Regional Government Finance Statistics and Public Sector Debt Statistics Advisor

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

This is a long-term expert position (contractual) open to Fund staff and external candidates. The Statistics Department (STA) of the IMF, and the IMF’s Regional Technical Assistance Center for Southern Africa (AFRITAC South – AFS) have an opening for a Regional Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) Advisor (hereinafter referred as “Regional Advisor”) based in Ebene, Mauritius. AFRITAC South is a multi-donor financed Regional Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) of the IMF that serves 13 member countries (Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).

The Regional Advisor’s initial appointment is for two years starting from January 2024, with the possibility of an extension by one year, based on performance and management approval. The Resident Advisor will oversee and undertake capacity development (CD) support in GFS and PSDS areas in respective member countries as part of AFRITAC South’s statistical work program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Regional Advisor will primarily support AFRITAC South member countries to improve the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and public sector debt statistics, which is intended to inform the authorities’ policy analysis and formulation, as well as support the IMF’s operational work with those countries.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Coordinate the development and delivery of the multi-year CD program on GFS and PSDS, including public sector balance sheet. In this process, he/she will be guided by the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (PSDSG), which are the internationally accepted macroeconomic statistical frameworks designed to provide methodological guidance for the compilation, measurement, presentation of fiscal and debt statistics that support fiscal formulation and analysis and further permit cross-country comparison.
• Provide country-specific advice, bilateral and regional courses as well as Technical Assistance (TA) on GFS and PSDS to assist member countries address data gaps and achieve their CD specific needs.
• Manage and backstop TA missions by short-term experts.
• Collaborate and coordinate CD activities internally with other AFRITAC South advisors, specializing in areas such as the real sector statistics, public financial management, debt management, customs administration, and revenue administration advisors.
• Coordinate CD activities with other IMF Departments – mainly FAD and MCM, and other international institutions and member countries’ agencies to ensure/encourage greater collaboration and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange.
• Collaborate with other AFRITACs and the Africa Training Institute on regional training.
• Apply IMF standards and policies (and STA’s guidelines) in documenting CD activities.
• Monitor the implementation and evaluation of CD activities using the designated IMF’s CD management portal; and
• Contribute to reports prepared for the AFRITAC South Steering Committee, as well as to other publications and outreach activities that promote AFRITAC South and STA’s CD program and provide visibility for AFRITAC South’s contributing development partners.

The Regional Advisor should expect to provide in-person or remote technical assistance to the beneficiary countries, depending on specific needs of individual countries. The successful candidate will work under the general direction of the AFRITAC South Director and the technical direction of STA staff at IMF headquarters.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have an advanced university degree in economics, statistics, or related field. He/she should have extensive knowledge of the GFSM 2014 and PSDS Guide concepts and principles, as well as proven experience in the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and debt data. Strong relationship management and negotiating and influencing skills are critical for the position. Excellent interpersonal skills, full proficiency in French and strong English oral and written communication skills, drive for results, and ability to work on various projects under tight deadlines are essential. Portuguese language skills are highly desirable.

The following qualifications are highly desirable: (i) experience in managing and backstopping capacity-building projects; (ii) experience in and knowledge of GFS and PSDS compilation practices and systems in countries with similar GFS/PSDS challenges; (iii) background in the areas of macro-fiscal policy and/or public sector accounting; (iv) practical experience with countries that have limited capacities; and (v) familiarity with the synergies between GFS/PSDS and Public Financial Management reforms in beneficiary countries.

Female candidates and nationals of the IMF's underrepresented regions (Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa) are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Department:

STAGO Statistics Department Government FinanceHiring 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.