Research Assistant

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Research Assistant

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Result of Service

The Research Assistant will support the collection, organization, validation, and preliminary analysis of quantitative and qualitative information required for projects related to competition policy, consumer protection, market functioning, and the wider work of the Economic Governance and Planning Section. The assignment will contribute to the timely preparation of accurate research materials, databases, background notes, presentations, and other project outputs.

Work Location

UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration

2 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background and Objective Promoting fair and competitive markets is an important driver of economic efficiency, private-sector development, and consumer welfare. Across the Arab region, markets are being reshaped by regulatory reform, digitalization, cross-border commerce, and changing market conditions. These developments have increased the need for reliable research and well-organized analysis on competition, consumer protection, market functioning, and business regulation. Within this context, ESCWA supports member States in strengthening competition and consumer protection frameworks and developing the institutional, legal, and analytical capacities required for effective policymaking. The Competition and Consumer Policies portfolio within the Economic Governance and Planning Section undertakes regional research, legal and regulatory reviews, market studies, capacity-building activities, and knowledge products, often in collaboration with national authorities and other public institutions. The portfolio also supports regional initiatives that assess policy and regulatory developments, strengthen knowledge-sharing, and facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices among Arab countries. This includes analytical and capacity-building activities related to competition, consumer protection, the business environment, and market performance, as well as the review and updating of relevant content on the Arab Legislation Portal to ensure that legislative and institutional information remains accurate, accessible, and up to date. This work requires the collection, review, and organization of information from national, regional, and international sources, as well as the preparation of background materials, country information, presentations, tables, and other project outputs. ESCWA therefore seeks to engage an entry-level Research Assistant to provide research, data-collection, documentation, and organizational support to activities related to competition policy, consumer protection, business regulation, and the wider work of the section. Duties and Responsibilities The Individual Contractor – Research Assistant is expected to perform the following tasks: • Research, extract, consolidate, and organize quantitative and qualitative information from relevant national, regional, and international sources using appropriate research tools and software. • Assist in reviewing and validating collected data and information for accuracy, completeness, clarity, and consistency, and flag any discrepancies for follow-up by the project team. • Maintain and update relevant computerized databases, research files, and reference materials to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and proper documentation. • Support the review and updating of legislative, regulatory, and institutional information available through the Arab Legislation Portal, including the organization and verification of relevant source materials. • Prepare reports, presentations, tables, graphs, charts, and other visual materials to present research findings and provide clear information to the Project Manager and project team. • Gather and summarize information from national databases, official websites, libraries, online platforms, ESCWA repositories, and other reliable sources to support ongoing research and project activities. • Prepare abstracts, summary briefs, background notes, bibliographic descriptions, country information, and supporting materials for inclusion in ESCWA documents, reports, presentations, and publications. • Contribute to the preparation of research and analytical materials related to competition policy, consumer protection, market functioning and other projects undertaken by the Economic Governance and Planning Section. • Support the preparation and organization of the Arab Competition Forum and the consumer protection webinar, including background research, participant materials, meeting documentation, and summaries of discussions. • Coordinate with team members and relevant counterparts, support internal meetings and consultations by preparing materials and taking notes, and perform other related tasks required for the timely implementation of assigned projects.

Qualifications/special skills

A Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business, or a related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. no experience is required for this assignments. Data collection and analysis skills are required.

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 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 Information

Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

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.