ICD Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor based in (AFRITAC Central)

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development (ICD) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a position of Resident Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor stationed at the Central Africa Regional Capacity Development Center (AFC). AFC is one of the five Regional Capacity Development Centers (the AFRITACs) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) operating in Africa. AFC covers all countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic—CAR, and Chad), as well as the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Since its creation in 2007, AFRITAC Central has been based in Libreville, the capital of Gabon. While it is expected that most of the Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor’s projects are focused on AFC member countries, she/he may deliver TA to other Francophone countries in Africa.

The aim of capacity development (CD) in the area of macroeconomic frameworks is to help recipient countries improve the macroeconomic forecasting and analytical capabilities of government institutions in support of their macroeconomic policy decision-making process. Depending on country needs and capacity, macroeconomic-frameworks technical assistance (TA) projects may range from building Excel-based, sectoral-relationship frameworks with supporting economic projection equations, to building semi-structural gap models or even DSGE models of national economies. Near-term forecasting/nowcasting and/or debt dynamics tools will also be included in these macroeconomic frameworks. The work of the macroeconomic frameworks advisor would be focused mainly in supporting fragile and conflict affected states (FCS) and low-income countries (LIC) in the AFC membership and, more generally, in Francophone Africa. In view of the capacity constraints and limited resources of these countries, the work agenda may include assistance with the implementation of basic elements of macroeconomic diagnostics, such as the analysis of equilibrium exchange rates, output gaps, and the basics of debt sustainability.

The ICD-backstopped Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will undertake these activities through TA missions, TA-related training engagements, and peer-to-peer learning activities, either alone or together with IMF staff and/or specialized short-term experts (STX) employed by the IMF. She/he will coordinate closely with ICD’s CD delivery divisions, the African department (AFR) and the IMF−African Training Institute (ATI) to ensure consistency with other IMF CD activities in the region. Among the main tasks, the Macroeconomic Frameworks Advisor will:

• Deliver, oversee, and coordinate TA and related training on developing macroeconomic frameworks to support forecasting and policy analysis and decision-making processes in central banks, ministries of finance and relevant government agencies, under the guidance of ICD CD delivery divisions’ backstopping and in close cooperation with IMF-AFR country teams, the AFR country resident representative, other AFC resident advisors and, where applicable, other CD providers.
• Prepare, under the supervision of ICD Resource Management division and in close coordination with the AFC Director, medium-term workplans based on demand from country authorities, prioritization by AFR country teams, and technical direction from ICD CD delivery divisions.
• Manage the STX certification and contracting process, by preparing the STX’s draft terms of reference, submitting them to Headquarters (HQ) for final approval, and acting as back-stopper of the STX’s work.
• Prepare required TA and training documents (e.g., pre-mission briefs, BTOs, TA reports and any other required by ICD) for ICD’s internal review and approval, including through CDMAP; maintain existing projects updated in CDMAP, including oversee budget expenses and Results-Based Management (RBM) reporting (log frames).
• Contribute, as required by the AFC Director, to the AFC corporate work (e.g., steering committee meetings, annual report, quarterly newsletters, outreach efforts, preparation of conferences/seminars and other activities of the center). Contribute to prepare reporting and assessment reports related to internal funding processes and other inputs, as requested by ICD’s RM division internal funding processes, as requested by ICD’s RM division.

The selected candidate will work under the guidance of ICD macroeconomic-frameworks TA back-stoppers based in HQ. She/he will coordinate with the AFC Director on day-to-day administrative and logistic support.

The IMF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills and experience. The selected candidate should be prepared to take up the position in Gabon in September 2023. The initial appointment will be for a period of 1 year with the possibility for extension contingent on performance and ongoing budget/business needs.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have: (i) a post-graduate degree in Economics; (ii) at least five years of relevant professional experience, with practical knowledge of the IMF's financial programming framework—experience as an IMF country desk economist would be a plus; (iii) excellent data management and analytical skills, including the use of MS Excel and econometric applications; (iv) Extensive practical experience in the development of macro-modeling tools, including in resource-rich developing countries with limited statistical capacities and in in using relevant software—knowledge of EViews, Matlab, Dynare, and Iris would be a plus; (v) Excellent written and oral communication skills in French, and proficiency in English; and (vi) exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to work well in teams.

Preference will be given to candidates who have practical experience in a senior or advisory position within a ministry of finance, central bank, or international financial institution, and who can additionally show experience in managing and overseeing TA work in macroeconomic frameworks or related areas, familiarity with the RBM and CDMAP, and coordinating with donors. Experience in organizing and conducting training courses and workshops would be an advantage.

Department:

ICDRM Institute for Capacity Development Resource Management and Delivery Policy DivisionHiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.