CHIEF OF SECTION, ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Organizational Context

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) aims to deliver transformative ideas and actions for Africa, guided by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. The Climate Change, Food Security and Natural Resources Division (CFND) focuses on enhancing climate resilience, resource management, food security, and sustainable development. This role is situated within the African Climate Policy Section of CFND, reporting to the Division Director.

Job Purpose

The Chief of Section, Economic Affairs, is responsible for providing strategic policy guidance to the Director on climate change and climate resilience initiatives. This role involves overseeing the planning, management, and execution of the Section's work program, ensuring timely and high-quality outputs. The incumbent will coordinate diverse projects, liaise with external organizations, and contribute substantive input to reports for intergovernmental bodies. Key functions include resource allocation, budget preparation, performance monitoring, staff recruitment, and fostering teamwork. The position also involves representing the organization at external meetings and supporting the division's efforts in gender-sensitive policy formulation and research program development to enhance policymakers' capacity in addressing climate change issues.

Responsibilities

Provide policy guidance to the Director on strategy development and implementation for climate change and resilience. Oversee the planning and management of the Section's activities, ensuring timely execution of work programs and coordination of projects. Manage and supervise the Section's work program, ensuring high-quality outputs and adherence to mandates. Prepare substantive inputs for reports and position papers for intergovernmental bodies. Contribute to reporting on budget/programme performance and programmatic issues. Allocate resources and determine priorities for the work program. Conduct programmatic and administrative tasks, including budget preparation, performance monitoring, and staff evaluation. Recruit staff, ensuring geographical and gender balance. Manage, guide, develop, and train supervised staff, fostering teamwork. Represent the organization at inter-agency meetings and external forums on climate change issues. Support the formulation and implementation of gender-sensitive policies and establish research programs to enhance policymaker capacity in climate change analysis and management.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in climate change and sustainable development, including research, policy, practice, and advisory services at national, regional, and international levels. Experience in developing countries is desirable. Two or more years of experience in data analytics is also desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Accountability, Empowering Others, Managing Performance, Knowledge of climate change and sustainable development, Report writing, UN regulations and guidelines, Teamwork, Communication, Inter-agency representation, Policy formulation, Research program development.

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