Economic Affairs Officer, Job Opening

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 103,090 USD and 134,989 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA unescwa.org) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 20 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This position is located in the United Nations, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia UN-ESCWA, under Cluster 3 on Shared Economic Prosperity. The Economic Affairs Officer is expected to contribute to strengthening ESCWA’s technical assistance and policy support to member States in the area of macroeconomic and fiscal policy challenges. The Economic Affairs Officer reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer and the Cluster Leader, Shared Economic Prosperity.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer is expected to carry out the following duties:

Economic and/or sector analysis: •Monitors macroeconomic data and trends and analyses key issues and challenges in the context of progress toward achieving the SDGs in the ESCWA region. •Maintains a macro-fiscal database, analyses policy issues and challenges including fiscal sustainability, debt, public expenditure, revenues and taxation, in the ESCWA region and draft resulting reports. •Apply quantitative skills and econometric analysis in estimating trends and projections relating to macro-fiscal indicators as part of regular workplan of the cluster. •Contribute substantively to macroeconomic modelling exercises and policy simulations for ESCWA countries as part of regular workplan of the cluster. •Assists in the design, research and drafting of debt and fiscal sustainability profiles of Arab countries. •Prepares briefing notes, inputs to speeches and similar material on economic or sector issues in a form that is meaningful to non-specialists; •Prepares first drafts of sector, country or regional components of analytical studies on development issues and policies. •Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc on development issues.

Intergovernmental support: •Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies. •Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports and similar material. •Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings. •Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc on macroeconomic and fiscal policy issues for inter-governmental processes.

Technical cooperation: •Compiles and analyses the data and other information necessary for the preparation of technical cooperation project proposals in the area of macroeconomic and fiscal policy, and debt sustainability issues. •Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects. •Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects. •Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.

General: •Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services; •Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies •PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of economic theories and their application, in particular with regard to employment policies. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Ability to undertake research, analyse data, make recommendations and write reports. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

•TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

•ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education Advance university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A Ph.D in macroeconomic policy and/or development economics is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in macroeconomic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Proven experience in developing and application of macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and simulation techniques with computer applications, for policy analysis is required. Proven experience in the area of macroeconomic assessments for policy advice is desirable. Proven experience on fiscal policy, public debt and debt sustainability assessments is desirable. Publication in reputed journals in the field of macroeconomic policy analysis is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge in Arabic 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.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice - This position is temporarily available for 364 days, subject to extension based on the availability of funds/post. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

  United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.