Work for the IMF. Work for the World.
The IMFโs Institute for Capacity Development (ICD) and the IMFโs Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) are seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Resident Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor. METAC was established in October 2004 as a collaborative venture between the International Monetary Fund (IMF), member countries, and bilateral and multilateral development partners. The mission of METAC is to assist member countries in advancing public policies and institutions that enable inclusive and sustainable growth, so that living standards improve for all citizens. METAC assistance is provided to fourteen countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
The aim of capacity development (CD) in the area of macroeconomic frameworks is to help member countries improve the macroeconomic forecasting and analytical capabilities of government institutions in support of their macroeconomic policy decision-making process. Depending on country needs and capacity, macroeconomic-frameworks technical assistance (TA) projects may range from building Excel-based, sectoral relationship frameworks with supporting economic projection equations, to building semi-structural gap models or DSGE models of national economies. Near-term forecasting/nowcasting and/or debt dynamics tools are also included in these macroeconomic frameworks. In view of the capacity and resource constraints and small staff of many of the METAC membersโ central banks and ministries of finance, the work agenda may include assistance with the implementation of basic elements of macroeconomic diagnostics, such as the analysis of equilibrium exchange rates, output gaps, and the basics of debt sustainability.
The Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will undertake these activities through TA missions, TA-related training engagements, and peer-to-peer learning activities, either alone or together with IMF staff and/or specialized short-term experts (STX) employed by the IMF. She/he will coordinate closely with ICDโs CD delivery divisions, IMF country teams, the IMF Center for Economics and Finance (CEF) in Kuwait, or the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh to ensure consistency with other IMF CD activities in the region. Among the main tasks, the Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will:
Deliver, oversee, and coordinate TA and related training on developing macroeconomic frameworks to support forecasting and policy analysis and decision-making processes in central banks, ministries of finance and relevant government agencies, under the guidance of ICD and in close cooperation with IMF country teams, other METAC resident advisors and, where applicable, other CD providers.
Prepare, under the supervision of ICD and in close coordination with the METAC Director, medium-term projects and 12-month workplans in collaboration with country authorities, development partners, and IMF stakeholders.
Propose new STX candidates to Headquarters (HQ) for final approval, and act as backstopper of STX work.
Maintain close contact with relevant IMF country teams; prepare required TA and training documents (e.g., pre-mission briefs, BTOs) for internal review and approval, including through IMFโs CD project management system and maintain existing projects updated in the system, including oversee budget expenses and results-based management reporting.
Consult and coordinate with development partners in METAC member countries to ensure complementarity, avoid duplication of efforts, and ensure consistency of CD advice in the area of macroeconomic frameworks.
Contribute, as required by the METAC Director, to the METAC corporate work (e.g., steering committee meetings, annual report, quarterly newsletters, outreach efforts, preparation of conferences/seminars and other activities of the center).
The selected candidate will work under the guidance of the METAC Director on day-to-day operational matters, while being supervised by ICD macroeconomic-frameworks TA backstoppers based in HQ.
The IMF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with the successful candidateโs skills and experience.
The selected candidate should be prepared to take up the position in Lebanon in May or June 2025. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year with the possibility for extension contingent on performance and ongoing budget/business needs.
Qualifications
The successful candidate should have: (i) a post-graduate degree in Economics; (ii) at least five years of relevant professional experience, with practical knowledge of the IMF's financial programming frameworkโexperience as an IMF country desk economist would be a plus; (iii) excellent data management and analytical skills, including the use of MS Excel and econometric applications; (iv) experience in macroeconomic modelling and forecasting, including in using relevant softwareโknowledge of Matlab, Python, EViews, Dynare, and Iris would be a plus; (v) strong spoken and written communication in English; skills in Arabic and French would be an advantage; and (vi) exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to work well in teams.
Lebanon is currently considered a High-Risk Location (HRL) which brings with it substantial restrictions for international METAC staff, including regarding approved residential areas etc. Given the geopolitical situation, the LTX may be temporarily posted in other country.
Department:ICDMF Institute for Capacity Development General Macro and Fiscal Division
Hiring For: A11, A12, A13, A14
The IMF is committed to hiring diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process. Information on how to request accommodations will be provided during the application process.