Sector Expert, Economist at the Education Cell

Belgian Development Agency

Brussels, Belgium

The Belgian development agency, BTC, mobilises its resources and its expertise to eliminate poverty in the world. BTC contributes to the efforts of the international community and works towards a society that provides present and future generations with sufficient resources to build a sustainable and fair world. Its 650 staff members in Brussels and overseas embody the commitment of the Belgian State and other development partners to international solidarity. They support more than 300 cooperation projects and programmes in some 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In view of the the further development of its activities the BTC is currently looking for a (m/f): Sector expert, Economist at the Education Cell for the headquarters in Brussels

Ref.: BRU/11/41JBS

Location: Brussels

Duration of the contract: open term appointment

Probable starting date: as soon as possible

Monthly gross salary: 3.159,81 euro for one year of relevant experience. The salary is calculated, depending on the actual number of years of relevant experience. Meal vouchers, hospitalisation and health care insurance, group insurance, ETHIAS assistance 24H/24H, 13th month, double holiday allowance.

Function:

We are looking for an expert to provide technical support in the Education Cell activities. This includes support to, monitoring and back-stopping of on-going education projects and budget support operations, formulating new education sector operations and providing technical input for other internal and external activities related to education. BTC has a large number of education operations -projects, basket funds and budget support operations- in 10 partner countries. The education cell is a small team of dynamic and motivated experts. The team works within the department of sectoral and thematic expertise in close liaison with the Operations Advisors and the Financial Department at BTC headquarters, and with the BTC staff supporting the implementation of the education operations in the field. Main tasks and responsibilities: The main objective of this position is to monitor BTC’s on-going projects and budget support operations and to support the drafting of new operations. The function requires great analytical capacity and judgement, as well as ability to organize his/her own work.

In particular the sector expert will have the following tasks:

• Support the formulation of new education sector operations (projects and budget support operations):
  • Undertake research prior to the formulation mission;
  • Support the formulation manager (education expert and/or budget support advisor) during the mission (once/twice a year);
  • Provide technical input on economic and public financial management issues;
  • Liaison with DGD and the Financial and Operations departments at the BTC to ensure that the dossier can be approved by all relevant parties;
  • Support the recruitment of the budget support advisor in the field.
• Provide support in management & planning of budget support operations in the education sector:
  • Follow-up of schedule of disbursement (in liaison with BTC Finance);
  • Monitor reporting and participate in joint sector reviews.
• Backstopping of on-going education sector operations:
  • Monitoring the quality and content of reporting from the international sector experts;
  • Conceptualise and interpret development indicators;
  • Participating in field missions for backstopping.
• Provide technical input in the field of public financial management. Monitoring the Public Financial Management system of countries (with the support of the budget support advisor stationed in the field).
• Support capitalization and capacity building within BTC:
  • Animating the budget support and education sector network (includes both experts based in the partner countries and those working in headquarters);
  • Provide training to HQ staff and to International Sector Experts, e.g. on new aid modalities;
  • Support in the organisation of the annual summer seminar.
• Participate in internal research operations on education sector dynamics and institutions; in particular conduct research activities in the field of finance mechanisms within the education sector.
• Carry out other related duties, as assigned.

Profile:

• Master's degree (M.A.) in economics;
• Demonstrated knowledge of macro- and microeconomics and genuine interest in public policy, development and poverty alleviation;
• A first experience in public financial management and in monitoring and evaluation is preferable;
• Experience in the education sector is an asset;
• Ability to set priorities and organise his/her own work;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, judgment and diplomatic skills;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills;
• Excellent ability to analyse and draft clearly and concisely;
• High level of initiative, judgment and decisiveness in accomplishing tasks;
• Fluent written and spoken English, French and Dutch;
• Willing and able to travel extensively, internationally.
• Willing to take long-term missions in developing countries eventually.

Interested?

Please apply not later than August 28th 2011, through our web site www.btcctb.org. Use our Standard CV and a letter of motivation to apply. You can find the model of our Standard CV on the page Jobs of our website. If you have any additional question, don’t hesitate to contact us at 02/505 18 65.