be the property of Prospera/DFAT.