Chief of Section, Economic Affairs

The Chief of Section leads the Connectivity and Infrastructure Section within the Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The role involves managing infrastructure (transport and energy) analysis, policy formulation, intergovernmental support, technical cooperation, and programme support to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of infrastructure (transport and energy) analysis and the formulation of possible infrastructure (transport and energy) strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community.
• Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues, related to infrastructure and services, of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them.
• Supervises a team of staff (transport and energy experts) undertaking this work.
• Commissions infrastructure development studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally.
• Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs.
• Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations.
• Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.
• Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus.
• Manages the work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
• Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development and technical cooperation.
• Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on economic issues and policies.
• Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects.
• Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues.
• Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.
• Functions as the head of the Connectivity and Infrastructure Section of ECA.
• Contributes to the formulation of the annual business plan, medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participates in the formulation of the organization's overall programme of work and other similar endeavours.
• Attends to various administrative matters concerning the larger organizational unit.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Leads team members' efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting.
• Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate, and share the data they need.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, engineering, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying work 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.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in infrastructure (transport or energy) or economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of infrastructure development or economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
• Hands on experience in regional infrastructure and services development (transport and/or energy) is required.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
• English or French is required; knowledge of the other is desirable; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Skills

• Economic Research
• Policy Formulation Support
• Infrastructure Development
• Transport Infrastructure
• Energy Infrastructure Finance
• Data Analytics
• Business Analytics
• Regional Infrastructure Development
• Technical Cooperation
• Programme Support
• Economic Analysis
• Infrastructure Policy Development
• Development Programs
• Data Science
• Intergovernmental Process Support

Languages

English, French