Senior Economic Affairs Officer (Macroeconomic, Debt and Fiscal Policy), P-5

Senior Economic Affairs Officer (Macroeconomic, Debt and Fiscal Policy), P-5

UN ESCWA – United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Beirut, Lebanon

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 21 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 in Cluster 3: ‘Shared Economic Prosperity’ of ESCWA. Cluster 3 acts as a pioneer and multi-stakeholder regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions on inclusive fiscal policy, public finance management, illicit financial flows, and trade development to achieve a basic standard of living for all people in the Arab region through sustained and integrated economic development. Cluster 3 also supports member states in complying with the commitments made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. This position is in the focus area on debt and fiscal policy in the Shared Economic Prosperity Cluster. The Senior Economic Affairs Officer will report to the Cluster Leader.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for carrying out the following:

Economic or sectoral analysis:

• Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes related to macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy analysis to improve assessing challenges and developing strategies, policies and actions focusing on the ESCWA region;
• Leads regional assessments for key publications and advocacy, including policy briefs and reports related to macroeconomic, fiscal policy, debt sustainability, and public finance issues;
• Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly follow up to the International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) outcome, and designs and develops programmes to address them;
• Supervises a team of staff economists undertaking this work;
• Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally;
• Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work Team’s outputs;
• Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations;
• Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.

Intergovernmental support:

• Provides direct substantive support on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues to intergovernmental bodies by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus;
• Manages the work Team’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies;
• Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues.

Technical cooperation:

• Leads or participates in formulation of innovative policy relevant technical support projects on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues to enhance ESCWA’s technical support to member States;
• Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues and policies;
• Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects;
• Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on programmes or issues related to macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy;
• Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.

Programme support:

• Functions as the head of an organizational team;
• Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the team and participate in the formulation of the organization’s overall programme of work and other similar endeavors;
• Attends to various administrative matters concerning the larger organizational unit (Section or Division);
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. 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;
• 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;
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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;
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 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;
• BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

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.

Job – Specific Qualification

• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation focused on macroeconomic, debt and fiscal policy issues is required;
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in quantitative methodologies, especially related to macroeconomic, debt and fiscal sustainability models, is required;
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the Arab region on macroeconomic, public debt and fiscal policy issues is desirable.

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; 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.

Apply NowDeadline 11 August