Result of Service

The Consultant will deliver three outputs that strengthen data management, support the project team in preparing and finalizing the dashboard through chart-ready datasets, checked figures, organized charts and documented sources, and verify the evidence underlying the Oman building materials study. The outputs will also document stakeholder inputs, corrections and outstanding factual issues to support the preparation and review of the final report. First Month Activities

Compile, clean and organize sectoral and macroeconomic data using the HS and ISIC classifications and sources identified by the project team. Update the project data repository, record source references and file details, prepare a basic data dictionary, and identify missing, inconsistent or unclear information requiring follow-up.
Output 1, due at the end of Month 1: An organized and populated project data repository containing updated sectoral and macroeconomic datasets, source records, a basic data dictionary, and an initial list of missing or inconsistent information. Second Month Activities
Prepare chart-ready datasets and support the organization of charts for the project dashboard. Check figures, calculations and source references, maintain a chart and source list, and record discrepancies, corrections and outstanding issues. Assist in implementing any data-access arrangements specified by the Project Manager.
Output 2, due at the end of Month 2: Dashboard support comprising chart-ready datasets, an organized chart list, links between each chart and its underlying data and source, and a log of discrepancies, corrections and outstanding issues. Third Month Activities
Support peer review of the final report by checking reported figures against source data and reproducing the calculations and charts used in the report. Consolidate stakeholder meeting and interview minutes prepared throughout the assignment.
Output 3, due at the end of Month 3: A peer-review contribution to the final report comprising checked final-report tables and charts, reproducible supporting calculations, updated source references, consolidated stakeholder meeting and interview minutes, a stakeholder comments-and-response log, and a list of outstanding factual issues for the project team’s attention.

Work Location

UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background Promoting fair and competitive markets supports economic efficiency, private-sector development and consumer welfare. Across the Arab region, economic diversification, digitalization and changes in global supply chains are reshaping market conditions. These developments increase the need for reliable data and applied research to help governments assess competition challenges and develop evidence-based policy responses. ESCWA supports member States in strengthening competition frameworks, improving market performance and building analytical and institutional capacities. Within the Economic Governance, Development Planning and Regulatory Modernization workstream, the Competition Policy portfolio combines regional policy dialogue, country-level technical assistance, market studies, capacity-building and knowledge products, in collaboration with national authorities and regional and international partners. Competition-based market studies are an important part of this work. They examine market structure, supply chains, business practices and regulatory conditions to identify constraints affecting competition. Within this portfolio, ESCWA is supporting the Sultanate of Oman through an extrabudgetary (XB) project on the building materials sector and its implications for competition. The study examines the sector across production, imports and distribution, including market concentration, supply and demand conditions, and institutional and regulatory arrangements. It aims to inform recommendations for improving competition and market functioning. ESCWA seeks to engage a National Research Consultant to support the compilation, organization and verification of the project’s data and documentation. The consultant will maintain the project data repository, prepare chart-ready datasets, check figures and source references, organize charts and flag missing or inconsistent information for the project team’s attention. The consultant will also document stakeholder inputs and maintain related project records. In addition, the consultant will contribute to related team activities, including the 7th Arab Competition Forum and other XB projects under the Economic Governance, Development Planning and Regulatory Modernization workstream. 2. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and Economic Affairs Officer, the Consultant will support the compilation, organization and verification of data for the Oman building materials project. Using the HS and ISIC classifications and data sources identified by the project team, the Consultant will collect, extract, clean and organize sectoral and macroeconomic data, including trade volumes and prices, and maintain the project’s structured data repository. The Consultant will prepare chart-ready datasets, check reported figures and calculations against their underlying data and sources, organize charts and related source references, and flag missing, inconsistent or unclear information for the project team’s attention. The Consultant will maintain source references, file records, stakeholder meeting and interview minutes, and a log of discrepancies, corrections and outstanding issues. Where required, the Consultant may assist in implementing the data-access arrangements specified by the Project Manager. The Consultant will also contribute to other activities and XB projects under the Economic Governance, Development Planning and Regulatory Modernization workstream, as required. The methodology, analytical interpretation, competition assessment, conclusions, recommendations, confidentiality decisions, and final approval of the dashboard and report will remain the responsibility of the Project Manager and project team.

Qualifications/special skills

A Bachelor's degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, or related areas is required. A Master's degree in a relevant field is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of two years of professional experience in data collection, data cleaning, spreadsheet management, chart preparation and research documentation is required. Experience supporting data visualization or dashboard-related work is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at 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).

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.

National Research Consultant for Data and Market Mapping