Result of Service

• Enhanced understanding of Africa’s macroeconomic trends and data that support the development of policies that guide countries on building back better from the coronavirus disease while advancing towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

• Analytical contribution to ECA’s 2022 knowledge products under the Programme pillar.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

8 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND

For almost two years the global pandemic has tested Africa’s resolve and imposed challenges of an almost unprecedented nature. However, Africans have overwhelmingly proven resilient. Africa is currently experiencing its fourth major wave of covid-19 infection which has cost 239,394 lives.

Africa grew 3 percent in 2019 but with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and its severe economic disruptions, contracted 3.2 percent in 2020, more than predicted under worst-case estimations. In 2021, ECA estimated Africa grew between 2.3 and 3 percent returning growth to its pre-pandemic level. Growth was largely attributed to external demand from advanced economies whose recoveries had taken off and rebounding commodity prices surpassed pre-covid levels.

In 2022, ECA growth forecasts range from 2.7 to 3.5 percent. These estimates conceal regional and national differences driven by the pandemics intensity and trajectory. For example, categorizing Africa as countries with fragile situations, those with low incomes, middle-incomes countries and oil exporters, IMF expects growth of 5.3, 5.0, 3.4 and 2.7 percent, respectively in 2022.

Furthermore, central banks in developed nations could begin raising policy rates in 2022 to combat rising inflation and begin the return to normal, pre-pandemic policy. This situation will leave African policymakers at a crossroads, having to balance the risk of raising their own policy rates with discouraging foreign exchange flows, stoking inflation further and keeping policy accommodative enough to support growth.

Another important component of African resiliency and growth, especially in the broader context of the AfCFTA, are intra-African exports. Under the AfCFTA intra-African trade is projected to significantly increase by 2045 across multiple sectors including food, services (such as Tourism and Transport) and industry. Increased trade within the continent can be used as a platform to bolster resiliency against external shocks and promote diversification. African nations are well positioned to take advantage of these benefits.

As the global recovery continues into 2022 a threat amongst others to Africa’s rebound remains supply-chain constraints. Skyrocketing demand combined with personnel and logistical issues both at ports and in downstream distributions networks have stressed global supply chains. This hinders the ability of African exporters to meet delivery commitments and deadlines.

In its dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, the Economic Commission for Africa is playing a leading role in providing support to 54 member States in delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union. The world and Africa are 10 years away from 2030.

The Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme) and Chief Economist has recently commenced its mission to oversee implementation of ECA’s five strategic directions through both the subprogrammes (macroeconomic policy and governance; regional integration and trade; private sector development and finance; data and statistics; technology, climate change and natural resource management; gender and women in development; subregional activities for development; economic development and planning; poverty, inequality and social policy) and specialized thematic areas (employment skills and balanced development, demographic dynamics for development, economic diversification policy and reforms, deepening regional integration– towards the implementation of AfCFTA, and inclusive industrialization). A central part of this is overseeing rigorous macroeconomic and data analysis, including production of top-quality knowledge products to guide thought and actions of African governments on economic and development issues to address the continent’s sustainable transformation challenges.

The study and reporting of economic trend analysis, long-term macroeconomic projections, analysis of alternative trends, impact of fiscal and monetary measures and counterfactual simulations of the economy is of a paramount importance for a proper and accurate knowledge of the behaviour pattern of an economic system, including African economies. As a result, sound economic policies can be formulated to guide decision-making.

The World and Africa are 8 years away from 2030. Given the current challenges facing African countries and emerging opportunities (including the Regional Collaborative Platform, in which ECA is vice co-chair) to build back better from the coronavirus disease while advancing towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, there is a need for rigorous analysis and thought leadership on the overall programmatic work of the Commission.

The Commission is therefore seeking the services of a Consultant, who will work as a Technical Advisor, by providing effective support in ECA’s work on macroeconomic analysis, data collection and economic reporting, working with relevant Divisions, UN entities and external partners to support the Commission’s policy support to African countries.

Duties and responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programmes) or her mandated representative, the consultant will be expected to undertake, but not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Undertake studies/research, analyze and present macro-economic trends and data, as well as information on emerging best practices on key issues assigned in the focus areas of ECA subprogrammes, including areas of trade, fiscal and monetary policies and governance.

• Provide technical support towards the preparation of ECA’s 2022 knowledge products under the Programme pillar.

• Provide input and recommendation on primary and secondary data collection (qualitative and
quantitative) for economic analysis.

• Provide technical advisory services on policies and strategies relating to ECA subprogrammes and thematic specialised areas of expertise.

• Undertake other tasks as required.

Qualifications/special skills

A master’s degree in international economics, social sciences, communication, business or a related field is required.

A minimum of 10 years of work experience in the field of economics, social media marketing or as a digital media specialist is required.

Demonstrable social networking experience and social analytics tools knowledge is strongly desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.