About the position
The ongoing ESCAP project “Addressing the transboundary dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through regional economic cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific” aims to enhance policymakers’ capacity in creating strategies on transboundary infrastructure development, including the formulation of social and environmental safeguards measures. The activities under this project, which is jointly carried out by various ESCAP divisions, include transboundary and national multi-sectoral assessments and gap analysis based on countries’ priorities, development of guidelines and training materials, workshops, as well as dissemination of analyses and findings to a wide audience.
Under this project, the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division (MPFD) will present policy options that target countries could adopt to better finance their transboundary infrastructure development strategies. In this context, MPFD will prepare 4 studies on infrastructure financing: one study in the context of Asian landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and three national studies on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. Among other topics, the three national studies will review national infrastructure development plans, highlight infrastructure financing needs, and proposes relevant infrastructure financing options. Based on these 4 studies, a consolidated learning material on infrastructure financing will be prepared.
Expected duration
1 August 2020 – 15 February 2021
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the Section Chief of the Financing for Development Section (FfDS), MPFD and direct supervision of an Economic Affairs Officer in FfDS/MPFD, the consultant will expand/finalize two national studies on infrastructure financing in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in high quality and following UN standards for advanced reporting, and prepare a consolidated learning material on infrastructure financing. The main issues that will be examined in each of the two national studies include, among others:
• National infrastructure development/financing plan. Provide a snapshot of the plan, including its quantitative targets by infrastructure sector.
• Overview of national infrastructure developments. Examine the current level of infrastructure development from the availability, quality, and access perspectives; and compare this with the country’s own targets and the level achieved by other countries with similar development level.
• Infrastructure investment needs and available financing flows. Highlight available estimates on SDG/infrastructure investment needs; carry out a data analysis that measures the scale of existing financing flows that could be used for infrastructure and sustainable development; and assess whether existing financing flows are adequate for the country’s SDG and infrastructure needs.
• Relevant policy options to meet infrastructure investment needs. For the Kazakhstan paper, examples include leveraging large assets under management by sovereign wealth funds; increasing the use of public-private partnership financial modality for infrastructure projects; examining the potential of tax/public revenue that is not derived from resource rents; and examining the role of the Belt and Road Initiative. In addition to some of these possible policy options, the Kyrgyzstan paper could also explore the role of remittance incomes (e.g. diaspora bond) and assess the potential of offshore bond issuances.
The consultant will submit these two papers, which will be built upon draft papers shared by ESCAP, by end-November 2020. Each final paper should not exceed 15,000 words in length, excluding tables, equations, footnotes, annexes and references.
In addition to expanding/finalizing the two national studies, the consultant will also prepare a consolidated learning material on infrastructure financing. Such learning document will primarily feature the key findings and messages of the papers on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan that the consultant prepares, and the papers on LLDCs and Mongolia, which ESCAP will provide. The material could also benefit from presentation slides, which ESCAP will share, on global/regional initiatives on financing for development, such as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the UN Secretary-General Roadmap for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The final learning material will be in the format of presentation slides (e.g. in Microsoft PowerPoint), which is ready to be posted for online learning. The consultant must submit the final learning material by end-January 2021.
Education
Advanced academic degrees, such as economics, business administration, finance, or related field. Solid knowledge of financing for sustainable development, especially in financing infrastructure in Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), and strong skills in data collection and analysis.
Work Experience
Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience at the national or international level in financing policy development or in related roles. Understanding of the state policies and financial regulations, the state budget structure and budget development processes and related financing architecture.
Language
Fluency in English language is required, while knowledge of Russian language is an asset.
How to apply:
To apply, please visit: https://www.unescap.org/jobs