The Regional Division ESA is led by a Divisional Director, based in the IFAD Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The Division leads on the design and delivery of IFAD country and regional programmes in ESA. The precise country coverage of the division varies across replenishment periods.

Job Role

The Lead Regional Economist is an economic policy and strategy leader and knowledge builder in their region. Through crosscutting work, both in diversity of economic sub-specializations and across countries in the region and/or organization, the incumbent acts as a catalyst for the generation and use of economic data, analysis and knowledge within IFAD as well as with outside institutions. The incumbent is accountable for the delivery of IFAD services to the rural populations of the region by:

•  Providing timely, authoritative and analytical advice to staff in appropriate forms to enhance the quality, relevance and effectiveness of the division's work and instruments, i.e. Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOPs), country strategies, investment projects, grants, policy dialogue, knowledge management, etc.; and
•  Developing and implementing strategies, systems and approaches to better integrate the different types of operations, allowing IFAD to enhance its value addition, scale of operations, and impact on poverty reduction in the region.

Key Functions and Results

The Lead Regional Economist: 1. Leads the implementation of the quality support process. Working with the Divisional Director, Country Directors and the Portfolio Advisor, ensures key divisional outputs (including for new investments, COSOPs, country briefs, and completion reports) meet IFAD quality standards. Key areas of focus include economic and financial analysis of project design reports, institutional arrangements of new investments and integration of scaling up mechanisms. The incumbent leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of economic analysis, including macroeconomic modelling and forecasting, and the formulation of possible economic strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community. The incumbent leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them.

2. In close collaboration with the Lead/Senior Portfolio Advisor, supports the divisional director in strategic planning and programme oversight activities, country assessments, and resource allocation analysis.

3. Leads policy dialogue at the regional level with regional bodies and entities with the aim of improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the rural poor, provides authoritative advice to CDs on the design of country-specific policy dialogue processes, designs and manages sub-regional, regional and international policy dialogue that is relevant, and adds value to the work of the region at the country level, including interactions with other funding and technical assistance multilaterals and bilaterals.

4. Liaises with counterparts in other regional divisions and works closely with divisional focal points (gender and youth, environment, rural finance, farmers'organizations, etc.) to provide timely advice and information on key issues in country policy dialogue to country teams (with particular emphasis on decentralized staff) through Country Programme Management Team meetings, participation in missions, and in response to direct requests, including helping identify relevant expertise within and outside of IFAD.

5. Identifies major opportunities for strategic collaboration with multi-lateral and bilateral donors to better leverage IFAD's loan and grant operations.

6. Leads the design of annual grant work plans and manages the grant portfolio, including creating and managing processes to facilitate the uptake of lessons learned and sharing these experiences with IFAD, its partners and policy makers. The incumbent conceives plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work and divisional outputs. Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies and regional commissions by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance, and assisting in developing a consensus. Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development issues.

7. Provides substantial support in the conceptualization and design of investment projects, ensuring they adequately reflect economic trends and knowledge regarding investments which would yield the highest development impact in a selected setting.

8. Develops and maintains an overview of regional trends and identifies and analyses crosscutting issues and results to generate inputs for strategic/programmatic documents and agendas at divisional and corporate levels, including medium-term plans, annual reports, IFAD communication materials, briefs, and presentations by IFAD senior management.

9. Designs and manages an integrated Knowledge Management and South-South strategy and work plan, including the development of effective instruments by implementing a work program that covers analysis of macroeconomic trends and policy changes, including forecasting of key economic and social indicators and analysis of growth performance (including analysis of pro-poor growth policies). Prepares key inputs and works closely with the Portfolio Advisor on the overall preparation of the annual portfolio performance review report.

10. Acts as a key member of staff for ensuring IFAD operations and country programmes meet the context and needs of each country, e.g. adapting programmes to fragile situations or conflict-affected states, setting and monitoring progress on performance indicators linked to graduation, etc.

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Lead Regional Economist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources, including People Management by supporting recruitment of technical specialists and technical leadership/capacity development, Resource Management by providing strategic and technical advice for programme development, and Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring that:

•  Knowledge content within specialty/thematic areas is continuously updated and available through IFAD's intranet;
•  Best practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the internet and Intranet; and
•  Appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.

The Lead Regional Economist provides direction to staff under their supervision and supports their professional development, including:

•  Support CDs with COSOP analytics, i.e. strategic fit between IFAD instruments, development finance flows and strategic partnerships for co-financing;
•  Support country teams with country strategic policy engagement, i.e. support articulation of a strategic policy agenda with clear objectives;
•  Quality assurance of the delivery of ESA PoLG IFAD13 and support to the articulation of transition scenarios.

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of authoritative economic expertise and technical leadership at the regional level. Lead Regional Economists define, propose and develop complex new programmes or policies for the Fund and represent the position of their region in intergovernmental and inter-organizational economic fora. Innovation is required in the adaptation and development of research methods to evolving technical and programmatic contexts. Work at this level is considered substantially complex and of critical concern to the Fund, as it promotes the economic and social development of its Member States, fosters intra-regional integration, and promotes international cooperation. In particular, analytical and advisory work requires in-depth identification and consideration of a full range of factors relevant to the examination and discussion of programme problems and policies in the solution of methodological problems or in the formulation of economic policy proposals and project recommendations. Errors would normally cause policy and project decisions and advice to be based on inaccurate economic analysis or an inadequate range of programme considerations that may result in failure of a project or could mislead policy-makers or national governments, which would damage the credibility of the Fund and the intended beneficiaries of projects or policies.

Expert knowledge of economic situation of the countries in ESA region and provision of tailored solutions specific to country's need is required.

Working Relationships

Working relationships of Lead Regional Economists involve the provision of authoritative economic advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, project appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. They typically serve as the Fund's senior regional economic experts and exercise wide professional latitude in contacts in their field(s), providing economic leadership and methodological guidance to management, national governments, development partners and other. In intergovernmental bodies, expert groups and other meetings, the Lead Regional Economist provides high-level expertise and recommendations for policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and advisory capacity; The incumbent also provides information regarding the organization's policies, and act as the representative of the organization. Contacts are maintained to identify and evaluate emerging developments.

The incumbent collaborates with international organizations in the region, such as African Union (AU), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), etc.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

•  Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
•  Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
•  Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
•  Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client focused culture
•  Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
•  Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
•  Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
•  Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
•  Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in economics or related field is required (*): (*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

•  At least ten (10) years progressively responsible experience in the field of economics with International Financial Institutions, international NGOs, rural development/financial institutions, foundations or government services.
•  Knowledge of ESA regions is an asset.

Languages:

•  Required: English (4 - Excellent)
•  Desirable: Spanish, French, or Arabic

Skills:

•  Policy dialogue: Know-how in the effective dialogue with ministries of finance, explaining lending terms and providing advice for debt management
•  Project financial management: Excellent know-how in project financial management, e.g. internal controls, rural investments, project audit and funds flows
•  (Development) economics: Know-how relevant to specific role as economist, e.g. development economics, macro/micro-economic analysis, conducting of economic research and applied econometrics, etc.
•  Economic analysis: Know-how in Programme/Project economic analysis
•  Topical expertise - Economists: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. For ethics office assistant, procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct, Discipline and Anti-harassment provisions of applicable rules and guidelines)
•  IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work
•  Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
•  Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
•  Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies
•  Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
•  Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
•  Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
•  Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation
•  Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors.

Other Information

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

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Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.