We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

We are looking for an experienced economic development professional to lead the creation of TBI’s economic advisory work in Djibouti. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in working with public and private stakeholders on promoting private investment and facilitating trade in developing and emerging markets. The candidate will play a key role in supporting the Government of Djibouti in achieving its ambitious reform agenda and will positively impact Djibouti’s economic growth through the development and enhancement of tools and mechanisms to implement Vision 2035.

Success in this role will be measured by the successful establishment and operationalization of the economic development mechanisms, the effectiveness of investment and trade strategies implemented, the quality of stakeholder relationships built, and the tangible economic outcomes achieved for Djibouti. The candidate will work closely with TBI’s teams in country and centrally to deliver significant change for Djibouti. The Senior Advisor will report to the Country Director.

Please note, we would consider supporting applicants not currently based in or with a right to work in Djibouti to relocate for this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Understand, analyze and articulate the competitiveness of Djibouti’s priority sectors to inform economic development reforms and coordination;
• Identify and deliver economic development priorities, including priority projects and initiatives spearheaded by TBI, especially in the fields of investments and trade;
• Support the design, set-up and operationalization of Government mechanisms for economic development and develop detailed strategies to drive significant change;
• Develop quality collateral for priority projects and establish clear investment and trade programme paths;
• Map investor journey, identify challenges and provide recommendations for improvement
• Support targeted investment promotion and the execution of public-private partnerships;
• Catalyze the operationalisation of national bodies that enhance coordination mechanisms to support improvements to Djibouti’s investment attractiveness and trade facilitation performance;
• Support the capacity of trade Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and trade facilitation initiatives, including those of other donors, in particular export value chain initiatives;
• Map and analyse Djibouti’s trade ecosystem, including trade flows and lanes, strategic trade corridors and work with TBI’s investment and trade teams in executing meaningful initiatives;
• Promote public-private dialogue and facilitate a national forum on national trade logistics with the private sector.

Leadership and Capabilities

• Work with a small team of experts – both in country and centrally - and support the development of TBI’s unique way of delivering economic development advisory support for senior political leaders to ensure client satisfaction
• Lead creation of a toolkit with which other TBI advisors can engage to develop and guide clients in economic strategy development
• Guide and support prioritization of our economic prosperity workstreams with a primary focus on Djibouti but also globally
• Prepare strategic reports, proposals, and presentations for clients and senior leadership.
• Manage projects and coordinate with other team members and stakeholders to ensure all parties are on track with project requirements, deadlines, and schedules
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.

External Engagement

• Represent the Institute at global events and contribute to written thought leadership and publications
• With external relations, advance TBI’s participation or leadership of global events

Person Specification:

• At least 15 years’ experience working within the private sector or government as a senior advisor to political leaders, and delivering sector strategies, with a focus on economic development and trade facilitation
• Knowledge of establishing new organisations or government units, in particular economic development agencies and delivery units tasked with economic development
• Experience in the field of economic development & prosperity, especially around economic strategy, investment promotion and trade facilitation
• 5 years minimum experience of investment, and foreign direct investment attraction in low to middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience of trade facilitation implementation, especially engagement with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDCAs) and preferably with national trade facilitation committees
• Experience with stakeholder management, with an ability to build relationships with heads of state and/or senior economic, finance & trade ministers, state investment secretaries, secretary generals and other development stakeholders
• Ability to perform in-depth research, gathering and analysing relevant economic data to identify patterns and market trends
• Ability to perform innovative problem-solving across various topics, generate original insights and produce high-quality presentations to communicate findings to senior government clients
• Ability to work and contribute to a collaborative team dynamic and having a “get things done” attitude in working environments with multiple stakeholders with various objectives
• Geopolitical knowledge relevant to the work in Djibouti and the region
• Candidates with Master’s or Doctorate Degrees in Economics and/or related fields are highly desired
• Proficiency with MS office, including data analysis and well-designed documents
• Fluent in French and English

Closing Date:

2024-09-01