UNDP Jobs - 73018- Re-Advertisement - Macroeconomics Specialist

Re-Advertisement - Macroeconomics Specialist

Location :

Kuwait, KUWAIT

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

20-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 Year (renewable)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD attempt to support the Central Statistics Bureau (CSB) to create an enabling environment for KNDP results. The aim is to enhance institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence-based plans and policies on sustainable development.

Within this context, CSB is seeking to recruit a Macroeconomics Specialist to support the Technical Office Department in the area of Macroeconomics, through provision of technical advisory and support the development of economic indicators in accordance with international standards. The Specialist will also focus on capacity building and transfer of Knowledge to different units in the Technical Office Department at CSB. The consultancy will also contribute to the following:

KNDP objectives:

Continue with the development of tools, methodologies, and resources of statistical work on the national level:

Complete modernization programmes at the Central Statistics Bureau, including the development of institutional and ICT infra structure, develop information systems, indicators and database, models, and statistical surveys., and transform into registered census, and develop economic research.
Training and Development of national human resources in statistics, allowing to fulfill qualitative and quantitative needs from specialized national cadres in statistics and census.

ICDI/KNDP project outputs:

Output: Enhanced institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence-based plans and policies on sustainable development;
Activity Result: Improved capacity and statistical quality management.
Indicator: % of CSB statistical reporting related to KNDP.

Purpose:

The main purpose of the consultancy is to support enhancement of the CSB capacities using macroeconomic indicators to enable the department to improve forcasting by using statistical methodologies and standard modeling. The consultancy will also support the skills to improve economic quantitative estimations of different factors impacting the local economy and consequences of such impact. In addition, the consultancy will also support estimating production at the micro level including the use of standard prediction models to enable the interpretation of economic phenomena.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Technical Office Department at Central Statistics Bureau and close coordination with ICDI/KNDP Project Manager and GSSCPD, the Macroeconomics Specialist will assume the following tasks:

Provision of Technical Advisory Support in the area of Macroeconomic indicators to the Technical Office Department:

Provide technical advice on macroeconomics in relation to GDP statistics, unemployment rate, standard pricing indices, rate of economic growth, the country’s national accounts and the balance of payments so to provide a clear picture of the development of the local economy over period(s) of time as well as to develop or improve calculation methodologies of indicators in accordance with international standards;
Provide advisory support for capacity-building and the development of statistical work by means of developing plans and programs, including projects in which CSB executes such as the social transactions matrix (SAM), the General Equilibrium Model (CGEM) and the input-output tables;
Provide advisory support to the Director General on registry census, developing economic research and giving advice to ensure the quality of produced economic statistics as per best international practices;
Develop / review worksheets to help explain the situation or picture to decision makers on certain indications in response to requests by the various government agencies
Provide technical advice on the best methods and tools for implementing CSB’s goals and policies of the National Development Plan; also, to give advisory support on the targets and indicators of SDGs in Kuwait.

Provide technical assistance in the area of audit and review of statistical data and indicators.

Prepare a comprehensive assessment of CSB’s available data, both statistics that CSB produces and/or data that it obtains from other institutions; prepare a report on the current status of available data including gaps and defects and to suggest solutions in coordination with competent functions for the purpose of making available more data to decision makers and researchers in both the public and private sectors and to optimize the quality of statistical product at the state level;
Review and audit certain economic analyses regarding the country’s national accounts, foreign trade, the balance of payments, unemployment and inflation rates, etc;
Review CSB’s statistical output before publishing to ensure information quality and accuracy.

Capacity building, training and Ongoing support for Technical Office Department team

Based on thorough assessment, identify the coaching and training needs related to macroeconomics for the Technical Office Department and develop a training plan to address them ensuring the following:

Transfer of economic and statistical knowledge and expertise to ensure the quality of statistical products and in accordance with best international practices in different areas; e.g.: GDP, unemployment rate, pricing indices, rate of economic growth and the balance of payments, etc.;
Orientation on different methodologies on the collection, processing and analyzing of survey and questionnaires data that are conducted by CSB as well as registry data;

Exposure to best international practices on the dissemination of data.

Provide coaching and on-the-job-training for staff at the Economics Statistics Department to enable them to implement their role in relation to economics statistics and national accounts.

Provide technical advice and train CSB staff on mechanisms for preparing and structuring key indicators most required by CSB for its projects under the Development Plan and/or for SDGs.

Present monthly reports to the GSSCPD and Project Manager highlighting key deliverables and achievements with recommendations for the way forward.

Outputs and Deliverables:

A Work Plan at the outset of the assignment within- 2 weeks;
A Report on capacity/training needs assessment and training plan for the Economic Statistics Department; including training program for CSB’s statistical researchers on how to develop indicators based on international applicable methodologies; - End of Month 3.
Conduct at least 1 training workshop every month, additionally to ongoing hands-on training to the CSB staff, and discussion sessions on topics including but not limited to (National Accounts Development) and (Supply and use tables- (Ongoing).
A Report on assessment and evaluation of the outcome of the training workshops conducted –(ongoing)
A report on ways to develop/ improve some of the methods used in the production of certain economic data and indicators as per applicable international standards; i.e. GDP, unemployment rate, price indicators, economic growth, etc. - (timeline to be agreed with CSB in the AWP).
Analytical studies required for the input-output tables or as assigned; (timeline to be agreed with CSB in the AWP).
Relevant technical documents, a set of worksheets that help decision makers understand the situation in relation to certain indications at the request of the various government agencies (timeline to be agreed with CSB in the AWP).
Develop advanced economic indicators respective to specific requirements; (timeline to be agreed with CSB in the AWP).
A full assessment of available data with CSB, including identifying gaps and defects and suggesting remedies together with the design and documentation of the methodologies used. (timeline to be agreed with CSB in the AWP).
Monthly and quarterly progress reports as per standard templates- (Ongoing).

Roles and Coordination Requirements

The Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Technical Office Department at CSB and coordinate with different committees, The Specialist will also indirectly report to the ICDI/KNDP project management based with the International Cooperation Department at the GSSCPD by submitting regular reports on progress and impact of the assignment.

Competencies

The Macroeconomic Specialist should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

Functional competencies:

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies innovative approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Minimum Master Degree in Economics, PhD is preferable.

Experience

Minimum of 15 years of proven experience in macroeconomics, preferably with experience working in at a statistical institution.
Have proven practical experience in Macroeconomics Indicators development.
Experience in using statistical computer programs such as: SPSS, SAS, STATA, and E-VIEWS,
Excellent computer skills with MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
Knowledge and familiarity with of the economic and social situation in Kuwait is an asset;

Language requirement:

Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is a must.

Note:

This position will be on governmental contract administered by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development.
As part of the application, the applicant must attach a CV.