Economic Affairs Officer Full Time

Hiring organization: United Nations (UN)

Job title: ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Job Category: Economic, Social and Development

Employment Type: Full time

Job Description

The Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) 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 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 a 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. This position is located in the Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation, and Digital Transformation Section of the Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Development Division (TICID). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Chief of Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section and the overall supervision of the Director of TICID.

Job Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Economic and/or Sector Analysis:
• Monitors economic developments in a defined area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations.
• Provide assistance on research studies on a broad range of science, technology and innovation topics such as digital technology and innovation policy for the SDGs, digital transformation policies and strategies
• Perform regional/sub-regional analysis in the area of emerging and frontier technologies, innovation and digital transformation.
• Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in digital technology and draft resulting reports.
• Collect and analyze information/data
• Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
• Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental Support:

• Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities.
• Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
• Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects
• Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical Cooperation:

• Designs and monitors technical cooperation projects.
• Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities.
• Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues.
• Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
• Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects.

General:

• Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
• Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit.
• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service.;
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the field of ICT , STI for development, emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, Blockchain and others and implementation of digital transformation strategies; strong research capabilities; good analytical and problem solving capacity. Ability to conduct independent research on ICT, science, technology and innovation, emerging technologies and frontier technologies, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources and make assessment of research documentation and studies. Ability to identify and develop 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.
• Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• 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.
• Technological Awarness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Job Requirement:

•  Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, information and communications technology (ICT), science, technology and innovation (STI) or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in science, technology and innovation, information and communication technology, emerging technologies, frontiers technologies, digital transformation methodologies, economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
• Experience of implementing result orientated work programmes built around coherent strategies in the ICT sector is required.
• Experience and application of emerging technologies such as AI, IoT or blockchain is required.
• Hands on experience in developing and implementing a digital transformation strategy to stakeholders at various levels is required.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in policy formulation and programmes in emerging technologies and/or digital applications in supporting socio-economic development is desirable.
• 2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Location: Addis Ababa

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply through the following  Link: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/251907?language=en