Overview
The Economic Governance Specialist will advise countries and regional entities on strengthening economic governance systems to accelerate progress towards national priorities and the SDGs. The role contributes to advancing UNDP's strategic priorities in West and Central Africa related to strengthened financial systems and governance for sustainable development.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic policy advisory support to country offices on economic governance reforms, including public finance management, fiscal policy, budget transparency, anti-corruption, domestic resource mobilization, transparency and accountability, and natural resource governance.
- Lead political economy and institutional analyses to inform national reforms and UNDP policy documents.
- Integrate gender equality, human rights, conflict sensitivity, and inclusion into economic governance policies.
- Provide technical assistance to Country offices for DPI and IIPS initiatives.
- Act as UNDP WACA Hub technical lead advisor on DPI and IIPS.
- Mainstream DPI/IIPS into UNDP WACA Hub projects and resource mobilization initiatives.
- Lead economic governance programme design and delivery, aligned with the regional programme and UNDP Strategic Plan.
- Facilitate collaboration with UNDP HQ, Regional office for Africa, and country offices.
- Lead the design and implementation of DPI and IIPS projects.
- Ensure DPI and IIPS are mainstreamed in UNDP WACA projects, portfolios, and programs.
- Develop DPI and IIPS programming and quality assurance tools and knowledge products.
- Ensure application of results-based management, risk management, and adaptive programming approaches.
- Oversee programme quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
- Lead UNDP WACA Hub resource mobilization related to DPI/IIPS topics.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government, civil society, private sector, IFIs, and development partners.
- Expand UNDP WACA partnership base for economic governance and DPI/IIPS promotion.
- Represent UNDP in policy dialogues, coordination mechanisms, and donor forums.
- Resource mobilization for economic governance, DPI, and IIPS, including concept notes and funding proposals.
- Ensure accountability in partnerships with donors and stakeholders.
- Ensure adequate communication and visibility of knowledge products and project results.
- Promote innovative partnership and financing.
- Advise and support knowledge management and innovation.
- Contribute to thought leadership in economic governance.
- Promote innovative approaches, including digital public finance, data-driven decision-making, and integrity systems.
- Support knowledge sharing across UNDP country offices, regional hubs, and global policy networks.
- Develop platforms for peer learning and experience sharing.
- Promote innovation in advisory services and project management.
- Supervise and manage the Economic Governance and Partnership Officer.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s Degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience in progressively responsible positions in working with governments on economic governance, digital financial services, digital economy, financial inclusion or a related field is required.
- Previous experience in managing multi country projects related to advancing economic governance and digital financial inclusion for development / SDGs in West or Central Africa is required, the experience must include (at minimum) aspects related to: development of country strategies, stakeholder engagements, budget planning, reporting to donors/partners.
- Experience in serving as Lead Advisor in digital financial inclusion/digital economy to governments in at least 2 countries in West or Central Africa for advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs at national or regional levels is desired.
- Experience in collaborating with global donors and international organizations for developing and implementing country initiatives advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs at national or regional level with focus in West or Central Africa is desired.
- Experience in donors’ engagement and resource mobilization, track record in leading new project(s) development and financial resource mobilization for advancing financial inclusion and the SDGs in West or Central Africa would be an asset.
- Expertise in developing and publishing flagship research in collaboration with governments or international organizations for advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs in West or Central Africa region is an asset.
- Track record in successful facilitation/organization of south-south peer exchanges involving governments, private sectors or development partners aiming at increasing knowledge sharing on digital financial inclusion and the SDGs is desired asset.
- Experience in working with at least 3 French speaking countries in the West and Central Africa region would be an asset.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in International Development/Relations, Public Administration/Policies, Political Science, Economics or related fields is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
