Lead Economist - Operations I Country & Regional Programs & Policy (ORVP)

• Grade: PL-2
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: ADB/2012/222
• Publication date: 12/10/2012
• Closing date: 31/10/2012

Objectives

The Regional Departments of the Bank are responsible for the coordination of all programming activities to ensure regional and country focus in Bank Group operations. They serve as the focal point for Bank Group operations in regional member countries (RMCs) and are also responsible for the continued enhancement of the Bank’s visibility and operations effectiveness at country and regional levels. A key transformation of the Regional Departments is the increased emphasis on rigorous analytical work and knowledge services, including Economic Sector Work, Policy Notes, and other advisory products designed to deepen the Bank’s country knowledge and, thereby, enable better-informed strategies and lending-cum-activity decisions as well providing RMC Governments with operational and policy advice through continued dialogue.  
 
In the Bank’s Operations Complex Country & Regional Programs & Policy (ORVP), the North Africa Regional Department 1 (ORNA) is seeking to recruit Regional Economists. The Lead Economist will provide strategic advice to the Regional Departments and lead the economic dialogue with the regional member countries, development partners, and other stakeholders. S/he would also lead in defining lending programs and Analytic and Advisory Services. She/he will be expected to provide intellectual leadership and quality assurance for the country and regional teams. She/he will also be expected to lead the department’s regional initiatives and responsibilities, notably as relates to the Bank’s Regional Integration Assistance Strategy for North Africa, the Bank’s role in the Deauville Partnership, the North Africa Policy Series and other corporate engagements for which the department has assumed a lead role.  The Lead Economist will be expected to mentor and guide other economists and CPOs in the department. Finally, s/he will also have limited administrative duties, including acting for the Director in his/her absence.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Director for ORNA, the Lead Economist will:

• Provide strategic advice to the regional director and lead the economic dialogue with the regional member countries, development partners and other stakeholders;
• Lead the development of a pipeline and execution of country economic and sector work in coordination with country economists and sector departments;
• Manage the North Africa Policy Serious (which is a series of policy notes on topical issues for the North Africa region, typically developed and written by experts and academics on the region.  The past 2 years, some 20+ papers have been issued in this series) and lead the development of a pipeline and execution of a regional economic and sector work in coordination with country economists, sector departments, and the other North Africa Regional Department (ORNB);
• Plan lending operations and Analytic and Advisory Activities and provide intellectual leadership and quality assurance for the country and regional teams; oversee the preparation of Country Strategy Papers (CSP). Ensure, through continued dialogue with the sector departments, that the lending and non-lending activities brought forward are in line with the CSP/Strategy;
• Ensure the integration of key thematic areas of central to the Bank and the countries in the region—such as promotion of inclusive growth and reduction in spatial and social disparities, strengthen economic and social governance, support economic transformation, and regional integration and cooperation-- in the country and regional work program;
• Guide the country and regional teams to enhance the rigor of advice on cross- cutting and sectoral issues in support of the above-mentioned key thematic areas and ensure, through continued dialogue with the sector departments, that the lending and non-lending activities brought forward are in line with the CSP/Strategy
• Actively promote dialogue and close working relations with other multilateral and bilateral partners as well as with the Government, private sector and civil society.
• Ensure the role of the Bank’s focal point for the Deauville Partnership, which involve close dialogue and engagement with all IFIs active in the region (IMF, EBRD, EIB, World Bank Group, IsDB, AMF, AFESD, and OECD) as well the G8 group of countries and the GCC.
• Ensure that the Department is linked to knowledge sharing networks and is fully appraised of good, innovative theory and practice in development economics, organizing meetings and inviting speakers for brown-bag lunches and seminars as appropriate;
• Represent the Department (and Bank) at key economic meetings and on important missions when requested to do so by the Director or senior management. Serve as focal point on economic issues to external/internal constituencies and expert economic groups
• Provide a mentoring role for Country Economists, macro-economists and Young Professionals (YPs) attached to the Department.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

The position requires a highly motivated and dynamic professional economist with strong conceptual and analytical skills, significant leadership experience in operational and analytic support to the client drawing on diverse teams, and a commitment to the agenda reflected in the Bank’s Long Term Strategy.

In addition, the Regional Economist shall have:

• A minimum of a Master’s degree or its university equivalent in Economics
• Sound knowledge of socio-economic development issues in Africa and, preferably, knowledgeable and experienced on the North Africa region
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in conducting policy dialogue on economic issues with senior government officials, the private sector, donor representatives and civil society;
• Strong analytical skills and proven capacity to produce and manage knowledge products in a multisector context;
• Proven ability to lead, work in teams, mentor staff, inspire staff commitment to technical excellence and teamwork, and resolve conflicts constructively;
• Proven ability to gain the trust and respect of country counterparts, while maintaining objectivity and clear focus on the Bank's mission;
• Ability to build partnerships and deliver results in a timely fashion that meet the needs and long-term interest of clients within and outside the institution;
• Ability to enhance the quality of Bank products through early guidance, constructive feedback, encouraging innovation and risk taking, and establishing links with other networks and relevant partners;
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills to be an effective Bank spokesperson in a range of fora;
• Ability to communicate effectively in English or French is a must, and preferably in both languages.

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Lead Economist - Operations I Country & Regional Programs & Policy (ORVP) (Based in Tunis) (84 KB)

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To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

• Submitted by: Harold Akingbade-Taylor, OIC, CHRM.1
• Approved by: Harold Akingbade-Taylor, OIC, CHRM

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs