Director, Country Economics (ECCE) at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director, Country Economics (ECCE)

Position Number: 50067047
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade:  EL5

The Complex

• The core mandate of the Vice Presidency (ECVP) is to lead the Bank Group on prioritizing the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering and implementation of relevant knowledge solutions in all High-5 operational priorities and the cross-cutting themes of its Ten-Year Strategy.
• Such solutions must be a clear response to priority development challenges facing regional member countries (RMCs), individually or collectively and need to involve RMCs in both the planning and implementation of the solutions.
• The key focus areas include: (i) research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods; (ii) country diagnostics and future perspectives; (iii) policy dialogue and advisory services; (iv) economic, sector, and thematic knowledge work; (v) improving national and sub-regional statistical systems; (vi) preparation, design, and support to the implementation of public financial management and Governance operations; (vii) capacity development for policy formulation and implementation; (viii) technical assistance and advice related to RMCs’ management of natural resources; and (vii) knowledge dissemination and development of national, regional, and inter-regional knowledge networks.

Department / Division

• The mandate of the Country Economics Department is to position the Bank at the center of socio-economic knowledge-led Country and Regional strategies, policy dialogues and operations.
• The Department leads the knowledge work that informs the production of Country and Regional Strategy documents, including the Country Strategy Papers, Regional Integration Strategy Papers, Country Diagnostic Notes, and Regional Diagnostic Notes to inform country lending programs, (ii) Regional and Country Economic Reports: produces the Regional Economic Outlooks Reports, the Country Focus Reports, and the African Economic Outlook Country Notes to update on the economic, political and social developments in the country, (iii) Policy Dialogue: The department plays a key role in Country/Regional policy dialogues and in the Bank’s collaboration with other Development partners, including participation in Country Thematic Groups in line with Paris Declaration on Aid effectiveness and Accra Plan of Action (iv) Economic and Sector Work: the Country Economics Department leads in the research and analysis of economic and sector issues at the country level to inform the design of Bank’s strategy and programs in the country.
• The Country Economics Department is composed of two (2) divisions, each overseen by a Division Manager: The Country Economics Department Division 1 (ECCE.1), which covers Central, North, and West Africa, and the Country Economics Division 2 (ECCE.2), which covers Nigeria, Eastern and Southern Africa. The two (2) Division Managers report to the Director of the Country Economics Department.

The Position
Led by the Director, the key work objectives of the Country Economics Department are the following:

• Implement the new Development and Business Delivery Model mandate relating to strengthening the links between economic knowledge and the Bank’s operations.
• Manage, coordinate, ensure the high quality of the work of Lead and country economists, who have been transferred to the ECVP Complex as part of Bank’s efforts to enhance the development impact of its operations under the DBDM.
• Ensure the harmonization approaches and tools used by the Bank’s Lead/Country Economists.

Key Functions
Under the overall guidance of the Chief Economist and Vice-President, the Director – Country Economics Department will perform the following:

• Develop and implement high-quality, publishable country economic assessments with a focus on sustained growth and job creation, drawing on department resources and collaboration from across the African Development Bank Group.
• Work closely with ECVP departments in ensuring that country the High Five priorities inform African Development Bank country engagement and advisory services in promoting the achievement of development objectives.
• Engage with African Development Bank regional directorates and other Bank Group units to support strategy formulation and policy dialogue, through various exercises, aimed at achieving the High 5’s.
• Ensure that African Development Bank management as well as investment and advisory project teams draw on high-quality country economic expertise and analyses and operational support.
• Build a strong network of collaboration and coordination on Country Economics across the African Development Bank and also with operational teams at the World Bank Group, the IMF, economic research institutes and other organizations, including think-tanks and private sector organizations across Africa.
• Work with the Vice-President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management and in partnership with the ECVP’s leadership team to ensure the achievement of the key strategic priorities of the Complex in alignment with African Development Bank’s overall strategy.
• Work closely with the Director of the African Development Institute (ECAD) to develop new ways for building and retaining capacity for economic policy design and implementation in African countries.
• Deliver the agreed upon work program through cost effective use of resources and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Manage the department and its staff to a modern standard and high level of performance, with special attention to diversity objectives.
• Drive and inspire technical excellence within the department by creating an environment of learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
• Lead the preparation of analytic, country-relevant and knowledge-based country strategy papers.
• Ensure that the best economic research generated by the Macroeconomics, Policy, Forecasting and Research Department and other sources inside and outside the Bank, are customized for economic policy solutions tailored to the specific circumstances of each Regional Member Country.
• Lead the production of country-relevant, timely, analytically sound, and reliable policy advice for Regional Member Countries, and of flagship reports on country economic issues.
• Monitor economic conditions and policies in Regional Member Countries and provide policymakers with well researched insights about developments in their economies.
• Develop partnerships with the other knowledge departments in the Complex, and inside and outside the Bank, to ensure that the highest level of knowledge is incorporated in the design of Bank strategies and operations.
• Develop and ensure effective implementation of harmonized approaches, tools and standards of quality for use by the Bank’s Lead and country economists towards strengthening the development effectiveness of Bank’s country strategies and operations.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge):

• Hold at least a Doctorate / PhD Degree from a reputable university in Economics, Applied Macroeconomics or other relevant discipline.
• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of highly relevant experience, five (5) of which should be in a leadership capacity, in country and regional strategies development and implementation, analysis and monitoring of macroeconomic and social conditions and policies at the country and regional level, and operational policy development and implementation gained in a multilateral development finance institution, government agency or reputable organization.
• Ability to carry out sound macroeconomic analysis
• Ability to identify a need for economic reforms and develop and assess the required economic reform measures.
• Ability to quickly master.
• Private sector experience is an added advantage.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Communication.
• Client orientation.
• Problem-solving
• Team working and relationships.
• Operational effectiveness.
• Proven ability to build and lead a team of motivated staff and utilize the talents and expertise of team members in a productive way.
• Capacity to initiate and manage innovation and drive change.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other.

Deadline: 9th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.
• Should you encounter technical difficulties in submitting your application, please send an email with a precise description of the issue and/or a screenshot showing the problem to: HR Direct HRDirect@AFDB.ORG