Senior Associate – Institutional / Economic Analysis - REMIT Programme

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.

Pakistan's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) framework has delivered limited results due to structural, institutional, and implementation challenges, including weak governance arrangements, fragmented institutional responsibilities, limited monitoring systems, and insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of existing incentives and facilitation mechanisms. While fiscal incentives have been a central feature of the SEZ regime, there is limited consolidated analysis on their contribution to investment, employment, exports, industrial development, and broader economic outcomes.

In response to these challenges, and in line with commitments under Pakistan's IMF programme, the Government of Pakistan is undertaking a comprehensive SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan to transition away from profit-based incentives toward a rules-based, fiscally sustainable framework anchored in cost- and performance-based facilitation. This transition requires robust institutional analysis, stakeholder consultations, policy research, and economic assessment to support evidence-based decision-making and inform discussions with the IMF.

As part of this effort, REMIT seeks to engage a Senior Associate – Institutional / Economic Analysis to support the assessment of institutional arrangements, economic performance, stakeholder perspectives, and policy options required for the design of a credible, sustainable, and implementable SEZ Transition Plan.

Job Summary

The objective of the assignment is to provide analytical and coordination support to the Government of Pakistan in the institutional, economic, and policy assessment required for the SEZ Phase-Out and Transition Plan, with a particular focus on Phase A (Planning and Assessment) of the IMF-mandated reform programme.

The Senior Associate – Institutional / Economic Analysis will support the Board of Investment (BoI), Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the wider technical team by conducting institutional assessments, supporting economic analysis, coordinating stakeholder consultations, and contributing to the preparation of analytical reports and policy recommendations related to Pakistan's SEZ regime.

Working closely under the guidance of the Institutional Analysis Expert and in coordination with the SEZ Policy & Governance Lead, Fiscal & Incentives Expert, Legal & Contractual Expert, and other team members, the Senior Associate will support evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement, policy research, and analytical reporting to inform policy decisions, support IMF discussions, and contribute to the development of transition options and implementation recommendations. Through rigorous analysis and effective coordination, the Senior Associate will help ensure that the SEZ transition framework is practical, evidence-based, and aligned with broader investment and economic development objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Associate – Institutional / Economic Analysis will support the institutional and economic analysis workstream of the SEZ incentives Phase-Out and Transition Plan.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

·       Support the Institutional Analysis Expert in assessing institutional arrangements governing SEZs at the federal, provincial, and zone levels.

·       Conduct desk research and policy analysis on SEZ performance, governance structures, investment promotion frameworks, and international good practices.

·       Assist in mapping key stakeholders involved in SEZ development, regulation, management, and oversight.

·       Support the design and implementation of stakeholder consultations, interviews, workshops, and focus group discussions.

·       Collect, compile, and analyse qualitative and quantitative information relevant to SEZ performance and reform options.

·       Contribute to the assessment of economic outcomes associated with SEZs, including investment, employment, exports, and industrial development.

·       Support the preparation of institutional diagnostics, analytical briefs, presentations, and technical reports.

·       Assist in documenting stakeholder feedback and synthesising findings into actionable recommendations.

·       Contribute to the preparation of the Concept Note and other deliverables through research, analysis, and drafting support.

·       Coordinate with government counterparts and technical experts to facilitate information gathering and validation of findings.

·       Support IMF-related technical discussions through preparation of background materials, briefing notes, and analytical inputs.

·       Ensure proper documentation of research findings, consultation outcomes, and analytical outputs throughout the assignment.

·       Work closely with the Institutional Analysis Expert, other technical experts, and the REMIT team to ensure alignment between institutional assessments, economic analysis, legal reviews, and policy recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

·       Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Public Policy, Governance, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field.

·       Around 6 years of relevant professional experience in economic analysis, institutional assessments, policy research, programme implementation, or stakeholder engagement.

·       Experience supporting technical studies, consultations, data analysis, and preparation of reports, briefs, and presentations.

·       Strong analytical, coordination, and report-writing skills.

·       Experience working with government institutions, development partners, international organisations, consulting firms, or donor-funded programmes will be an advantage.

·       Familiarity with investment climate reforms, SEZs, industrial policy, governance, or economic development programmes will be an advantage.

·       Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and organisational skills.

·       Ability to synthesise complex information and present findings in a clear and practical manner.

Reporting line

·       The Senior Associate – Institutional / Economic Analysis will work under the guidance of the Institutional Analysis Expert and will work closely with the REMIT team. The assignment will require close engagement with key government stakeholders, along with presentation and review of deliverables by the REMIT team, FCDO, and other relevant stakeholders.

Closing Date: 30th June 2026