Resident Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor (METAC)

Overview

Provide macroeconomic frameworks advice and assistance for policy analysis in the region.

You have:

• Post-graduate degree in Economics.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in a related field.
• Practical knowledge of the IMF's financial programming framework, experience as an IMF country desk economist is a plus.
• Excellent data management and analytical skills, including the use of MS Excel and econometric applications.
• Experience in macroeconomic modelling and forecasting, including using relevant software such as EViews, Matlab, Dynare, and Iris is a plus.
• Strong spoken and written communication in English; skills in Arabic and French are an advantage.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills; ability to work well in teams.

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development (ICD) and the IMF’s Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) are seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Resident Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor. The Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) was established in October 2004 as a collaborative venture between the International Monetary Fund (IMF), member countries, and bilateral and multilateral development partners. The mission of METAC is to assist members in advancing public policies and institutions that enable inclusive and sustainable growth, so that living standards improve for all citizens. METAC assistance is provided to fourteen countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.

The aim of Capacity Development (CD) in the area of macroeconomic frameworks is to help member countries improve the macroeconomic forecasting and analytical capabilities of government institutions in support of their macroeconomic policy decision-making process. Depending on country needs and capacity, macroeconomic-frameworks technical assistance (TA) projects may range from building Excel-based, sectoral-relationship frameworks with supporting economic projection equations, to building semi-structural gap models or even DSGE models of national economies. Near-term forecasting/nowcasting and/or debt dynamics tools will also be included in these macroeconomic frameworks. In view of the capacity and resource constraints and small staff of many of the METAC members’ central banks and ministries of finance, the work agenda may include assistance with the implementation of basic elements of macroeconomic diagnostics, such as the analysis of equilibrium exchange rates, output gaps, and the basics of debt sustainability.

The ICD-backstopped Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will undertake these activities through TA missions, TA-related training engagements, and peer-to-peer learning activities, either alone or together with IMF staff and/or specialized short-term experts (STX) employed by the IMF. She/he will coordinate closely with ICD’s CD delivery divisions and the Center for Economics and Finance (CEF) in Kuwait to ensure consistency with other IMF CD activities in the region. Among the main tasks, the Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will:

• Deliver, oversee, and coordinate TA and related training on developing macroeconomic frameworks to support forecasting and policy analysis and decision-making processes in central banks, ministries of finance and relevant government agencies, in close cooperation with IMF-MCD country teams, other METAC resident advisors and, where applicable, other CD providers.
• Prepare, under the supervision of ICD and in close coordination with the METAC Director, medium-term projects and 12-month workplans in collaboration with country authorities, development partners, and IMF stakeholders (ICD CD delivery divisions, ICD Resource Management division and IMF MCD resident representatives).
• Manage the STX certification and contracting process, by preparing the STX’s draft terms of reference, submitting them to Headquarters (HQ) for final approval, and acting as backstopper of the STX’s work.
• Maintain close contact with relevant country teams in MCD; prepare required TA and training documents (e.g., pre-mission briefs, BTOs) for ICD and MCD internal review and approval, including through CDMAP; maintain existing projects updated in CDMAP, including oversee budget expenses and RBM reporting (log frames).
• Consult and coordinate with development partners that in METAC member countries to ensure complementarity, avoid duplication of efforts, and ensure consistency of CD advice in the area of macroeconomic frameworks.
• Contribute, as required by the METAC Director, to the METAC corporate work (e.g., steering committee meetings, annual report, quarterly newsletters, outreach efforts, preparation of conferences/seminars and other activities of the center).

The selected candidate will work under the guidance of the METAC Director on day-to-day operational matters, while being supervised by ICD macroeconomic-frameworks TA backstoppers based in HQ. The IMF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills and experience.

The selected candidate will be based in Lebanon. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year with the possibility for extension contingent on performance and ongoing budget/business needs.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have: (i) a post-graduate degree in Economics; (ii) at least five years of relevant professional experience, with practical knowledge of the IMF's financial programming framework—experience as an IMF country desk economist would be a plus; (iii) excellent data management and analytical skills, including the use of MS Excel and econometric applications; (iv) experience in macroeconomic modelling and forecasting, including in using relevant software—knowledge of EViews, Matlab, Dynare, and Iris would be a plus; (v) strong spoken and written communication in English, and skills in Arabic and French would be an advantage; and (vi) exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to work well in teams.

Lebanon is currently considered a High-Risk Location (HRL) which brings with it substantial restrictions for international METAC staff, including regarding approved residential areas etc.

Department:

ICDRM Institute for Capacity Development Resource Management and Delivery Policy DivisionHiring For:

A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: imf.org