Consultant on Trade Oriented SAMs Building for Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar

Develop SAMs for Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar based on Saudi benchmarks.

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UNESCWA - Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

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Application deadline 5 months ago: Friday 16 Jan 2026 at 04:59 UTC

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Overview

Develop SAMs for Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar based on Saudi benchmarks.

You have:

  • A Master's degree a specialized field of economics or a related field is required.
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in SAM and CGE is required.
  • Good knowledge and command of SAM building and CGE modeling techniques is required.
  • Prior experience in developing CGE models to GCC countries is required.
  • Fluency in Arabic and English is required.
  • Knowledge of French is desirable.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The consultant will be asked to deliver the below outputs: Output 1: A technical report describing the methodology used to build the SAMs for the 3 countries Output 2: An Excel version of the SAM for Kuwait Output 3: An Excel version of the SAM for Bahrain Output 4: An Excel version of the SAM for Qatar.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope and Objectives In the context of its XB project with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, ESCWA is planning to develop a dynamic regional model for the six GCC’s countries using harmonized updated social accounting matrices for the six countries. The inter-linked regional SAM to be developed based on national SAMs, will provides the major inputs for the development of the regional dynamic CGE model for trade analysis. The regional model is part of a large effort consisting of development of three trade simulator interfaces including global, regional, and national. To build harmonized regional SAM, GCC’s countries are at a different level in terms of data availability. UNESCWA has already developed a detailed trade-focused SAM for Saudi Arabia using official inputs-outputs and supply-uses tables for the year 2023 developed and published by the Saudi General Authority of statistics. The Saudi SAM will serve as the benchmark for the development of the individual SAMs for the other GCC countries using available data and most appropriate techniques of estimating SAMs and balancing their accounts. Duties and Responsibilities The assignment includes the completion of the following tasks: Collect available data (including IO tables, SU tables, national accounts, surveys…) that will be used to develop the Micro Trade SAMs for the three identified countries. Set up appropriate methods for generating/updating/extending SAMs for the three countries with the closet structure as the SAM for Saudi Arabia. Generate the three SAMs using available data and appropriate techniques and assumptions. Balance and harmonize the SAMs using the appropriate tools.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master's degree a specialized field of economics or a related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in SAM and CGE is required. Good knowledge and command of SAM building and CGE modeling techniques is required. Prior experience in developing CGE models to GCC countries is required. Prior experience working with or advising government ministries or policy institutions, especially in the Gulf region or Saudi Arabia is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations secretariat and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, Fluency in Arabic and English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with building Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs)? This assesses the candidate's direct experience relevant to the job requirements. Highlight specific projects where you applied your knowledge of SAMs.
What methods do you employ when generating SAMs from existing data? This question evaluates the candidate's approach to data utilization. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure data accuracy when developing economic models? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your familiarity with CGE modeling techniques. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Have you previously collaborated with government ministries? Can you provide an example? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges have you faced when working with trade data for GCC countries? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why is fluency in Arabic critical for this position? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What techniques do you find most effective in balancing and harmonizing SAMs? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: careers.un.org