Junior Economist

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The Development Centre (DEV) helps developing countries and emerging economies find innovative policy solutions to promote sustainable growth, reduce poverty and inequalities, address gender inequality, and improve people’s lives. The Centre facilitates policy dialogue between governments, involving public, private and philanthropic actors. Countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America participate as full members in the Centre, where they interact on an equal footing with OECD members.

• The Africa’s Development Dynamics flagship report is the product of a collaboration between the unit and the African Union Commission (AUC)’s Department for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM).
• The AUC-OECD Africa Virtual Investment Platform (AVIP) aims to become the reference for comprehensive quality and timely information and analysis on public and private, foreign and domestic investment.

DEV is looking for a Junior Economist who will contribute to its work in the field of economic development research, with a focus on quantitative analysis. The selected candidate will carry out policy relevant economic analysis contributing to the thematic analysis of the annual report Africa’s Development Dynamics, and where relevant to the Unit’s and Centre’s horizontal projects. She/He will have experience in macroeconomic analysis, trade, competitiveness and industrialisation policies. The selected candidate will work under the joint supervision of the Head of Unit and Project Coordinator.

Job Description

Main responsibilities

Research, economic and policy analysis, and drafting

• Carry out high-quality policy research on economic development in Africa.
• Use quantitative methods to undertake economic analysis of the impact of policies. Conduct empirical analysis and evaluations of policies in national and comparative settings
• Help coordinate the research, consultations, peer reviews, drafting, production, and dissemination of the Africa’s Development Dynamics report.
• Contribute to the coordination and quality control of publications, reports and working papers of the Africa Unit, including the Africa’s Development Dynamics.
• Prepare conceptual notes and related documentation for the annual International Economic Forum on Africa.
• Draft high quality briefing notes, communications material, report presentations and briefs for senior officials related to relevant policy issues on the African continent.
• Draft high quality research documents, project reports, blogs, as well as policy briefs and articles targeted at both technical and non-technical audiences and the media, under tight deadlines.
• Support junior staff such as interns, guiding their work and providing feedback.

Liaison, outreach and event organisation

• Help maintain and develop relationships with stakeholders from government and partners including other international organisations, think tanks, and agencies, such as the AUC, EU, AUDA-NEPAD, ACBF, ACET, BMZ, GIZ, foundations and academic networks.
• Contribute to the development of effective consultations and dissemination strategies.
• Participate in discussions in expert groups and assist in organising meetings, seminars, workshops, and conferences related to the work of the Unit.
• In coordination with other team members, communicate key messages relating to the Unit’s work and specific projects within the OECD to external stakeholders.

Other duties

• Respond to queries from internal and external stakeholders and partners in a timely manner.
• Contribute to drafting project proposals to support fundraising activities.
• Collaborate effectively with other colleagues and contribute, as required, to horizontal and multidisciplinary projects and other outputs of DEV and the OECD.
• Keep abreast of economic/development policy issues related to international development, economics and globalisation to increase visibility and impact of the work of the Unit.