African Development Bank Group (AfDB) -  the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. 

POSITION : Chief Development Economist and Migration Officer

The Hiring Department

• The Human and Social Development Department spearheads the Bank wide Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy implementation coordination as well as the achievement of the High 5s on “Improving the Quality of Life of People in Africa” and contributes to the other High 5s. The Department supports scaling-up of Bank’s support to strengthening Jobs for Youth Flagship coordination, education, skills, employment, health systems and nutrition, for industrialization and economic transformation.
• The Department leads the Bank’s support to Africa’s economic transformation by: (i) developing and promoting the adoption of relevant policies and strategies; (ii) providing deep multi-sector expertise to the regional hubs by gathering pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide technical advice on complex transactions (Communities of Practice); (iii) developing new financing instruments; and,  (iv) fostering strategic partnerships to leverage resources into the human and social development sectors

The Position

• The African Development Bank adopted in May 2016, the “Jobs for Youth in Africa” Strategy for the period of 2016 – 2025. This Strategy responds to the priorities in Bank’s Ten Year Strategy and the New Corporate Priorities (High-Fives). Creating productive jobs for the youth would improve their living conditions and enhance their engagement in Africa’s growth and economic transformation.
• The Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy was launched during the Bank’s annual meetings in May, 2016, in Lusaka to commence its operationalization. The Development Economist and Migration Officer will be part of the team responsible of the day to day management of the implementation of the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Jobs for Youth in Africa dialogue at the country and regional level for (i) the achievement of country policy dialogue objectives; and (ii) leading and coordinating contributions to country diagnostics study; and contributing to improvements in country and regional results measurements on Jobs for Youth.
• Oversee the drafting of Bank’s economic reports, including inputs for the region and its countries for periodic forecasting exercise, country assessments, African Economic Outlook, Country Strategy Papers and related products, Regional Integration Strategy Papers and briefing notes for senior management.
• Manage or lead selected top priority for Jobs for Youth in Africa projects especially related to migration issues and policy reforms.
• Carry out other technical tasks and coordination as required by the Jobs for Youth in Africa coordinator or the Director of the Department.
• Lead the Bank’s assessment of social and macroeconomic developments, monitoring of structural reforms and policy dialogue that impact national and regional jobs creation for youth and women, and also seek to address migration and refugees issues.
• Specifically, provide socio-economic and macroeconomic and reform advice; conduct and facilitate policy dialogue in close coordination with country economists, Regional Resources Centers and other Bank departments; and interact with country authorities, the private sector, local think tanks, academia, clients and other International Finance Institutions.
• Lead the Jobs Team input to country strategies and other related country strategy instruments;
• Support and develop innovative and timely solutions to mitigate the migration crisis and regional refugee crisis through the Jobs for Youth in Africa agenda.
• Carry out analyses of labour issues, unemployment, underemployment and youth migration issue, and propose operations to tackle the roots of the migration crisis.
• Support the Bank staff and departments to identify priority areas and potential projects with high jobs impact; help interface project design with private sector, and contribute to related to Additionality and Development Outcomes Assessment together with sector economists and provide input to the assessment phase of major projects.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree or its equivalent in Development Planning, Business Administration, Finance, Social Sciences, or related field.
• 7 years of relevant experience in Africa, preferably in an international organization, government agency, think tank or other policy environment. Demonstrated relevant experience in jobs for youth, social protection, safety nets, financing for jobs.
• Strong knowledge of jobs creation, migration issues, good governance reforms and economic policy issues in Africa with at least seven years focusing on Africa.
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands/ priorities under tight deadlines and coordinate the work of others.
• Results-oriented, 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.
• Experience in team management region focus in Africa would be a major advantage.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English or French with a working knowledge of the other.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with policy and policy-relevant research on jobs for youth, migration, social protection, safety nets, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
• Knowledge and experience in understanding the analytical, operational and financial underpinnings of the African Migration crisis.
• Experience in employment and migration policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation would also be an asset.
• 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 jobs creation agenda.
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated leadership effectiveness and supervisory ability to achieve defined objectives in international multicultural contexts.
• 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 Bank.