Consultancy on Social Expenditure Monitor and Fiscal Policy

Organizational Context

The United Nations Secretariat, specifically the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), is seeking a consultant to support its work program on public finance. This role will focus on the Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM) and related analytical work on financial flows to food systems, contributing to technical assistance and policy support for member states.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide essential research and analytical support to ESCWA's initiatives in public finance, with a primary focus on the Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM). The role will contribute to assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of social policy expenditures in Arab States, identifying resource allocation shortfalls, and improving spending towards national priorities and SDGs. Additionally, the consultant will support a project tracking financial flows to food systems, aiding evidence-based decision-making and investment prioritization in this critical area. The position aims to deliver technical assistance and policy support to member states, enhancing their capacity in fiscal policy and social expenditure monitoring.

Responsibilities

The consultant will conduct comprehensive research and compile advanced technical data on public finance, social expenditure monitoring, and fiscal policy issues to support technical assistance and program delivery to member states. Key duties include mapping and analyzing national budget lines for public social expenditure trends in Arab countries, with a focus on food systems-related expenditures. The role involves performing advanced statistical and quantitative analysis using data from various sources. Responsibilities also include assisting in the development of data visualizations and training materials, such as user manuals, to support national teams using the SEM. Furthermore, the consultant will prepare analytical and knowledge products, including presentations and reports, for capacity-development workshops and consultation meetings, and support data collection, analysis, and reporting for knowledge management and decision-making.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of professional experience in data collection, analysis, and research in public finance is required. This is reduced to three years for candidates with a first-level university degree. Two years of practical experience in analyzing Arab regional budgets using advanced quantitative methods is desirable. Advanced data science skills are also desirable.

Skills

Data collection, analysis, research in public finance, mapping national budget lines, quantitative analysis, data visualization, training material development, report writing, knowledge management, fiscal policy analysis, social expenditure monitoring, financial flows analysis.

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