Result of Service

The individual contractor will deliver the following in a timely manner: The ultimate result of service is to contribute to the implementation of the work programme related to public debt and fiscal policy, including implementation of the activities and outputs of the project on developing debt optimization strategies, and supporting analysis on public social expenditures. Outputs/Works Assignment: • Regular data compilation and updates to the debt database • Research inputs on innovative financing instruments, such as debt swaps and sustainability-linked and other thematic bonds • Data mapping and updates in public finance and social expenditures in selected countries in the Arab region • Contribution to national and regional workshops, including meetings of national taskforces on innovative financing • Translated substantive material from Arabic/ French to English and vice versa

Work Location

UN House

Expected duration

6 Month

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: For most Governments in the Arab region, advancing public finance management and fiscal policies in line with national development priorities and macro-fiscal sustainability remains a challenge. Arab States are facing increasing debt and debt service burdens, which have been aggravated by protracted crises and global macroeconomic uncertainty. Public budgets struggle to cover essential expenditure on social services as well as to meet commitments on climate action. ESCWA’s debt and fiscal policy initiatives provide decision-makers with analysis, tools and policy support related to public finance and debt sustainability, including through the development of tools on debt optimization, mapping of public social expenditures and adoption of innovative financing instruments toward achieving national development priorities in the areas of climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The objective of this position is to substantively contribute to accomplishing activities of ESCWA’s debt and fiscal policy initiatives, which involves data analysis, substantive research and production and update of debt databases and analytical reports and country papers. The Individual Contractor will work with a team of economists and will take inputs and feedback to finalise the delivery of outputs. Duties and Responsibilities: The main duties and responsibilities of the individual contractor are the following: • Maintains regular updates to the debt database by compiling, cleaning, and processing data from various international sources in a streamlined and well-structured database to support analysis and reporting processes. • Researches, compiles, analyzes, summarizes, and presents information and data updates related to public finance issues including budget data, social expenditure, and innovative financing instruments in the Arab region. • Systematically follows through and retrieves, highlights information on public finance in the Arab region from a wide variety of information sources, prepares inputs on the subject as required. • Conducts qualitative and quantitative research on market trends, innovations, and best practices in structuring and issuing innovative financing instruments, including preparing country case studies. • Prepares statistical tables and graphs and assists in the preparation of presentations and substantive material on public finance. • Assists in organizing national and regional workshops and preparing necessary material. • Attends meetings and workshops as required and prepares meeting notes. • Translates from English and French to Arabic and vice versa upon request. • Performs other related tasks and duties as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in economics, public finance, international finance or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. No previous experience is required for this position. Strong motivation for research and analysis on public finance and public debt management issues is required. Knowledge of statistical analysis software (Excel/Stata) is required.

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 English is required, and 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

Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

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.