Senior Programme Management Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

• ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions which are advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.
• The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), located in Dakar (Senegal), is headed by a Director and is accountable to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support). IDEP is a subsidiary and training arm of ECA and is responsible for improving public sector management and development planning in support of member States’ structural transformation.

The core functions of IDEP are as follows:

contributing to enhancing the capacity of member States for better participatory development planning, including long-term visioning, sectoral policy design and planning, and urban and regional planning; contributing to strengthening the capacity of member States to develop and adopt better approaches to economic policy formulation, management, monitoring, and evaluation; contributing to enhancing the capacity of African countries to autonomously deploy development planning tools to achieve structural transformation of their economies and societies; and investing in capacity development, advisory and policy dialogue programmes and activities targeted at the mid-career and senior officials of African Governments, with special attention given to the next generation of younger professionals and women officials. This position is located in the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in Senegal, Dakar.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Senior Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects, etc.; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring, and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Leads and directs a team of information systems, digital learning, knowledge management and library officers; may oversee activities for a discrete work section or equivalent; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and the development of training programs.
• Provides authoritative technical and policy advice to senior managers on systems development in a changing business environment and the implications of various alternatives, on business applications and other related issues; identifies and plans for future needs; develops and disseminates best practices.
• Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Directs research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies.
• Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Ensures effective utilization, supervision, and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
• 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.
• May perform other duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics, 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration, or related area is required. Experience in management/supervision of diverse teams is required. Experience in project management and evaluation is required. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable. Experience with developing strategies for development cooperation is desirable. Experience in funding projects, innovative funding modalities, and /or projects related to capacity development is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and French is required; Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/242281?language=en