Jobs

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA-ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (139923-R-Addis Ababa (G)

Deadline: 12 October 2020

Location: Addis Ababa

Type of contract: Unspecified

Org. Setting and Reporting

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063.

The mission is 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, and for 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.

Private Sector Development and Finance Division

The Private Sector Development and Finance Division (PSDFD) is headed by a Director and reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). The Division is responsible for supporting member States in their endeavour to achieve sustained economic growth and transformation through leveraging the role and resources of the private sector with an emphasis, improving the business environment, increasing private sector investment in agriculture, infrastructure, energy and services (technology), and promoting innovative financing models. It is divided into three sections: Agriculture and Business Enabling Environment; Energy, Infrastructure and Services; and Innovative Finance and Capital Markets.

The core functions of the Division are as follows:
(a) Assisting member States in designing and implementing policies and strategies to improve the business environment on agriculture and land-related policies;
(b) Assisting member States in designing and implementing policies and strategies that promote innovative financing for developing capital markets to support private sector development and attract investment;
(c) Contributing to the establishment and implementation of policies and programmes aimed at increasing private sector investment in infrastructure, energy and services, leading to improved infrastructure, job creation and economic growth;
(d) Improving the enabling environment for business, harmonizing regulation and advocating in favour of Africa’s private sector at the national, regional and global levels;
(e) Working with Governments to ensure that the basic infrastructure to boost the competitiveness of the private sector and the necessary energy, infrastructure and services are in place and are efficient, affordable and sufficiently well-structured to attract the private sector;
(f) Deepening the financing architecture and the development of capital markets to increase savings and investments pools and mobilize more investment capital;
(g) Producing evidence-based policy research to support the efforts of member States to further the development of small and medium-sized enterprises;
(h) Promoting agricultural transformation through the development of knowledge products on smart and sustainable agriculture and regional agricultural value chains;
(i) Creating regulatory frameworks for standardized infrastructure markets in the areas of energy, transport, and information and communications technology;
(j) Developing regional platforms for financing Africa’s development through innovative tools.


This post is located in the Innovative Finance & Capital Market Section, Private Sector Development and Finance Division (PSDFD) of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Innovative Finance & Capital Market Section (IFCMS), the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the duties of an Economic Affairs Officer are likely to fall mainly into one of the three functional areas identified below. 

Economic or sector analysis 
• Develops socio-economic databases and qualitative information on current issues related to the initiatives and activities of the Innovative Finance and Capital Market Section including assessment of markets, investment opportunities and the competitiveness of African countries, and policies and regulations for developing and deepening capital markets;
• Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts economic and financial intelligence tools to determine market trends, patterns and relationships and to analyse the effects of innovative finance and impact investment;
• Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of private sector development and financial deepening;
• Identifies and analyses policy proposals and initiatives that deepen and expand national and regional capital markets, including those that promote domestic debt and equity markets and increase private sector engagement in areas such as infrastructure, housing and real sector financing;
• Represents UNECA in international, regional, and national meetings to collect information on innovative finance and capital markets related issues and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions; 
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues;
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff;

Intergovernmental support 
• Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies; national, regional and global financial and non-financial institutions, regional commissions, Economic and Social Council;
• Follows intergovernmental meetings and investors forums and prepares summary reports;
• Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Division/Section and Secretariat senior staff to such meetings;
• Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on private sector development, innovative finance and capital markets issues for intergovernmental processes;

Technical cooperation 
• Assist the Innovative Finance and Capital Markets Section (IFCMS) team and other sections of the Private Sector Development and Finance Division (PSDFD) in mobilizing internal and partner resources (extra-budgetary resources, grants, and joint-funded activities) to finance non-recurrent activities of the sections of PSDFD and overall ECA engagement with private sector; 
• Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team;
• Organizes training seminars for national experts;
• Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects;
• Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects;
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects;

General
• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Colleagues and senior staff within immediate work unit and peers in the broader organizational unit. 
Middle level officials of UN agencies, regional and global development banks and other international organizations.
Government officials, private sector, academics and other members of civil society.Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to apply economic and financial theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic and finance topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Demonstrate strong skills in gathering data from various sources and analyse it. 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. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.


• 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. 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.

Education

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

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic and financial research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
Previous exposure working with private sector and/or financial institutions, and developing financial instruments (e.g. bonds, equities, and guarantees), investment policies and regulatory processes is an advantage.
Knowledgeable in the structuring and execution of debt and equity investments is desirable.
Experience in and good understanding of socio-economic and development issues and dynamics in Capital Market development, preferably in Africa is desirable.
Good understanding of projects management, including project design, planning, risk management strategy is desirable.
Competence in the use of standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) and Financial Market software such as Bloomberg, S&P Global or FactSet is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include 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.


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.


For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 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, 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, 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, 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.

HOW TO APPLY?

Create an account with Inspira using the following link https://inspira.un.org/ . After creating your account on Ispira, search for this job position and then proceed to apply. Good Luck

admin

African Union Commission Scholar || Founder @ Youth Opportunities Hub || Former RBA COST/Sahel Team at UNDP || TEF Alumni ||

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