Strengthening strategic planning and financing in the Sultanate of Oman: Final Assessment of the 10th Five-year Development Plan

Result of Service

The evaluation seeks to provide an integrated reading of the Plan’s course over its five years, going beyond recording what was delivered to understanding its actual impact on the national priorities. It is grounded in objectivity and clarity, highlighting areas of progress as well as gaps. 1. Provide a comprehensive view of what was achieved of the plan’s targets across its priorities and pillars. 2. Draw lessons learned and practical recommendations that support the implementation and monitoring of the Eleventh Plan.

Work Location

UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background The Tenth Five-Year Development Plan (2021-2025) constitutes the first executive plan for implementing Oman Vision 2040, translating the Vision’s orientations into programmes and projects across its four pillars: People and Society, Economy and Development, Sustainable Environment, and Governance and Institutional Performance. The Plan is structured around 14 national priorities, 82 strategic objectives and 411 strategic programmes. Its scale and strategic importance warrant a comprehensive final evaluation of its implementation and performance at the end of its five-year cycle, pursuant to Article 8 of Royal Decree No. 1/2021, with lessons to inform the next phase of national development planning. Particular emphasis will be placed on the Plan’s financing and budget dimensions, including fiscal space, revenue and expenditure performance, budget effectiveness, financing requirements and gaps, investment needs, and the effectiveness and sustainability of financing sources. The evaluation will also examine evidence-based modeling, resource allocation efficiency, and long-term funding strategies, and will identify lessons and practical recommendations to strengthen planning, financing, governance and implementation arrangements for the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026-2030). Duties and Responsibilities The Individual Contractor (IC) is tasked with providing support related to Financing for Development. The IC's specific responsibilities include: • Gather, compile and update information and technical data across all the SDGs and economic indicators, which pertain to the National priorities costing and financing in Oman. • Extract, retrieve, compile and analyze technical data and relevant material from national sources, databases, libraries and various statistical calculations and compilations. • Analyze and scrutinize the financing flows outlined in the strategy for Oman. • Assess the progress of National indicators over the 2021-2025 period. • Provide econometric assistance to examine the factors influencing investment opportunities and potentials in the Omani economy, including workstreams on quantitative economic modelling and causal inference for policy recommendations. • Assemble original statistical material, adjust reported data from different sources, and load data into a computerized database system. • Assess and examine data sets for accuracy, clarity, and validity and interpret results. • Assist in the maintenance of relevant computerized databases, ensuring data integrity and accessibility. • Prepare a variety of reports, presentations, tables, lists, graphs, charts, and/or diagrams based on the analyzed data for information and review by senior officers. • Collaborate and coordinate closely with different team members in Financing for Development.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in Economics, Finance or related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. • At minimum of two years of professional work experience in research, data extraction or using statistical tools is required. • A minimum of one year of experience in econometric models is required • Proficiency in statistical software is required • Knowledge of econometrics is required • Knowledge of time series models such as Vector Autoregressive Models (VARs) or Structural VAR is desirable. • Knowledge in panel data models like the Fixed Effects model, the Dynamic Panel Threshold Model, or the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic languages are 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 Information

Not available.

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.