Result of Service

This assignment for Individual contractors/ researcher is to accelerate the endeavor to expand the Costs to Trade Portal on the Arab Trade Gateway.

The services of an individual contractor are needed to assist the project coordinator to build a comprehensive database by accessing compiling and cleaning pertinent data on trade flows, domestic production, tariffs, non-tariff measures and other relevant information.

The contractor will be tasked to manipulate large datasets in STATA to automate and document the process, as well as estimating econometric models and assessing the plausibility of the results.

Work Location

UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration

6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Despite great strides made in transport, information and communication technologies and dismantling tariff barriers, trade costs remain sizable, constituting a major impediment to greater trade flows and economic integration. Trade costs, which broadly cover all costs incurred, other than the marginal cost of producing it, in delivering a good to the final consumer, are still highly relevant and closely linked to economic policy.

The services of an individual contractor are needed to update trade cost estimates, which will eventually be integrated into the Costs to Trade Platform.

In particular, the IC will be tasked to do the following:
– Build a comprehensive database by accessing, compiling and cleaning pertinent data on Trade flows, domestic production, tariff measures and other relevant information;
– Manipulate large datasets in Stata to automate and document the process;
– Estimate econometric models and assess the plausibility of the results;
– Draft a note summarizing the methodology and main results;
– Perform other related tasks and duties as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in applied economics or related area is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

No previous work experience for this post is required.
Knowledge in the field of research and analysis of trade analysis is desirable.
Knowledge of Statistics and other sustainable development issues is desirable.
Proficiency in Microsoft office applications is desirable.
Familiarity with trade tools is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.