Objectives
The primary objective of the Principal Economist position is to
enable the Bank Group to play a leadership role and more effectively assist
Africa’s fragile states to transit out of fragility, help prevent countries
at risk of slippage and to assist post-crisis and post-conflict states move
forward towards more stable political and economic development, through
approaches that are grounded in the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and
Development – Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) Principles of Good
International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations, and the New Deal
for Engagement in Fragile States.
Position title: Economist
Grade: PL-4
Position N°: NA
Reference: ADB13/106
Publication date: 10/07/2013
Closing date: 31/07/2013
BackgroundThe Fragile States Unit (OSFU) was established in July
2008 and is currently located within the First-Vice Presidency and Chief
Operation Officer’s (FVP/COO) complex. The Unit is responsible for
coordinating the Bank-wide program of enhanced engagement in fragile
states. Support to fragile states is one of the core business mandates of
the Bank Group as identified in its Long-Term Strategy (2013-2022). The
Unit also administers the Bank Group’s Fragile States Facility (FSF), which
was established in 2008 as an operationally autonomous, special purpose
financing entity with three grant financing windows. The FSF provides
supplemental support for eligible fragile states, resources for arrears
clearance operations and targeted capacity building institutional development
assistance.
The operational mandate and responsibilities of the
OSFU aim at enabling the Bank to: i) more effectively and efficiently
assist in the recovery and development efforts of the fragile and
conflict-affected regional member states of the Bank; and ii) help regional
member countries that are at risk to avoid slipping into fragility and/or
conflict. Africa’s fragile and conflict-affected countries constitute a
critical development challenge for the global efforts to reduce poverty and
attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They also generate negative
spillover effects to neighboring countries, sub-regions and the wider
international community. The Bank’s experience is that effective and
sustainable development in such situations requires different approaches
from those typically applied in more stable, low- or middle-income
countries.
Duties and responsibilitiesUnder the overall guidance of the Head of the Fragile
States Unit (OSFU), the incumbent will:
Analyze the economic and financial situations of
regional member countries (RMCs), especially those that may be classified
as “fragile states” or at the periphery of such classification, using
internal and external sources of information, and determine the
implications for the programming and updating of Bank Group fragile states
strategy and the FSF eligibility and operations;
Examine and document the impact of Bank Group fragile
states strategy and FSF operations in the countries concerned, and make
recommendations on how to link the Bank’s existing M&E approach to
building national capacity to monitor the impact of development
interventions in line with OECD principles in assisting fragile states
directly or through other instruments such as regional operations;
Analyze the role of the private sector in “fragile
states”, using internal and external sources of information, and determine
the implications for the programming of the Bank’s country strategies and
operations with a view to harnessing the potential of the private sector to
create lasting jobs and contribute to exiting fragility;
Coordinate OSFU inputs in the FSF pipeline of projects
within country teams and articulate the dimensions of state fragility and
how to target support to addressing its root causes through institutional
development, and measure impact / progress of Bank Group interventions;
Carry out relevant Economic and Sector Work (ESW),
focusing on issues of private sector development and business-enabling
environment in the nation building process;
Provide guidance on effective Bank Group dialogue with
governments and stakeholders on implementing reforms for improved business
enabling environment, governance, economic growth and service delivery;
Coordinate with the Sector Departments, especially the
Private Sector Department (OPSM), Governance and Economic Management
Department (OSGE) in the identification, preparation, evaluation and
monitoring of the implementation of business enabling environment and
governance programs;
Coordinate OSFU participation in preparation of CSPs
for assigned countries, based on the RMCs’ Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSPs);
Monitor implementation of the Bank’s portfolio in the
assigned countries, as well as regional projects implemented by Regional
Economic Communities, in collaboration with the Sector Departments and the
Country Program Officer;
Maintain effective Communication with the Sector
Departments and other relevant units in the Bank to ensure a coordinated
approach in the implementation of the Bank’s fragile states strategy and
FSF operations in assigned countries;
Participate in Country Portfolio Reviews, preparation
of policy and operational documents and generally strategies for improving
Bank Group assistance to fragile states, especially through developing new approaches,
procedures and techniques;
Participate in aid coordination activities with
bilateral and multilateral donors, with emphasis on promoting the
co-financing of projects and programs;
Participate in the preparation of the Fragile State
Unit’s budget, recruitment of consultants, and preparation of annual and
other periodic programs and briefs on economic developments, reforms and
institutional support programs;
Serve as focal point on economic issues to external
constituencies and expert economic groups;
Work with partner institutions to ensure that
peace-building activities that complement the Bank Group core mandates and
areas of expertise are sufficiently dealt with in order to help clients
comprehensively address the roots causes of fragility and avoid slippage in
the peace- and state-building process;
Undertake any other assignments and tasks as requested
by the Head, Fragile States Unit and/or the First Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer (FVP/COO). Such assignments may involve working with Bank
teams and/or staff within or outside OSFU.
Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experienceAt least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in
economics, public policy or other related fields;
At least six (6) years of relevant professional
experience in a development oriented institution;
Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with
Africa’s post-conflict recovery and development challenges and effective
strategies and approaches for peace- and state-building;
Professional experience in the evaluation of
development interventions in an international financing institution;
Experience in policy development and implementation in
relation to the dynamics and challenges of peace-building and state-building
in Africa and in promoting and applying governance practices through
alignment with national development strategies;
Ability to communicate and defend orally and in writing
difficult issues and positions to senior Bank management, government officials,
etc.;
Knowledge of ICT and competence in the use of Bank
standard software applications (word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint);
Fluency in English or French, with a working knowledge
of the other language.
How to ApplyClick
Here to Apply Application Deadline 31-07-2013
