Call for Consultants - UNECA / IDEP - Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone

The Institute for Development and Economic Planning (IDEP) launched a research and training project on « Debt, taxation and financing for development: immediate responses to global emergencies and efficient planning». The project will cover Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and SenegalFor this position, IDEP is recruiting one(01) Consultant for each of the English-speaking following countries: Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Candidates interested in this position shall submit their PHP on Inspira (inspira.un.org), along with copies of degrees and a research proposal of 3 pages which will allow assess the relevance of the methodology proposed for the study.

More information below and at:

https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=141974&Lang=en-US

Result of Service

• Conduct an empirical study aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need to mobilize resources for financing development, in particular SDGs 3 (Access to health) and 10 (Reduction of inequalities), as well as the need to prevent economic shocks and the implementation of adaptation measures in the context of an international emergency.
• Produce a country report on the subject selected by IDEP.

Work Location

AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (IDEP)

Expected duration

iv. EXPECTED DURATION

The initial duration of the contract is three (03) months with possible extension upon satisfactory performance during the initial phase of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Context
In the context of member-states quest to build their human resource capacities as a necessary prerequisite for sustaining independence and promoting socio-economic development, the Institute for Development and Economic Planning (IDEP) launched a research and training project on « Debt, taxation and financing for development: immediate responses to global emergencies and efficient planning». The project will cover Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

2. The initiative
The research project is strategically oriented towards empirical research based on econometric data regarding debt, taxation and financing for development. The ultimate goal of the research is to to produce policy recommendations regarding debt management and the strenthening of fiscal policies for the financing of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. The project will focus at budgetary policies as an immediate response to international crisis scenarios.

Project Goals :

• To advocate for debt alleviation in the Sub-Saharab region as a response to financing for development and to international crisis scenarions, mainly the COVID-19 ;
• To advocate for optimal fiscal policies and debt relief, in exchange of the strenthening of fiscal pressure in the member-states concerned.
The project aims at conducting study cases on the gaps on financing for development (SDGs and Agenda 2063) and on the economic impact of COVID-19 in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. The result of the case studies will be compiled in a book that will include recommendations regarding debt management, fiscal policies and debt alleviation, in order to boost the responses of the health systems to health emergencies. The recommendations will be conveyed to member-states and they will also be the subject of training and capacity building activities delivered by IDEP (webinars and on-line courses), targeting policy-makers and the African civil society.

Based on the aforementioned context, IDEP is currently recruiting researchers to integrate the research team, in the area of economic development. The researchers will be responsible for conducting case studies in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. For this position,IDEP is recruted one(01) Consultant for each of the English-speaking following Countries,Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

i. DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

Under the general guidance of the Director of IDEP, and the supervision of the Head of Training and Research Division of IDEP, the Country researcher is expected to :

• Deliver a case study in order to sensitize member-states on the urge of financing for development resource mobilization, in particular, of SDG 3 (Access to health care) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) ; on the need of preventing economic chocs and addressing mitigation measures in the context of glogal emergencies.
• Conduct a litterature review based on recent publications over the aforementioned subjects.
• Collect data regarding the study-cases.
• Reflect on the existing fiscal policies in the countries concerned, by means of comparing the existing good practices over the strenthening of policies and fiscal systems in the continent.
• Identify, based on empirical evidence, mechanisms of financing for development, namely health and fiscal systems.
• Identify the gaps regarding financing for development in the concerned countries, in a close work with the Sug-Regional Office for Western Africa and the United Nations Country Teams.
• Ensure theorethical and empirical data consistency regarding the financing of SDGs and Agenda 2063.
• Produce detailed data analysis over the empirical data by means of using up-to-date quantitative approaches.
• Produce recommendations on fiscal, budgetary and immediate measures regarding the alleviation of budgetary pressure.
• Participate in validation workshops of the collected data.
• Co-author country reports.
• Participate in the project initial workshops, dedicated to interactive discussions over the project follow-up.

Qualifications/special skills

1. Academic qualification:
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, Economics, Public administration, Public policy and other related disciplines is required. A first-level university degree with combination of 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD is an advantage.

2. Key competences required:
A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience at a national and/or international level in research and teaching is required.
Relevant research in Development Economics, Governance, Gender and Development, Economic and human rights within national, multinational institutions, civil society, or University is desirable.

• Indepth practical knowledge on economic questions, including international finance and debt managment mainly fiscal policies. Knowledge of interdisciplinary development issues is an advantage.
• Strong aptitude to use statistical and econometrical tools and softwares such as SPSS, EVIEWS, STATA, etc.
• Knowledge of the Sustainable Development programme and AU Agenda 2063, including their objectives.
• Sound abilities in planning, organisation/coordination, communication, writing, and preparing reports.
• Strong capacities to work under pressure, and to organise in teams and networks.
• Sensitivity and adaptability in the areas of sustainable development, cultural diversity, gender, nationality and age.
• Tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

3. Language skills
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT METHOD
Qualified candidates might be invited to take part of a competence-based interview and a discussion to assess their methodology proposed for the country-case study.

Application:

Candidates interested in this position shall submit their PHP on Inspira (inspira.un.org), along with copies of degrees and a research proposal of 3 pages which will allow assess the relevance of the methodology proposed for the study.

NB : Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.