Regional Advisor on Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development

Contract

This is a D-1 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 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 177,744 USD and 224,295 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.

The Regional Advisor is expected to enhance ESCWA’s technical assistance and policy support to member States in the area of macroeconomic policy and financing for development. The Regional Advisor is also expected to enhance ESCWA’s visibility in the field of relevant policy research and analysis on macroeconomic and financing challenges and opportunities toward advancing implementation of the SDGs in the Arab region.

The Regional Advisor will report to the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Regional Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:

Macroeconomic Policy: •Leads and formulates country specific macroeconomic policy assessments, including using modelling and forecasting tools, identifying and analysing national priorities for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, debt and fiscal pressures, financing challenges, monetary and exchange rate challenges. •Leads regional macroeconomic assessments and relevant policy research for key publications and advocacy, including policy briefs and reports related to macroeconomic and financing outlook. •Contributes to ensuring internal policy coherence and alignment of internal analytical approaches and methodologies, including use of consistent and reliable sources of data, articulation of key findings, and policy recommendations and communicating these in a clear and compelling manner. •Develops & updates training materials on macroeconomic modelling, policy simulations for use by policy makers and officials at national level assisting in policy formulation and implementation. •Enhances visibility of ESCWA as a knowledge centre of the region on macroeconomic assessment, modelling and forecasting analysis, fiscal policy, and financing for development analysis. •Makes substantive contributions to ESCWA’s regional/sub-regional workshops and policy symposiums on national development planning, financing strategies and other related policies within the broader context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. •Establishes and nurtures close relationships with stakeholders, especially with interested governments, key think tanks and non-governmental organizations on issues related to national development planning and financing policies of countries in the Arab region. •Represents and advocates for effective institutional positioning of ESCWA’s macroeconomic modelling/financing/development planning offer in conferences and meetings.

Technical Cooperation: •Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on issues of macroeconomic and financing strategies. •Provides policy advice through short-term technical support missions to respond to requests from member States on macroeconomic policy and financing challenges related to shocks such as the impact of COVID-19. •Contributes to on-going ESCWA’s capacity development activities, especially strengthening capacities of selected countries that indicate interest in developing integrated macroeconomic modelling and policy simulations tool for their planning processes and financing for development policies. •Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects related to macroeconomic and financing strategies. •Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues. •Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions. •Supports overall contribution to RCOs and UNCTs in the area of macro-economic analysis by ensuring good quality and consistency of ESCWA contributions in this connection.

Programme Support: •Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participate in the formulation of the organization's overall programme of work and other similar endeavours. •Attends to various administrative matters concerning the organizational unit or cluster. •Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: •Applies economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. •Conducts independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. •Develops economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. •Shows pride in work and in achievements. •Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. •Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. •Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. •Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. •Remains calm in stressful situations. •Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. •Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Planning and Organizing •Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. •Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. •Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. •Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. •Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. •Uses time efficiently.

Communication: •Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. •Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. •Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. •Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience. •Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. PhD in a relevant field is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in macroeconomic research and policy advice to countries, assessment financing for development challenges and opportunities, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or closely related areas is required. Proven experience in the area of macroeconomic assessments for policy advice is required. Proven experience in financing for development challenges and policy advice is required. Proven experience in application of macroeconomic modelling and forecasting for policy advice 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. Fluency 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 will include assessment(s) and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice •This position is available for one year from the date of appointment/assignment. Extension of the appointment/assignment is subject to availability of funds, extension of the mandate, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance. •Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. •Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. •The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. •At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. •For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2020, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.