Economic Affairs Officer

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 135,636 USD and 174,875 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 new 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 solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, 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 Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) is located in Yaoundé (Cameroon). It is headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). Its main objective is to contribute to achieving economic diversification and structural transformation for inclusive and sustainable development in an integrated Central Africa sub-region with focus on economic diversification policy and reforms.

This post is located in the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) of the Economic Commission for Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Responsibilities •Under the supervision of the Director of the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Economic Diversification Policy and Reforms Section, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

Economic or sector analysis: •Monitors and analyses macroeconomic trends, including assessments of growth performance. Tracks economic developments and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations as they relate to sustainable and inclusive growth as well as structural transformation and economic diversification. •Designs and conducts studies on selected issues for economic development and draft resulting reports •Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to selected global, regional, national and/or macro or sectoral aspects of sustainable and inclusive growth as well as structural transformation and economic diversification in Central Africa. •Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on economic diversification, industrialization and sustainable development issues.

Intergovernmental support •Provides substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies, and the Resident Coordination Offices (RCO), the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM), the Sub-regional Coordination Mechanism (SRCM) and other subsidiary bodies of , the Regional Commissions). •Organizes panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes. •Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation: •Designs, implement and monitors technical cooperation projects. •Undertakes missions to member , either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities. •Prepares global, regional, and national or sectoral analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments and Regional Economic Committees on economic development issues with a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth as well as structural transformation and economic diversification. •Support Resident Coordination Offices (RCO) of the United Nations in Central Africa in conducting economic analysis and promoting “One UN” solutions for resilient and inclusive growth, economic diversification and structural transformation in the subregion. •Conducts training, seminars, workshops and policy dialogues for government officials, RECs and others. •Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects.

General •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 unit’s services.

Competencies •Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development with a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth as well as structural transformation and economic diversification. Ability to conduct independent research on sustainable development, structural transformation and economic diversification, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to render advisory services and build capacity on sustainable and inclusive growth, structural transformation, industrial development and economic diversification issues. Ability in conducting quantitative analysis and mastering of pertinent econometrical and statistical packages and software. Abilities in defining, implementing and monitoring industrial and economic diversification policy at country and subregional levels and leading the related inclusive policy dialogue. Ability in drafting and publishing policy papers and technical reports. Shows skill in developing 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.

•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.

•Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in economics or related field is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes is required. Experience in economic policy analysis with a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth as well as industrialization, structural transformation and economic diversification is desirable. Experience in delivering advisory services and capacity development support to member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as exposure to inter-governmental processes is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a 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.

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. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2019, are strongly encouraged to apply:

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2020, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.