Fieldwork Associates - REMIT Programme

Fieldwork Associates (2 Positions – KP, Sindh & Other Provincial Support)

SEZs Phase-Out Implementation Plan  

Background

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to improve the business environment, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

Effective implementation of the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan requires accurate, ground-level information on SEZ operations, infrastructure readiness, incentive utilisation, and investor experiences across provinces. Many SEZ-related challenges—such as incomplete infrastructure, underutilised plots, stalled investments, and unresolved investor grievances—are best understood through direct engagement with zone authorities, developers, enterprises, and provincial institutions.

To support evidence-based diagnostics and ensure that analytical outputs reflect on-ground realities, REMIT seeks to engage Fieldwork Associates to provide provincial-level data collection, verification, and stakeholder coordination support across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and other provinces, as required.

Job Summary

The objective of the assignment is to provide field-based technical support to the Government of Pakistan in the collection, validation, and verification of SEZ-related data and stakeholder inputs underpinning the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan, with a focus on Phase A (Planning and Assessment) of the IMF-mandated reform programme.

The Fieldwork Associates will support the Board of Investment (BoI), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the REMIT technical team by facilitating on-ground engagement with SEZ developers, enterprises, and provincial authorities. The role will focus on gathering financial, operational, contractual, and infrastructure-related information, validating data received through desk-based processes, and supporting consultations at the provincial and zone levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fieldwork Associates will be responsible for providing on-ground support for diagnostics, data collection, and stakeholder engagement. Key duties and responsibilities include:

·       Support field-based data collection and verification from SEZ authorities, developers, and enterprises across assigned provinces.

·       Facilitate the collection of financial, operational, and infrastructure-related data required for fiscal cost analysis, calibration, and diagnostics.

·       Verify the operational status, colonisation levels, and infrastructure readiness of SEZs through site visits and engagement with zone management.

·       Support the validation of information related to enterprise activity, including stage of development, operational constraints, and incentive utilisation.

·       Assist in gathering documentation related to development agreements, enterprise agreements, and approvals, as required for legal and contractual review.

·       Coordinate and support provincial-level stakeholder consultations, meetings, and workshops with government departments, SEZ developers, and private sector representatives.

·       Prepare field notes, visit reports, and data summaries capturing key findings, issues, and risks observed during field engagements.

·       Support the REMIT technical team by flagging data gaps, inconsistencies, and implementation bottlenecks identified during fieldwork.

·       Assist in follow-up with provincial authorities and SEZ stakeholders to obtain missing information or clarifications.

·       Work closely with the Data & Financial Modelling Specialist and other experts to ensure that field-level data is accurately reflected in analytical outputs.

Qualifications and Experience

·       Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.

·       Minimum 5 years of professional experience in field-based data collection, verification, stakeholder engagement, or project support.

·       Demonstrated experience working with provincial governments, SEZ authorities, industrial estates, or private sector enterprises.

·       Strong understanding of on-ground operational, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges faced by investors and industrial zones.

·       Experience supporting donor-funded technical assistance programmes is highly desirable.

·       Ability to conduct interviews, validate data, and prepare clear field-level documentation.

·       Strong coordination, communication, and reporting skills.

·       Willingness and ability to travel extensively within assigned provinces.

Reporting line

·       The Fieldwork Associates will work closely with REMIT team and will report to REMIT Team Lead and Investment Climate Lead. The assignment will require close engagement with key governments stakeholders along with presentation and review of deliverables by REMIT team, FCDO and other key stakeholders.

Closing Date: 18 March 2026