Consultancy Title: Social Policy Consultant (Public Finance) ( 2 months) Jordan Office, Amman

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, the Result

Under overall guidance from the Chief of Social Policy and direct supervision from the Social Policy Specialist, the Social Policy Consultant will assist in developing two policy Briefs:

• Analysis of the National Debt Management and Implications for the Economy, Public Finance, and Social Sectors
• Impact of Increased Energy Prices on Public Finance and Households with focus on the most Vulnerable Groups

Scope of Work:

The objective of the policy briefs is to support the process of designing evidence-based strategies and responses to address the impact of recent global prices on SDGs financing in Jordan. The activities are part of a larger program by UN Jordan involving RCO, UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women under a Joint SDG Fund aimed at supporting the SDG financing ecosystem in Jordan with focus on gender equity and climate action

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will be required to develop the following two briefs within the scope below:

Policy Brief (I): Analysis of the National Debt Management and Implications for the Economy, Public Finance, and Social Sectors

a. Review of the legal, institutional, and structural framework for public debt management in Jordan.

b. Collect historical data from official or/and international sources about public debt (external and internal) distributed by maturity and currency.

c. Provide overview and background information on the public debt (internal and external) in Jordan and related fiscal and overall macroeconomic issues (economic growth, inflation, budget and current account deficits, interest rates, official reserves at the Central Bank, and level of liquidity in the banking sector).

d. Estimate an overall medium term fiscal framework including public debt outstanding for the years 2023-2027 and provide three scenarios based on macroeconomic assumptions should be provided.

e. Estimate interest payments for the years 2023-2027 and measure how much they impact targeted deficit and fiscal space.

f. Study how public debt and its service affect poor and vulnerable groups and how they impact government efforts for allocating enough expenditures for social protection, health, and education in Jordan.

g. Provide recommendation to strengthen institutional and legal framework for debt operations to ensure effective and efficient debt management, and sustainability.

Policy Brief (II): Impact of Increased Energy Prices on Public Finance and Households with focus on the most Vulnerable Groups

a. Provide overview and background information on the energy sector in Jordan and related fiscal and overall macroeconomic issues.

b. Collect data from official or/and international sources about energy consumption in Jordan and development of its local and international prices last four years.

c. Analyze the impact of changes in energy price on the balance of payments and inflation.

d. Estimate the energy subsidies and taxes in the national budget for the years 2023-2027, analyze impact of changes on economic targets and the government reform program with the IMF.

e. Estimate the impact of changes in energy prices on the medium-term fiscal framework including public debt outstanding for the years 2023-2027.

f. Examine the implications and impact of changes in energy prices on poor and vulnerable groups, and public spending on social sectors

g. Provide recommendation to address the impact of increased energy prices on public finance, and on vulnerable Jordanians and refugees in Jordan.

The policy papers should be based on analytical work including quantitative data analysis based on recent figures available. The final paper should be structured in line with standard format for policy papers (not exceeding 20 pages without annexes).

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: A Master’s degree or greater in a relevant field such as economics, econometrics, statistics, public finance economics, public policy, or applied social sciences. A first university degree with two years of additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree
• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive responsibility and work experience in related fields such as applied economic, public finance, social statistics, social protection.
• Strong professional writing skills and demonstrated capacity for writing high-level documents, concept papers, and policy notes.
• Strong and demonstrated skills in economic policy analysis, research design (quantitative and qualitative) and data analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required for high level engagement with government departments and other stakeholders
• Fluency in English, knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
• Strong background in Public Economics and familiarity with energy sector issues in Jordan.
• Experience in data collection and analysis software such as (STATA)
• Experience in economic modeling and familiarity with data software such as CGE and EViews is considered an asset

Duty Station

Amman- Jordan, Home Based

Duration:

2 months

Insurance:

UNICEF will not be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the consultant’s service. Therefore, the selected candidate must provide proof of enrollment in a health/accident plan prior to starting his/her work.

Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Child Safeguarding remarks

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.