Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Request from

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Economic Analysis Division

for an Associate Expert

Job Description

RAB-021-04-P19-01-V (revised Oct 2008)

General Information

Title: Associate Expert in National Accounts

Duration: 1 year (with possible extension for another year)

Date Required: as early as possible

Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon

Supervision

Title of the supervisor: Chief of Division,

Economic Analysis Division

Content and methodology of the supervision:

The Associate Expert will work on specific elements of the work plan, which is being implemented under the responsibility of the Supervisor. Supervision will be guided by the workprogramme and specific work assignments, discussion and approval of a time-bound work plan, routine review of work progress, and periodic informal assessment of performance in accordance with the United Nations Performance Appraisal System.

Duties, responsibilities and output expectations:

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Economic Analysis, the incumbent will assist in substantive activities related to the preparation of the Division’s output.

The Associate Experts in National Accounts will be responsible for:

1.  Conducting analytical work in the area of national accounts in the ESCWA region by identifying the region’s problems and priorities in national accounting development in accordance with the SNA 93 and recommending technical opinions to upgrade the quality of national accounts in the region;

2.  Assist in constructing and maintaining a database for ESCWA Member States’ main economic data in accordance with System of National Accounts 93;

3.  Establish an effective and efficient work-flow/use-flow concerning the above mentioned database, and work as a divisional focal point for the database under the direct supervision of the Chief of Division;

4.  Provide assistance to other substantive works of the Economic Analysis Division, if and when it is necessary.

Qualifications and experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in economics and/or statistics.

Work experience:

Minimum of 2 years professional experience in economic statistics, preferably at a national statistics office’s unit of national accounting. Knowledge and experience in constructing database is preferred. Professional knowledge in compilation of national accounts will be an asset. Knowledge of relevant national accounts compilation software is an asset.

UN competencies:

Core values: Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.

Professionalism: Strong theoretical background and substantial experience in both issues of economic statistics generally and national accounts in particular.

Communication: Effective communication skills, spoken and written, including an ability to draft sharp analytical documentation and information material for diverse audiences in a clear, succinct style. Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of Arabic an asset.

Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other staff and representatives of the Member States and civil society.

Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues in a diverse environment; sensitivity to the region’s cultures an asset.

Planning and organizing: developing clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.

Technological awareness: understanding the applicability and limitations of technological advantages available in the office.

Commitment to continuous learning: keeping abreast of new developments in the priority concerns of economic statistics and national accounts methodologies and techniques.

Learning elements:

After the assignment the Associate Expert will be able to:

1.  assess the state of statistical development in a multidisciplinary fashion;

2.  gain an in-depth knowledge of mandates and work of the ESCWA Secretariat on economic and social development issues in the region;

3.  understand the cultural diversity involved in working for the UN Organization;

4.  write policy recommendations in a succinct manner.

Background information

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, holds the objective of accelerating the pace of economic, social and technological development in the region and to halt the unsustainable exploitation of its natural resources and out-migration of its more skilled human resources.

The Economic Analysis Division is a substantive division of the ESCWA Secretariat. The Division is actively monitoring and analyzing the region’s economic development and the evolution of complicated macroeconomic issues and policies.

The Division prepares the annual Flagship publication, “The Survey of economic and Social Developments in the ESCWA Region”, as well as other recurrent and non-recurrent publications which aim at providing a catalyst for a wide-ranging dialogue amongst actors in regional integration.

The Division emphasizes an effective use of national accounts, particularly by in-house users in the substantive divisions as well as by researchers and policy makers.

The organizational location of the position within ESCWA Secretariat is shown below.