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SENIOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (CHIEF, MACROECONOMIC ANALYSIS SECTION), P5

Addis Ababa

  • Organization: UNECA - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Location: Addis Ababa
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Economics
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

 

 

 

 

Org. Setting and Reporting

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. Made up of 54 member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent's development challenges. The strategic objective of ECA is framed around delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union through its three core functions, namely, its function as a think tank, its convening function and its operational function. For more information, go to https://www.uneca.org/.

This position is located in the Macroeconomic Analysis Section of the Macroeconomics and Governance Division (MGD) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Chief of Section reports to the Director of MGD.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Macroeconomics and Governance Division (MGD), as Chief of the Macroeconomic Analysis Section, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

Economic or sectoral analysis
•Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated
programmes of economic analysis, including macroeconomic modeling and forecasting, and the formulation of possible economic strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community.
•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.
•Supervises and edits studies and reports drafted by a team of staff economists undertaking this work.
•Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally.
•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.
•Integrates the ECA programme of work of other Divisions into coherent macroeconomic story.
•Leads ECA’s engagement with key development partners.
•Implementing a work program that covers analysis of macroeconomic trends and policy changes; including forecasting of key economic and social indicators;
•Analysis of growth performance (including analysis of pro poor growth policies);
•Fiscal and monetary policy analysis;
•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 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 work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
•Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development issues.

In particular, the Chief of the Macroeconomic Analysis Section will be responsible for the following:
•Conceptualizing and undertaking rigorous macroeconomic studies on African development through the application of qualitative methods, including econometric and statistical analysis;
•Macro econometric modelling and forecasting; collecting and analysing country level and regional level data;
•Recommending policy proposals; managing, supervising and coordinating the work of the Macroeconomic Analysis Section including coordination of the production of major publications such as the Economic Report on Africa;
•Advocating for ECA policies and programs to a range of stakeholders;
•Providing technical assistance to member states;
•Representing ECA and collaborating with a variety of bodies 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;
•Managing projects, including development account projects;
•Participating in inter agency consultations, meetings, and conference related to African development.

Programme support
•Functions as the head of an organizational unit.
•Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit 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 (Section or Division).
•Performs other related duties as required.

In general, the incumbent may:
•Participate in or lead divisional projects;
•Coordinate and prepare documents and other communications such as reports, results of studies; letters, proposals, website texts and speeches;
•Recommend direction and provide training within the division and to clients in member States;
•Identify and assist with recruiting consultants; and lead missions as a senior expert.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Proven knowledge and application of econometric and forecasting methods and macroeconomic theories and tools of analysis. Good command of quantitative techniques for economic analysis as demonstrated by the candidate’s publication record; and ability to take into account insights from other disciplines of development studies; extensive knowledge and application of analysis of structural economic and social development problems in Africa; and demonstrated gender sensitivity and commitment to the goals of mainstreaming gender in economic research and achieving gender balance in staffing. Good problem-solving skills. Ability to interact and negotiate with high level government officials and provide technical assistance to member States. 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.

•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.

•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.

•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

An Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, macroeconomics, development economics or related area is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with additional two years of extensive development policy analysis experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree. A Ph.D. 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 development policies, is required.
Experience in macroeconomic modeling and forecasting techniques with computer applications for policy simulation and analysis is required.
A proven record of publications, including refereed journal articles in macroeconomics and related areas, is desirable.
Experience in the African context is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations (UN) Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English or French, is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying
lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

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

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2019, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

 

 

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

 

 

 

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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