Public Finance Economist

The position is located within the Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit (SOC/PFACTS) within the Social Protection Department (SOCPRO). SOCPRO is responsible for promoting enhanced coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all through efficient and sustainable national social protection floors and comprehensive social security systems, in line with the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and other ILO social security standards.
SOC/PFACTS is responsible for providing advice to constituents on financing, actuarial and statistical issues applying the principles and values of ILO social security standards; articulating ILO positions on social security reforms, costing and financing of social protection systems, options for fiscal space and financial governance of social protection; as well as for collecting, statistically processing and producing global social protection data through the Social Security Inquiry and several quantitative tools.
The position will be responsible for producing policy materials and conducting technical assistance as well as development cooperation activities of the Department in the areas of public finance and fiscal space, including economic analysis related to social policy and resource mobilization to respond to relevant demands from ILO constituents on actuarial, public finance and fiscal space support. The position will report to the Head, SOC/PFACTS, and ultimately to the Deputy Director and the Director of the Department.

1. Undertake research and develop policy materials on financing and fiscal space for social development, taking into consideration rights-based and other approaches based on ILO principles, as well as the priorities of ILO tripartite constituents in national dialogue regarding social protection.

2. Undertake and coordinate with other social protection specialists work related to fiscal space including:  Public Expenditure Reviews; exercises and reviews aimed at assessing the available room for optimizing public expenditures; policy advice to increase efficiency of public resources allocated to social protection, including to reduce social security evasion and fraud and to increase contribution compliance; policy options for increasing tax revenue; assessment of policies for extending social security and social contributions; and of macroeconomic frameworks for options to broaden national fiscal space. Lobby with donor governments or international organizations in order to extend external aid and transfers.

3. Contribute to the full range of analytical and policy development work of the Department with regard to the area of financing and fiscal space for social protection. Prepare analysis, policy briefs and reports on good practices, as well as guides and training materials. Formulate new concepts and methodologies in the related field, including quantitative models.

4. Provide technical advisory services to ILO member States with regard to financing and fiscal policies, in conformity with ILO standards and tailored to national circumstances. This includes contributions to the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All; the development of a “service facility” on public finance for social protection including the description of the services and assessment of demand from ILO member States.

5. Maintain high-level dialogue with financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and with Ministries of Finance at country and global levels, on financing of social protection and its reforms. Contribute towards strategies of engagement with the IMF and the World Bank in pilot countries in collaboration with ILO technical specialists and constituents in regions. Contribute towards national social protection strategies in the context of the Decent Work Country Programmes, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, national developmental programmes and Sustainable Development Goal plans.

6. Contribute to designing resource mobilization strategies with a view to securing development cooperation resources to support countries in the development of social protection financing. Liaise with donors and potential partners.

7. Provide administrative and technical backstopping to relevant development cooperation projects of SOC/PFACTS including through the development of project proposals and delivery of project outputs. Provide technical clearance of technical reports and papers on issues related to financing of social policy and fiscal policies.

8. Develop poverty and social impact analysis tools, in a concerted manner with other Organization-wide related efforts, to undertake distributional impacts of public policies on the population with particular attention to gender responsiveness and to inclusion of vulnerable groups. Contribute to the wide dissemination and promotion of these tools.

9. Maintain and review the application of the ILO Handbook on Fiscal Space for Social Protection and costing and impact assessment tools. Contribute to the development of modelling and analytical quantitative and qualitative tools, including an extended quantitative tool on the analysis of public spending, revenues and potential sources of fiscal space for financing social protection, and relevant indicators. Develop tools that aim to analyse and simulate national and international trends and their impact on social protection programmes and systems.  Contribute to the wide dissemination and promotion of these tools.

10. Contribute to the development and facilitation of strategic networks and partnerships in the field of social protection developed by the ILO with development partners, workers and employers' organizations, the business community, civil society organizations, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), other UN agencies, and other relevant actors.

11. Participate in at least one other transversal task team of the Department.

12. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Advanced university degree in Economics.

Eight years' experience in the field of public finance at the national level or five years at the international level. Demonstrated experience in econometric and quantitative economic modelling, micro-data analysis and applied research. A publication record in the field covered by this position. Engagement with international financial organizations is an advantage.

Excellent command of one official language (English, French or Spanish) of the Organization and a working knowledge of a second official language. One of these languages must be English.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical

Excellent knowledge of Data Base tools, EXCEL and SPSS or similar tool is a requirement. Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for  programme development in member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and  International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals  and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects.

Behavioural
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.