Consultant, Social Expenditure Monitor and Fiscal Policy

Result of Service The ultimate result of service is to contribute to the implementation of the work programme on public finance (debt and fiscal policy), including support to the Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM) and related analytical work on financial flows to food systems: • Research inputs, including analytical, statistical, and knowledge products, on SEM, and fiscal policy issues • Mapped and updated national budget line data on public social expenditure in selected Arab countries, including classification of food systems-related expenditures in Jordan • Compiled and maintained macroeconomic and public finance databases, with accompanying quantitative analysis • Data visualizations and training materials, including user manuals, supporting technical assistance to national teams on debt and fiscal policy tools and portals • Contribution to national and regional capacity-development workshops and consultation meetings on social expenditure monitoring and fiscal policy issues Work Location UN-House ESCWA / Hybrid Expected duration 6 months Duties and Responsibilities Background The Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM), developed by ESCWA, helps Arab States assess the efficiency and effectiveness of their social policy expenditures and provides them with the information needed to reallocate resources to the sectors most in need of development in coherence with macro-fiscal policy targets. The SEM is an innovative and effective monitoring tool to better understand the landscape of social expenditures, identify social policies priorities and shortfalls in resource allocation including the targeting of expenditures to the poorest and the vulnerable populations, identify the inefficiencies in social spending and provide policy recommendations to improve resource allocation toward improving national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the rising demand for work on social expenditure monitor by member states, ESCWA is recruiting a consultant to provide research and analytical support to deliver technical assistance and policy support to member States on public finance issues. In parallel, ESCWA is undertaking a project to track and analyse financial flows to food systems in a systemic and integrated manner, in order to support evidence-based decision-making and investment prioritization in this area. The Consultant's support will extend to this work as needed, reporting to the Cluster Leader, Shared Economic Prosperity. Duties and Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Consultant will: • Provide consistent, accurate, and comprehensive research for supporting technical assistance and programme delivery to member states on public finance, social expenditure monitor and fiscal policy issues, and extracts and compiles advanced technical data on related topics and issues. • Map national budget lines to track and analyze trends, patterns, and allocations in public social expenditure across Arab countries, including the identification and classification of specific thematic areas such as food systems-related expenditures. • Conduct advanced statistical and quantitative analysis after assembling public finance data from multiple sources (international databases, national statistics, subscription-based datasets). • Assist with visualizations and development of training materials, including user manuals, to support national teams in using the Social Expenditure Monitor. • Prepare analytical, statistical, and knowledge products on public finance and social expenditure monitor, including figures, presentations, background notes, and other research materials for regional and national capacity-development workshops, national consultation meetings, and related training activities. • Support data collection, analysis, and the preparation of data summaries and reports for information-sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, and planning and decision-making. • Performs other related tasks and duties assigned. Qualifications/special skills A master’s degree or equivalent in economics, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience in data collection, analysis, and research in the field of public finance is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree. At least two (2) years of practical experience in analyzing budgets of the Arab regional using advanced quantitative methods is desirable. Advanced skills in data science are desirable Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and Arabic are required. 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 Not available. No Fee