Individual Contractor - Macroeconomic Nowcasting and Econometric Analysis

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established to support evidence-based policymaking through high-quality macroeconomic analysis. ESCWA operates in various member countries in the region, focusing on enhancing the economic and social development of its member states. The organization aims to provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation among its member countries, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices. ESCWA employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the region, with a mission to promote sustainable development and improve the living standards of the people in the Arab region.

Job Overview:
The primary objective of this position is to develop and operationalize nowcasting models for selected macroeconomic indicators across ESCWA member countries. The Individual Contractor will be responsible for creating automated data pipelines and conducting rigorous econometric analysis to provide near real-time estimates of key macroeconomic indicators. This role is crucial in enhancing ESCWA's analytical capacity by integrating high-frequency data and applying econometric methods. The contractor will work under the supervision of the project manager and is expected to deliver specified outputs within agreed timelines, contributing to the organization's mission of supporting evidence-based policymaking.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Individual Contractor will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Collecting, cleaning, and harmonizing macroeconomic and high-frequency data from both international and national sources.
• Developing reproducible and scalable data pipelines for automated data updates using Python.
• Constructing datasets that are suitable for nowcasting and econometric analysis.
• Applying econometric techniques, such as time series and panel data analysis, to support broader analytical outputs.
• Validating model performance through statistical evaluation and back-testing methods.
• Preparing technical documentation to ensure the reproducibility of all outputs.
• Supporting the integration of results into ESCWA's analytical outputs, including reports, briefs, and presentations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field. Additionally, all applicants are required to submit a copy of their educational degree, as incomplete applications will not be considered. A minimum of one year of professional work experience in macroeconomic analysis, econometrics, or quantitative research is essential. Candidates must also have experience working with macroeconomic and/or high-frequency data. Strong proficiency in Python for data processing, analysis, and pipeline development is required, along with solid knowledge of econometric techniques, particularly time series and panel data methods. Experience in the Arab region is considered desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Data Science, or a closely related discipline. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of macroeconomic analysis and econometric modeling, which are central to the responsibilities of the role.

Experience:
The role necessitates at least one year of professional experience in macroeconomic analysis, econometrics, or quantitative research. This experience should include working with macroeconomic and high-frequency data, which is vital for the development of nowcasting models and the application of econometric techniques. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in using Python for data processing and analysis, as well as familiarity with econometric methods.

Languages:
Fluency in both Arabic and English is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and ESCWA. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Additionally, knowledge of French is beneficial but not mandatory. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in both Arabic and English to fulfill the requirements of the role.

Additional Notes:
This position is recruited on a local basis, meaning that the incumbent must have the legal right to live and work in Lebanon. The expected duration of the contract is five months, and the work location is at the UN-House ESCWA, with a hybrid working arrangement. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. Furthermore, the organization does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.