Economic Competition International Consultant

Result of ServiceThis consultancy addresses a specific and specialized need for advanced market and competition analysis to support ESCWA’s work programme work on compeitition and market regulation. The ultimate result is the delivery of policy-relevant competition assessments and market study outputs that strengthen evidence-based policymaking, enforcement priorities, and institutional capacity at national and regional levels. Work LocationRemotely Expected duration9 Months Duties and Responsibilities1. Background Promoting fair and competitive markets is a key driver of economic efficiency, private-sector development, and consumer welfare. Across the Arab region, markets are undergoing rapid transformation driven by diversification efforts, evolving regulatory frameworks, digitalization, and global supply-chain shifts. These dynamics have increased the need for rigorous economic and competition analysis to help governments identify market distortions, detect anti-competitive practices, and design effective, evidence-based policy interventions. Within this context, ESCWA supports member States in strengthening competition frameworks, improving market performance, and building institutional and analytical capacities for competition assessment and enforcement. The portfolio of work on Competition and Consumer Policies in the Economic Governance and Planning Section combines regional policy development, country-level technical assistance, market studies, capacity-building, and knowledge products. Activities are implemented under both the regular budget (RB) and extrabudgetary (XB) resources, often in close collaboration with national competition authorities and other public institutions. A key area of focus is the use of competition-based market studies to identify structural and behavioral constraints, assess regulatory and institutional frameworks, and generate evidence-based policy recommendations. These studies serve as practical tools for diagnosing market failures, supporting enforcement priorities, and guiding reforms that enhance efficiency, resilience, and consumer welfare. Within this broader regional mandate, ESCWA is currently supporting the Sultanate of Oman in strengthening competition conditions in priority economic sectors. The building materials sector, which is central to construction, infrastructure development, and industrial activity, has been identified as a strategic area for in-depth analysis. The sector plays a critical role in national development yet faces challenges related to market structure, supply chains, pricing dynamics, regulatory constraints, and potential anti-competitive practices. To respond to both regional and national needs, ESCWA seeks to engage an Economic Competition Consultant to support analytical, policy, and technical work under the Competition and Consumer Policies portfolio. The consultant will contribute to market studies, competition assessments, and policy analysis, with a particular focus on the Oman building materials market study, while also supporting other RB and XB competition-related activities of the section, as required. 2. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and Economic Affairs Officer, the Consultant will support analytical, policy, and technical work related to competition policy and market studies implemented under both regular budget (RB) and extrabudgetary (XB) activities. The Consultant will, inter alia: • Contribute to competition-based market analysis and economic assessments in priority sectors, including the preparation of analytical inputs, market diagnostics, and policy-relevant findings to support evidence-based competition policy and enforcement. • Support the design and implementation of competition market studies, including analysis of market structure, firm behavior, pricing dynamics, regulatory and institutional frameworks, and identification of potential competition concerns. • Provide analytical inputs and technical support to country-level technical assistance activities, including market studies, policy notes, and advisory services provided to national competition authorities and relevant public institutions. • Contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations and reform options aimed at improving market performance, reducing distortions, and strengthening competitive conditions. • Support consultations, expert discussions, and capacity-building activities related to competition policy, including technical workshops, validation meetings, and regional or national events. • Contribute, as required, to knowledge products, methodological tools, and analytical frameworks related to competition policy and market regulation. • Perform other related tasks within the scope of competition policy and market analysis, as requested by the supervisor. Within this framework, the Consultant will provide targeted analytical support to the competition assessment of the building materials sector in the Sultanate of Oman, including sector-level analysis and contribution to the preparation of study findings and recommendations. Qualifications/special skillsA master's degree or equivalent in Economics, Statistics, Business, or a related area is required. A first-level university degree, in combination with qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 5 years of experience in economic analysis, with a focus on the industrial sector is required. Experience in contributing to analytical papers is required. Demonstrated experience in conducting in-depth market studies of specific sectors, including analyzing value chains, market trends, and competitive landscapes is required. Experience in conducting comparative analyses and assessing economic competitiveness in relation to neighboring countries is desirable. Understanding of the economic structures and policy environments within GCC countries is desirable. Previous experience in working with international organizations is desirable LanguagesEnglish 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) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.