Employment Type: Full time

Application Deadline: Oct 17, 2024

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.

This position is located in the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary, Program (DES-P) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary.

Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority, the duties of the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

• Monitors economic developments in a defined area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations;

• Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in economic development and draft resulting reports;

• Interprets and applies results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies;

• Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work;

• Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others. Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by the DES-P;

• Reviews documents and reports submitted to the office of the DES-P.

• Provides substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the ECA conference of Ministers);

• Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

• Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback;

• Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit;

• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work of the Office of the DES-P;

• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally;

• Collects and analyses data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Job Requirement:

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 identify and develop sources for data collection.

• 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.

• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required.

• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

• A PhD in economics is desirable.

Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.

• Experience in Africa or on African-related issues is desirable.

• Experience in multi-lateral / intergovernmental processes is desirable.

• Experience in financing for sustainable development at the regional and or global level is desirable.

• Two years or more of experience in data analysis or related area is desirable.

Languages:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

• For the post advertised, fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include assessment exercises which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her.

• In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

• At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.

• All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.

• The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

• The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic background, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

• Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations.

• Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service.

• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals’ programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

Location: Addis Ababa

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply through THIS LINK