Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which are: advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. The Macroeconomic, Finance, and Governance Division (MFGD) is headed by a director and reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). The Division is responsible for supporting African member States in their efforts to accelerate economic transformation and inclusive growth through effective development planning, improved macroeconomic management and economic governance as well as better mobilization and allocation of domestic and international public finance. It is divided into four main sections: Macroeconomic Analysis Section (MAS), Development Planning Section (DPS), Institutions and Economic Governance Section (IEGS), and Finance and Domestic Resource Mobilization Section (FDRMS). This position is in the Macroeconomic Analysis Section of the Macroeconomics, Finance and Governance Division (MFGD) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Chief of Section reports to the Director of MFGD.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the duties of a Senior Economic Affairs Officer will have the following responsibilities:
Economic or sectoral analysis
- Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of economic analysis (incorporating macroeconomic modelling and forecasting), analysis of growth performance (incorporating analysis of pro poor growth policies), fiscal and monetary policy analysis, as well as the formulation of possible economic strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community.
- Leads macroeconomic modelling and forecasting through macro-econometric and DSGE models; collecting and analysing country level and regional level data.
- Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them.
- Makes policy proposals.
- Conceptualizes and undertakes rigorous macroeconomic studies on African development through the application of qualitative methods, including econometric and statistical analysis.
- Manages, supervises, and coordinates a team of staff economists, leads and edits studies and reports drafted by them, including coordination of the production of major publications, such as the Economic Report on Africa, as well as documents and other communications, for example results of studies, letters, proposals, website texts and speeches.
- Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally and effectively supervises them from inception to completion, ensuring also internal capacity building where relevant.
- Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs.
- Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations.
- Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.
- Leads ECA’s engagement with key development partners.
- Implements a work program that covers analysis of macroeconomic trends and policy changes; including forecasting of key economic and social indicators, integrating the ECA programme of work of other Divisions into coherent macroeconomic story.
- Implements or supervises the implementation of macroeconomic modelling and forecasting for African economies for the purpose of providing input into policy advice to members states in development planning and management. Intergovernmental support
- Provides direct substantive support on macroeconomic development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus.
- Manages the section’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
- Represents the section, division and ECA at and collaborates with international, regional and national meetings on development issues, such as UN organizations, the African Union, the African Development Bank, sub regional bodies, multilateral development institutions, partner organizations including those from governments outside Africa, the private sector, foundations, NGOs and civil society participates or assigns participants in inter agency consultations, meetings, and conference related to African development advocating for ECA policies and programs to a range of stakeholders.
Technical cooperation
- Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and provides technical assistance to member states.
- Leads or participates in development projects.
Programme support
- Functions as the head of the Section.
- Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the Section and participate in the formulation of the organization’s overall programme of work and other similar endeavours.
- Attends to various administrative matters concerning the larger organizational unit (Division).
- Manages or participates in divisional projects.
- Identifies and assists with recruiting consultants and leads missions as a senior expert.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Other
- Recommends direction and provides training within the division and to clients in member States.
- Participates in or leads divisional projects.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
- Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
- Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics macroeconomics, development economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in the specified fields in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in econometrics especially time series and panel data analysis and/or dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models is an advantage. A Ph.D. in economics, with a specialization in macroeconomics or development economics is an advantage.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in macroeconomic and development research and practice, and in formulating and implementing macroeconomic and development policies, is required. Experience in international or regional organizations working in macroeconomic issues, in central banks or ministries of finance is desirable. A proven record of publications and experience in the African context are desirable. Experience of managing diverse teams of professionals is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English or French is required; and knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Application instructions
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