Independent Peer Reviewer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional commission established in 1973 to promote economic and social development in the Arab region. ESCWA aims to foster cooperation among member states and provide a platform for dialogue on regional issues. The organization focuses on various areas, including economic development, social justice, and environmental sustainability, and operates in multiple countries across the Arab region. ESCWA employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by Arab economies and enhancing regional integration.

Job Overview:
The position of Independent Peer Reviewer involves providing an independent and thorough peer review of the GUARD methodology note and the GUARD results draft paper. The primary objective is to ensure methodological soundness, transparency, and effective communication of findings to policymakers. The GUARD initiative is designed to assess and reduce disguised investments in the Arab region, utilizing a corridor-level screening approach that identifies statistically anomalous patterns in foreign direct investment (FDI) positions. The reviewer will be responsible for evaluating the technical aspects of the documents, ensuring that the methodology is robust and that the findings are presented in a clear and policy-safe manner. This role requires a deep understanding of econometrics, FDI statistics, and investment policy implications, as well as the ability to provide actionable feedback that enhances the quality of the outputs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a comprehensive peer review of the GUARD methodology note and results draft paper, focusing on several key areas. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting a technical review of both documents, ensuring internal consistency and clarity in concepts, notation, assumptions, and narrative.
• Providing specific, detailed, and operational comments on necessary changes, including revisions to wording, definitions, and modifications to tables and figures.
• Assessing the accuracy and transparency of the IMF Direct Investment Positions dataset and its implications for the analysis.
• Reviewing the interpretation of 'mirror' positions and associated caveats, ensuring that limitations are clearly communicated.
• Proposing feasible cross-checks and validation using complementary data sources, specifying the datasets and methodologies required for effective comparison.
• Evaluating the econometric strategy and implementation choices, including robustness strategies and anomaly diagnostics.
• Suggesting additional correlation and triangulation exercises to enhance interpretability and confidence in the screening signal.
• Assessing the credibility of findings and proposing policy-safe implications for FDI policy and investment promotion.
• Providing recommendations for improving the structure and clarity of the documents to ensure coherent policy narratives. 1
• Maintaining confidentiality of all materials and adhering to ESCWA's clearance protocols for any external use of the documents.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in applied research or policy work relevant to at least two of the following areas is required:

• FDI statistics and international investment position/balance of payments analysis, including familiarity with IMF, OECD, and UNCTAD standards.
• Applied econometrics for international finance and trade, particularly gravity models.
• Understanding of corporate structures and investment routing, including issues related to conduit, phantom, and pass-through investments.
• Knowledge of investment and tax policy implications, including investment incentives and treaty design considerations. Experience in economic development issues specific to Arab countries is desirable, as is a record of publication in reputable journals or high-quality technical outputs.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, or a related field is mandatory for this position. Candidates are required to submit a copy of their educational degree as part of the application process. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in applied research or policy work relevant to the specified areas. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in FDI statistics, econometrics, and investment policy, with a proven track record of high-quality outputs in these fields. Experience in working with international organizations or in the context of Arab economies is highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, with a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Arabic is a working language of ESCWA, and familiarity with it is considered an asset. Candidates should clearly indicate their proficiency levels in the required languages.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and expected to last for 1.5 months. There are no fees associated with the recruitment process, and the United Nations does not request any financial information from applicants. Candidates should be aware that all materials provided during the review process are confidential and should not be disclosed externally without proper clearance from ESCWA.