Job Opening - YAOUNDE
Posting Title: ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, P3

Posting Title:    ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, P3
Job Code Title:    ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Department/Office:    Economic Commission for Africa
Duty Station:    YAOUNDE
Posting Period:    09 May 2023 - 22 June 2023
Job Opening Number:    23-Economic Affairs-ECA-205228-R-Yaounde (G)
Staffing Exercise    N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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Org. Setting and Reporting
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 Subregional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) is located in Yaoundé (Cameroon). It is headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). Its main objective is to contribute to achieving economic diversification and structural transformation for inclusive and sustainable development in an integrated Central Africa subregion with focus on economic diversification policy and reforms.

These positions are located in the Economic Diversification Policy and Reforms Section and Sub-regional Initiatives Section of the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Economic Affairs Officers report to the Chief of the Economic Diversification and Policy Reforms Section and the Chief of the Sub-regional initiatives Section under the leadership of the Director of the Subregional Office for Central Africa.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the duties and responsibilities of the Economic Affairs Officers are as follows:

ECONOMIC AND/OR SECTOR ANALYSIS:
• Collects and analyses data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables, and reports using statistical, econometrical and data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Conduct economic and/or sector analysis to inform economic diversification, industrialization and structural transformation recurrent or ad hoc reports and meetings.
• Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts econometric models to determine trends, patterns and relationships and to analyze the effects of alternative policies towards economic diversification and assumptions.
• Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic diversification, industrialization, structural transformation and sustainable development in Central Africa.
• Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, workshops etc. on economic diversification and sustainable development issues in Central Africa.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT:
• Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies.
• Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
• Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
• Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.

TECHNICAL COOPERATION:
• Participates in missions on economic diversification and sustainable development issues, usually as a member of a team.
• Organizes training seminars and ad-hoc experts’ meetings for national and subregional 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.

Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic diversification, inclusive industrialization, structural transformation and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic and sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skills in developing sources for data collection. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making.

• 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.

• PLANNING AND 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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Successful completion of data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.


Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Experience in supporting regional integration and economic development in Africa is desirable

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English or French language is required; and knowledge of the other is desirable.

Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 December 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.


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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at :  https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=205228