JOB DESCRIPTION

RLA-022-07-P50-01-V (revised Oct 2008)

General information

Title: Associate Expert in Investment and Productivity issues in Latin America and the Caribbean

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

Date Required: January 2009

Duty Station (location, sector): Santiago, Chile UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Division of Production Productivity and Management.

Supervision

Title of the supervisor: Director of the Division of Production, Productivity and Management, UN ECLAC.

Content and methodology of the supervision: The Associate Expert will be working as part of a team of experts and professionals from the Division. Supervision will be carried out by means of assessing work in progress against planned work programme; by means of periodic discussions. This process-based supervision will ensure the accomplishment of the programmed activities and products to be delivered by the Expert.

Duties, responsabilities and output expectations:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Director of the Division, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

  • Collect, evaluate, interpret, analyze specified statistics and qualitative socio-economic information pertaining to particular sectors, countries, regions and related to the division’s research activity;
  • Prepare first drafts of sectoral, country or regional components if analytical studies on investment and strategy issues in the region;
  • Maintain databases and programs for databases management and organize non-quantitative information;
  • In collaboration with members of the division, conduct research on Foreign Direct Investment related topics according to the research program established for the ordinary and extraordinary activity of the division. This research activity may include the assistance and design, testing, operation and modification of econometric models as well as the preparation of case studies on specific industries or firms as well as comparative studies with other geographical areas;
  • Contribute to the preparation of the material for the proposal of projects both of research and technical assistance;
  • Perform other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service;
  • Undertake of –the- job and other t6raining activities, both internally and externally.

The above will imply frequent interaction with staff within work unit/division and peers in the commission; staff of other international organizations working on related issues; academics and representatives of civil society, both NGOs and business community.

The output expectations are the following:

  • Well-maintained socio-economic information system, databases and models;
  • Sound analyses of specifically defined aspects of investment and industrial production in Latin America and Caribbean and comparison with other regions;
  • Practical assistance in project development and implementation

Qualifications and experience

Qualifications: Advanced University Degree in economics, trade, international economics law or related field.

UN competencies (Refer to OHRM guidelines)

Work experience: postgraduate experience in applying economic training and research skills.

Learning Elements

After the assignment the ASSOCIATE EXPERT will be able to

  • Write assessment reports;
  • Assess project proposals;
  • Draft reports and write publishable papers and studies on FDI in Latin America and the Caribbean;
  • Formulate studies and project documents to address investment related problems in the region;
  • Monitor progress in the formulation and development of strategies to attract investment to the region or, generally speaking, in designing industrial policies both at country and regional level;
  • Interact with partners including staff of other international organizations working on related issues; academics and representatives of civil society, both NGOs and business community.
  • Provide support for policy-makers of the region in designing, implementing and evaluating policies to attract FDI.

Background information

  • General information about the organizational structure of the local UN organization (including an organigram) PLEASE SEE ATTACHED
  • General outlines about the program or project the ASSOCIATE EXPERT will be working in (history, recent developments, etc)

The mission of the Division of Production, Productivity and Management (DPPM) is to generate and to promote the diffusion of high quality economic analysis and policy proposals to foster industry and enterprise development in Latin America. DPPM also

provides technical assistance, exchange of experiences and training for and among relevant actors in the region namely, public and private policy makers and specialized researchers, at the local, national and regional levels.

The division has an action-oriented research approach, that is, empirical, problem-solving research conceived and executed in close collaboration with national and regional organizations. It is focused on the analysis of the structure and the dynamics of production and innovation systems to substantiate proposals for and evaluation of public policies, taking into account their economic, social and environmental consequences and impacts.

  • Outline about planned developments concerning the program/project

DPPM’s central tenet is that without qualitatively superior efforts regarding microeconomic and sectoral policies, the region will not be able to overcome medium-term challenges and obstacles, even when prudent macroeconomic policies are in place. This defines the substatntive issues that must be considered in the regional development agenda, in the domain of enterprise development, productivity and production structure.

These issues are:

  • Production structure and dynamics;
  • Productivity and competitiveness;
  • Patterns of investment and international insertion and localization;
  • Knowledge, innovation, technological capability and vocational training;

The above mentioned issues imply the DDPM provides services including the analysis of the dynamics of industrial production and investment in Latin American and Caribbean countries; technical assistance and advisory services regarding the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies; exchange of experiences among policy makers and researchers, through the organization of meetings and seminars; diffusion of knowledge and capacity building through published information and specialized training courses, and preparation and distribution of statistical information. Collaboration with other ECLAC Divisions strengthens services provided by the Division.

The products that derive from these services are annual reports on FDI in the Region, papers and books on industrial production as well as technical notes and several dissemination and technical assistance activities.

Information about the living conditions at the post is appreciated

División de Desarrollo Productivo y Empresarial
Joao Carlos Ferraz, Director
Ingrid Robledo, Secretaria
Unidad de Desarrollo Industrial y Tecnológico
Wilson Peres, jefe
Giovanni Stumpo
Rene Hernández
Carlo Ferraro
Sebastian Vergara (leave without pay)
Secretaria
(Vacante ex I. Robledo)
Unidad de Inversiones y Estrategias empresariales
Michael Mortimore, Jefe
Alvaro Calderón
Marcia Tavares
P2 vacante (ex Tavares)
Secretaria
Verónica Galaz
Unidad de Dirección
Mario Cimoli
Martín Hilbert
P4 vacante (ex Rubiato)
Unidad de Desarrollo Agrícola
Marline Dirven, Jefa
Mónica Rodrigues
Sofía Astete (On loan)
Carlos Razo
P4 (ex Morales)
Secretaria
Margarita Berton