Scientific Affairs Officer

The Scientific Affairs Officer is responsible for planning and delivering activities to promote Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for development in Africa. The role involves coordinating efforts to advance the implementation of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) and related frameworks, conducting policy analysis, and representing ECA at various levels.

Responsibilities

• Perform regional, sub-regional and national analysis as background studies for advising national governments.
• Design technical modalities for the conduct of complex field reviews of an advanced nature.
• Prepare and coordinate analytical studies on Science, Technology and Innovation and policy relevant to ECA programmes, projects and initiatives.
• Recommend policy proposals for inclusion in reports and other documents for African States, international bodies and other organizations based on study results.
• Design policy frameworks describing trends, patterns, and relationships, and analyze effects of alternative policy and assumptions.
• Draft technical papers based on advanced scientific, technology and innovation policy analysis and review drafts of more routine studies.
• Represent ECA at meetings at international, regional and national levels to exchange information and coordinate ongoing work involving other organizations.
• Conduct training seminars of African national experts for dissemination of ECA's strategies and initiatives and key positions on science, technology and innovation in Africa.
• Assist programme managers in formulating work programme activities, identifying services and products for specific client groups, and preparing business and programme implementation plans.
• Identify measurable indicators for monitoring and evaluation of work programme performance and impact on ECA client groups.
• Participate in the appraisal of extra-budgetary programme and project proposals before submission to donors.
• Draft written instructions translating decisions of ECA's legislative organs and other relevant UN bodies for implementation by substantive programme and supporting divisions.
• Adapt established standards, methodologies and techniques to monitoring and evaluation work.
• Assist in installing, adapting and utilizing suitable software for analysis, synthesis and presentation of programme performance data for monitoring evaluation exercises.
• Participate in creation, maintenance and updating of a database of key monitoring variables and analyze collected data and information.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Science, Technology and Innovation 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.
• A PhD degree is an advantage.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs is an advantage.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Science, Technology and Innovation, emerging technologies, economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or programme planning, monitoring and evaluation and related issues is required.
• Experience of implementing result-oriented work programmes built around coherent strategies in Science, Technology, and Innovation sectors is required.
• Hands-on experience in developing and implementing a Science, Technology, and Innovation strategy for stakeholders at various levels is desirable.
• 2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable.
• Fluency in English at UN Level II is required; knowledge of French at UN Level II is desirable.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Skills

• Science Technology Innovation
• Economic Research
• Policy Formulation Support
• Programme Planning
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Data Analytics
• Business Analytics
• Data Science
• Strategy Development
• Result-oriented Programme Implementation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Economic Principles Application
• Science Technology Innovation Strategy
• Emerging Technologies
• Policy Analysis

Languages

English, French