Economic Affairs Officer

The consultant shall, within the relevant timeframe, provide ECA SRO-CA with the following: - Prepare and maintain Central Africa socio-economics data sets, country and subregional profiles; - Prepare periodic monitoring and evaluation reports of the national and joint AfCFTA regional projects; - At least three well prepared background papers, reports, studies, and inputs to Office outputs and knowledge products; - At least three Meetings, Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences organized and serviced; - At least 2 policy briefs and one study/research on Central Africa emerging issues completed; - Act as focal points for at least three interdivisional/partners collaboration; and - Well prepared inputs on the study on cross border trade in Central Africa.

Yaounde

6 months

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be 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. The Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) is located in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and its main objective is to contribute to promoting structural transformation for inclusive and sustainable development in Central Africa, focusing on economic diversification through inclusive and sustainable industrialization and intra-regional trade. The core functions are: (i) Providing relevant support to member States, regional economic communities and intergovernmental organizations in their quest to report and achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 goals and targets , including the Central African integration agenda through its support to ECCAS and CEMAC ambitions; (ii) Contributing to enhancing the capacity of member States in the subregion to integrate challenges of economic diversification in the development processes; (iii) Reinforcing country, sub-regional and regional progress towards addressing industrialization issues with an impact on the development prospects of member States; (iv) Engaging member States, regional economic communities in high-level policy dialogues and debates related to economic diversification and development dynamics; (v) Providing capacity-building and promoting bankable projects in the area of economic diversification, trade and sustainable industrialization. This position is located in the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and the Consultant reports to the Director of Office. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under direct supervision of the Director of ECA/SRO CA, the Economist will be responsible for the following duties:  Acts as the programme/project focal point of the Office: - Collects data and information to update and maintain the Office monitoring of Central Africa recent development performance including the progress to the achievement of economic diversification and SDGs; - Organizes & prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.; - Provides relevant inputs to Office knowledge products, including studies and research on economic diversification, trade and macro-economic conditions in Central Africa, impact of current shocks, national and subregional socio-economic profiles; - Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, contracts such as Letter of Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, reports & financial statements) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, progress reports); - Contributes to the Office Support, to the development and implementation of the countries and regional industrial strategies, African common free trade area (AfCFTA) strategies and other development strategic documents; - Supports the UNCTs and other UN Agencies work; and - Assists in the preparation, implementation and review of the Office work program as well as the interventions of ECA’s Divisions in Central Africa, as requested.  Provides substantive/technical support to the Office: - Researches, analyses, and presents information gathered from diverse sources; - Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies; - Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.; - Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities; - Contributes to the Office support to the implementation of AfCFTA in Central Africa countries and regional organizations and support regional and national economic diversification process and related reporting; and - Prepares policy briefs and draft studies or research papers on relevant emerging issues in Central Africa.  Performs other duties as required. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Establish and maintain relationships with various ECA offices as well as counterparts, senior officers, and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and in UN funds, programs and other UN specialized agencies; Representatives and officials in national governments, international organizations, consultants. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: The following deliverables are expected from the consultant: - Central Africa economic diversification initiatives and socio-economic Profiles; - Central Africa SDG Progress report; - AfCFTA joint regional and national projects monitoring and evaluation reports; and - Central Africa DA project report on cross border trade and inclusion prospects.

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A degree in project management or in statistics is an advantage. A minimum of 7 years of experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, project management and evaluation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related areas is required. Experience in statistics and planning tools, support in country/regional organization and country strategic development plan, country and subregional profiles, servicing meetings, workshops, seminars is required. Experience with an international organization is desirable. Experience in Programmes/projects design, management and reporting using results framework is desirable.

French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy fluency in oral and written French is required. Working knowledge of the other is an advantage.

Not available.