Consultant Economist - Health Financing Project

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established to promote economic and social development in African countries. The ECA aims to foster regional integration and promote sustainable development through research, policy analysis, and capacity building. The organization operates in multiple countries across Africa, focusing on various sectors including health, finance, and governance. ECA employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to supporting member states in achieving their development goals.

Job Overview:
The Consultant Economist will play a crucial role in strengthening the analytical and technical capacity of the ECA to support African member states in developing evidence-based macroeconomic and health financing policies. This position involves conducting high-quality research, econometric analysis, and macroeconomic modeling to contribute to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development planning. The consultant will support the ECA's project aimed at transforming health financing in Africa, addressing persistent health financing gaps, and integrating health financing into broader macroeconomic frameworks. The role requires a deep understanding of the economic implications of health financing and the ability to develop policy-oriented analytical outputs that can influence decision-making processes in African countries.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks under the supervision of relevant officers within the Macroeconomics, Finance, Governance and Planning Division (MFGPD). Key responsibilities include conducting background research and literature reviews on health financing and macroeconomic policy, preparing analytical summaries and technical inputs for reports, supporting data collection and economic analysis, performing econometric analysis and modeling, assisting in organizing technical workshops and stakeholder consultations, and preparing data visualizations for analytical outputs. The consultant will also contribute to the development and application of macroeconomic and economy-wide modeling frameworks, including Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs) and Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Development Economics, or a related field. A PhD in a relevant field is desirable. Additionally, a maximum of five years of progressively responsible experience in socio-economic research, policy analysis, econometrics, or macroeconomic modeling is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to conduct quantitative economic analysis and apply analytical methods to policy-relevant issues. Knowledge of econometric techniques and macroeconomic modeling frameworks is also desirable, along with proficiency in statistical and econometric software such as Stata, R, Python, or EViews.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree, specifically a Master’s degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Development Economics, or a related field. A PhD is considered an asset, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the relevant areas.

Experience:
Candidates should have a maximum of five years of progressively responsible experience in socio-economic research, policy analysis, econometrics, or macroeconomic modeling. This experience should demonstrate the ability to conduct quantitative economic analysis and apply analytical methods to address policy-relevant issues, particularly in the context of health financing and macroeconomic policy.

Languages:
Fluency in English or French, both oral and written, is required as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of the other language is desirable, and proficiency in another UN official language is considered an advantage.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last for a duration of six months. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization emphasizes that it does not require information regarding applicants' bank accounts.