Scope of Work Summary:
The BEE component is looking to hire the services of an Economist for generating periodic macro-economic analyses, especially the impact of Covid-19 related restrictions. This involves undertaking secondary research and a media scan while gathering insights that focus on the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan. Particularly, the views of government officials, health practitioners, and other interlocutors and contacts on the COVID-19 virus spread, its impact on the overall economy, Small & Medium Enterprises, trade and distribution channels including cross-border trade with Afghanistan and food security actions to control the spread and to revive the economy are to be accumulated, analyzed and documented. Informative analysis based on primary and secondary research to substantiate the steps being taken by the government in the economic realm of the country will need to be undertaken. The consultant will also be required to research on economic and social growth issues, especially related to SMEs, which are required for USAID reporting and conduct research on topics relevant to SMEA programmatic activities.
1. Position Title & Department:
Short Term Technical Expert - Economist - Business Enabling Environment Component
2. General Summary:
USAID Small and Medium Enterprise Activity (SMEA) is a five-year project that is supporting Pakistan in the small and medium enterprise (SME) led economic growth to help create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and contribute to an increased GDP.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BEE component identifies opportunities for policy responses needed to facilitate the SME growth. Interacting with stakeholders and gaining insights into policy needs with the aim of developing structured narratives. These narratives will subsequently be used by the Component to design targeted interventions to create a conducive business environment for small and medium size enterprises.
3. Objective of the Consultancy:
Objectives:
In light of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the consultant would be required to gather information on new policies/ reforms/ measures being devised by the federal and provincial governments to bootstrap the economy, hold interactive meetings with the public and private sector stakeholders which includes, but is not limited to, relevant government officials, private sector stakeholders, associations, trade bodies, chambers, industry practitioners, thought leaders, prominent economists and personnel working in advisory capacities to the government. This information will then be used to develop periodic evidence-based narratives (on a periodic basis) capturing the whole scenario from the perspective of both the public and the private sector. The content thus developed will be shared at various forums including the USAID Mission in Pakistan and for subsequent dissemination to USAID Washington DC. Additionally, the economist will be required to undertake research (primary and secondary) on topics of relevance and importance to implementation of SMEA programmatic activities as advised by the BEE component.
4. Principal duties and responsibilities
- Undertake desk research and review all the relevant literature listed in, but not limited to, Annex B of this scope
- Meet with SMEA team, particularly the COP, and Senior SMEA Management to understand the requirements and expectations under this SoW.
- Develop periodic technical write-ups, narratives and communication content per the SoW for SMEA.
- The content developed must be informative, insightful, accurate, and fact-based. It should adequately reflect the views of public and private sector stakeholders on an issue of interest.
- The content thus develop should be easy to understand and should follow the basic characteristics of an effective piece of communication.
- Gather international news highlights and provide anecdotes from international news related to global COVID-19 pandemic and various government responses. This shall have to be co-related in the context of Pakistan.
- Complete all documentary requirements as per SMEA guidance relevant to this SoW.
5. Specific Tasks of the Consultant:
- On a biweekly basis, the consultant will be expected to conduct a scan of news and reports published related to COVID-19 and the economy. Based on this scan, the consultant will select only those pieces of information that are relevant to SMEA’s scope and conduct further analysis through primary and secondary research to develop precise, fact based narratives (1 page per article/report maximum) for submission to the project based on predetermined timelines. These articles/reports will need to include authentic citations and references.
- Keep up to date with social and economic developments.
- Conduct research on existing government relief packages and private sector response.
- Review global best practices related COVID-19 relief and economic recovery plan and develop write ups for SMEA
- Consultation with public and private stakeholders to get their views and recommendation on new policies proposed in response to the pandemic.
- Collecting and analysing socioeconomic data.
- Research on SMEA targeted sectors/ topics of relevance.
- Study the potential economic impact of policy measures being introduced.
- Undertake desk research and review all the relevant literature provided by SMEA
- Provide periodic updates about work in progress to SMEA
- Perform research analysis pertaining to business enabling environment aspects post COVID and on other topics of relevance per the direction of BEE Deputy Component Lead.
- Develop technical content in the shape of write-ups, reports, presentations, talking points/speeches, stories etc. as per USAID guidelines for communication to USAID or for SMEA internal consumption.
- Generating responses to general information requests from USAID concerning the economy.
- Perform any other task as directed by Deputy Component Lead, BEE and/or SMEA senior management.
6. Job Qualifications
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Advisor
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Person Specifications
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Level of Effort
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Economist
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- Master’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Public Policy from a reputed local or international university
- At least 3 years of experience in undertaking research on economic growth and development in Pakistan
- Good understanding of the current business environment, macro-economic framework and the corresponding institutional arrangements at the federal and provincial levels
- An avid reader of economic and social issues
- Deep knowledge and understanding of the national, provincial, local regulatory, legal and policy environment pertaining to the SMEs in Pakistan
- Demonstrated experience in research and writing articles on economic and social issues will be preferred
- Excellent communication and report writing skills is mandatory
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97 days
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7. Duty Station:
The consultant should be available to work with the SMEA team based in Islamabad/Lahore on an intermittent basis, with an agreed upon schedule per month.
8. Reporting:
The consultant will report to the Deputy Component Lead for BEE and SMEA Communications Specialist. He/she will be required to work closely with other members of the SMEA senior management team.
9. Duration of the Assignment:
This assignment is planned to take place as per a start date of on or around October 1, 2020, with an end date of on or around June 30, 2021, up to a total of 97 days. 10 LOE days will be assigned per month for completion of tasks under this SoW.
11. Deliverables:
The timeline for the LOE assigned for each activity as mentioned in the following table will be discussed and agreed the consultant. There shall be flexibility in utilization of the 10 days LOE per month noted below. The tasks are only indicative and shall be finalized through a schedule agreed upon with the consultant at the start of each month
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No.
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Activity
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LOE(Days)/month
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1
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Interview and meeting with SMEA COP and senior management to understand the SoW
(one-off task)
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1
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2
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First-cut of media scan and brief note
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3
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3
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List of stakeholders to be consulted
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2
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4
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Bi-weekly Narrative for COVID-19 cable (for SMEA)- 2 Narratives per month
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2
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5
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Incorporation of SMEA feedback for submission to USAID
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1
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6
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Other ad-hoc tasks related to research as directed by SMEA
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2
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Total
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10 days/month
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