Senior Economist & Quantitative Policy Analyst

Result of Service The Senior Economist will provide structure around complex policy problems and translate them into specific economic modelling questions and test those questions to generate policy insights. The ideal candidate will work with various computer scientists/engineers, economists, IT operations and data analytics/engineering teams to estimate models and algorithms on large scale data, design pilot use cases and measure their impact, and work with the ICTS team to transform successful prototypes into digital interactive policy tools and solutions for ESCWA Member States. She/He will also produce and work teams of researchers to produce robust, objective research results and insights which can be communicated to a broad audience inside and outside of ESCWA. He/She will work closely with relevant partners both within and outside ESCWA to develop new economic solutions to emerging policy challenges in the Arab region. He/She will participate in the development of economic models and the management of the data analysis, modeling, and experimentation that is necessary for estimating and validating the developed models. They will be client-centric clearly communicating economic approaches and findings to ESCWA researchers, Member States policy makers, and relevant partners listening to and incorporate their feedback, and delivering successful digital economic policy solutions.

Fulfilling assigned tasks as follows: - Output 1: o One ML Use Case Project Document (Inflation Use Case) - Output 2: o Implementation of the identified use case on the new ESCWA Data Ecosystem with identified options for automated data pipelines and relevant procedures - Output 3: o Technical documentation relating to the implemented use case with detailed explanations on methodology, approaches, key conclusions, and recommendations - Any other output as may be assigned and agreed upon with ESCWA

Work Location Beirut

Expected duration 1-month with possibility of extension depending on needs and funding availability

Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Chief, ICTS, and direct supervision by the Unit Head, Data Science and Computational Economics Unit, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Devise and contribute to the implementation of economic and social policy use cases on specific fields, like Macroeconomic indicators (GDP, Inflation, Trade), real time indices (trade costs, logistics, etc.), Financial Inclusiveness, Economic Integration, relying on state-of-the-art insights and methodological approaches (machine learning (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning), sentiment analysis, nowcasting, etc.).
• Contribute to the development of new digital interactive policy tools and methods for monitoring and analyzing complex and multifaceted phenomena.
• Write technical/policy reports, briefings and papers and perform other related duties as required.
• Participate in conferences, seminars, and workshops; develop and deliver training; present and explain key conclusions and recommendations.
• Liaise with other researchers and policy analysts working in relevant fields.
• Contribute to publish research in peer reviewed scientific journals.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

  Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Ph.D. in economics, public policy, business administration, or related social science field is required. Experience: A minimum of 15 years of related experience in economics, public policy, business administration, or related social science is required.

The following skills are desirable:

• Proven capacity for sound analytical and policy-orientated work; ability to execute effectively research or project assignments; proven ability to synthesize technical and policy-orientated issues for a practical-minded audience at governmental or intergovernmental level.
• Hands-on experience in regression models, estimation techniques, and other statistical methods and quantitative data analysis, and econometrics, and/or uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; and/or multicriteria analysis; and/or operational research methods used to evaluate and identify effects of policies and programs.
• Experience with applying advanced computational methods to novel research questions, including economic optimization, linear programming, and AI/ML-based predictive modeling (machine learning, big data, network analysis, etc.) is desirable
• Experience with the development and implementation of multivariate program evaluations and causal inference analyses is desirable
• Experience with leading multi-disciplinary project teams that include economists, social affairs officers, statistical programmers, policy analysts, IT specialists and research assistants
• Proven ability to master new topics rapidly, and to draft clear and concise material, including under short deadlines.
• Ability to cope with periods of high workload, when necessary, to prioritize and to deliver high-quality also under pressure
• Ability to work across multiple projects and tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work autonomously, as well as in a team from diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
• Track record of published manuscripts, reports, and/or thought pieces.

• Experience in communicating (orally and in writing) research results in easy-to-understand terms. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second official United Nations language is an added advantage.

  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.