Deadline: 28 August, 2020

Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking to fill the position of Chief Development Economist.

Established in 1964, the AfDB is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bank’s assessment of social and macroeconomic developments, monitoring of structural reforms and policy dialogue with regard to relevant and quality skills development and the creation of decent jobs for youth
• Carry out analyses of labour and employment issues in the central African region with regard in particular to youth unemployment, underemployment, informal economy, MSMEs and job creation
• Oversee the drafting of the bank’s economic reports, including inputs for the region and its countries for periodic country assessments, CSPs, RISPs and briefing notes for senior management
• Provide socio-economic and macroeconomic and reform advice
• Conduct and facilitate policy dialogue in close coordination with country economists, RRCs and other bank departments; and interact with country authorities, the private sector, local think tanks, academia, clients and other international finance institutions
• Lead the department’s input to country strategies (CSPs) and other related strategy instruments
• Develop a pipeline for projects (lending and non-lending) in the area of youth entrepreneurship, SME development and job creation
• Meet the bank’s key performance indicators related to managing the department’s portfolio on youth entrepreneurship, SME development and job creation
• Monitor and share key insights from the work done in each country, and contribute to analytical work and policy dialogue in the area of youth entrepreneurship, SME development and job creation, with emphasis on gender aspects
• Support the bank’s staff and departments to identify priority areas and potential projects with high impact on creating decent jobs for youths
• Manage the portfolio of youth employment projects in the Central African region or lead selected top priority jobs for youths in Africa projects especially related to migration issues and policy reforms
• Carry out other technical tasks and coordination as required by the JfYA coordinator or the director of the department

Requirements

• Hold at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in Business Administration, Finance, Social Sciences, Economics or a related field
• Seven years, minimum, of relevant experience in jobs for youths, social protection, safety nets, financing for jobs in Africa, preferably in an international organisation, government agency, think tank or other policy environment
• Strong knowledge of job creation, migration issues, good governance reforms and economic policy issues in Africa, with at least seven years focusing on Africa
• Experience with policy and policy-relevant research on jobs for youths, migration, social protection, safety nets, SMEs
• Experience in employment and migration policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (desirable)
• Proven experience in managing projects and demonstrated experience in managing complex projects with evidence on clear outcomes
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with gender and civil society priorities in job creation agenda
• The ability to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the ban
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands/priorities under tight deadlines and coordinate the work of others
• Results-oriented, accountable, proactive, self-motivated and able to work both with autonomy and with a team in diverse national and cultural contexts
• Flexibility and the ability to work across divisions and departments of the agriculture human, and social development sector complex
• Client orientation to understand, and when appropriate, anticipate client needs, to ensure the clients receive the best possible service from the bank
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues and contribute to the creation of a positive team environment
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English or French
• Competences in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of SAP (desirable)

To apply and for more information, click here.