Afdb Principal Political Economist

• Position title: Principal Political Economist
• Grade: PL4
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: ADB/13/064
• Publication date: 14/05/2013
• Closing date: 31/05/2013

Objectives

The primary objective of the Principal Political Economist position is to enable the Bank Group to play a leadership role and more effectively assist Africa’s fragile states to transit out of fragility, help prevent countries at risk of slippage and to assist post-crisis and post-conflict states move forward towards more stable political and economic development, through approaches that are grounded in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development – Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) Principles of Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations, and the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States.

Background:

The Fragile States Unit (OSFU) was established in July 2008 and is currently located within the First-Vice Presidency and Chief Operation Officer’s (FVP/COO) complex. The Unit is responsible for coordinating the Bank-wide program of enhanced engagement in fragile states. Support to fragile states is one of the core business mandates of the Bank Group as identified in its Long-Term Strategy (2013-2022). The Unit also administers the Bank Group’s Fragile States Facility (FSF), which was established in 2008 as an operationally autonomous, special purpose financing entity with three grant financing windows. The FSF provides supplemental support for eligible fragile states, resources for arrears clearance operations and targeted capacity building institutional development assistance. 

The operational mandate and responsibilities of the OSFU aim at enabling the Bank to: i) more effectively and efficiently assist in the recovery and development efforts of the fragile and conflict-affected regional member states of the Bank; and ii) help regional member countries that are at risk to avoid slipping into fragility and/or conflict. Africa’s fragile and conflict-affected countries constitute a critical development challenge for the global efforts to reduce poverty and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They also generate negative spillover effects to neighboring countries, sub-regions and the wider international community. The Bank’s experience is that effective and sustainable development in such situations requires different approaches from those typically applied in more stable, low- or middle-income countries.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the Fragile States Unit (OSFU), the incumbent will:

• Provide analyses and strategies for bridging issues of politics and economics, focusing on how power and resources are contested, distributed, and the impact on development outcomes;
• Provide country-by-country analysis of politics and power in FSF beneficiary states in order to determine eligibility for continued support under the enhanced strategy;
• Develop tools for integrating political economy analysis in Bank Group operational strategies such as country strategy papers, country briefs and project appraisal documents;
• Provide guidance on effective Bank Group dialogue with governments and stakeholders on implementing reforms for improved governance, economic growth and service delivery beyond technical solutions to include navigating the power dynamics of state, business and society;
• Work with partner institutions to ensure that peace-building activities that complement the Bank Group core mandates and areas of expertise are sufficiently dealt with in order to help clients comprehensively address the roots causes of fragility and avoid slippage in the peace- and state-building process;
• Work with partner institutions pertaining to the New Deal (the Dialogue, g7+ group, etc.) to develop additional peace- and state-building indicators that can sufficiently characterize state fragility and fragile situations;
• Help the Bank Group forecast political, economic, and social trends and to adapt and use the right tools and approaches for conducting policy dialogues to avert or mitigate crisis;
• Contribute to preparation and dissemination of Bank’s knowledge products (Economic and Sector Work) on fragility and conflicts, in close partnership and collaboration with OSFU staff, Regional Departments and the Office of the Chief Economist;
• Undertake any other assignments and tasks as requested by the Head, Fragile States Unit and/or the First Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. Such assignments may involve working with Bank-teams and/or staff within or outside OSFU.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree or its equivalent in political economy; economics, political science, public administration and policy, financial management, social development or other relevant discipline;  Ph.D. will be an added advantage;
• Minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience in a multilateral or bilateral development institution or reputable development organization in the area of post-conflict recovery and support, and solid experience in project/program management, preferably in a partner development institution;
• Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with Africa’s post-conflict recovery and development challenges and effective strategies and approaches for peace- and state-building;
• Sound understanding of political, social and economic growth issues, governance and regional integration priorities and how these can affect peace-building and state-building prospects of fragile states and conflict-affected countries;
• Experience in policy development and implementation in relation to the dynamics and challenges of peace-building and state-building in Africa and in promoting and applying governance practices through alignment with national development strategies;
• Proven ability to apply innovative approaches, work independently and apply new methods to solve problems, while remaining efficient in a fast-paced, changing and challenging institutional environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language;
• Competence in the use of standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, MS Projects); knowledge of SAP would be an added advantage.

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Principal Political Economist (108 KB)

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Apply for this position

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

• Submitted by: Amie Sey, OIC CHRM.1
• Approved by: Joseph O. Badaki, CHRM Director

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs