Principal Programme Management Officer, D1

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 strategic directions which are:(a) 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; (b) Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; (c) Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; (d) Contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; (e) 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 who reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support). IDEP is the operational Arm of ECA in terms of capacity development and is responsible for translating the ECA "School of Thought" (research) into "Practice" (implementation). It is responsible for equipping African leaders and institutions with the skills necessary to develop effective policies for the management of the public sector, supporting the realization of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future. IDEP aims to be positioned as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Capacity Development for the UN System (under the UN80 reform). This position is located in the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Principal Programme Management Officer (Director) reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary – Programme Support (DES-PS).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Principal Programme Management Officer formulates and implements the substantive work programme of IDEP. Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Institute, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely manner, and co-ordinates work across the different areas of the Institute, with UNECA and with other organizations of the United Nations system, as appropriate. Specifically, the incumbent undertakes the following: 1. Strategic leadership and programme formulation • Assists the DES-PS in preparing the work programme of the Institute, determining priorities and allocating resources for the completion and timely delivery of outputs. • Leads, supervises and carries out the IDEP work programme, which aims to strengthen the capacity of Member States to: (i) formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate evidence-based socio-economic policies for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda or its successor framework, Agenda 2063 and national development agendas; and (ii) autonomously deploy modern digital and analytical development planning tools. • Co-ordinates capacity development efforts across ECA divisions and offices; and collaborates with other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system. 2. Management of human, financial, and other operational resources • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Institute, including the preparation of budgets and of inputs for results-based budgeting, and reporting on budget/programme performance. • Recruits staff, taking due account of gender and geographical balance. • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision, including evaluating their performance (ePAS), and fosters teamwork and communication among staff within the Institute and across organizational boundaries. 3. Quality assurance, substantive oversight and programme delivery • Leads and supervises the substantive preparation and organization of meetings, seminars and similar events as well as the development of knowledge, research, training and communication products on substantive issues, with a view to enhancing the capacity of Member States for better development planning and policymaking. • Ensures that all outputs produced by the Institute meet high-quality standards and comply with the relevant mandates before completion, and that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others. • Ensures that these standards extend to the design and execution of high-impact leadership and policy dialogue programmes for mid-career and senior officials, and to the development and management of innovative financial and business models. 4. Intergovernmental bodies and governance • Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for intergovernmental bodies, such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the Committee for Programme and Coordination, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate; reports to these bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. • Organizes the statutory meetings of the IDEP Governing Council and the IDEP Technical Advisory Committee and submits annual reports to the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. 5. Representation, partnerships, and resource mobilization • Represents IDEP at international, regional and national meetings, providing programmatic/substantive expertise, and holds discussions with representatives of other institutions to foster regional integration and collaboration in support of existing regional frameworks. • Promotes resource mobilization efforts by strengthening Member State contributions, developing targeted extra-budgetary programmes with the lead ECA section and ECA divisions, and building strategic partnerships with African Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. • Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. • Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. • Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, human resources, finance, accounting, economics, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in economics, statistics, social sciences, programme management, administration, or a related field, of which seven years’ experience in policy analysis and policy design in the context of economic and social development is required. Experience in designing, delivering, or overseeing capacity-building programmes is required. Experience leading a substantive programme or institution within the UN system or another multilateral or intergovernmental organization, focused on development policy, planning or capacity building in developing countries, is desirable. Experience in reporting to intergovernmental or governing bodies, and in representing an organization in high-level policy dialogue with senior government officials, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, fluency in English and French is required; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic background, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings. Pursuant to section 6.4 ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 3, please ensure that you have met the eligibility requirements as shown below: 6.4 (a) Staff members who entered on duty before the effective date of the present administrative instruction shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and above. The following transitional measures will apply: (i) Staff members who entered on duty before the effective date of the present administrative instruction (other than staff members serving in language jobs, see section 6.4 (a) (ii) below can be considered for higher-level jobs on the basis of having satisfied the lateral move requirements as set out in section 6.4 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev.2 or on the basis of having satisfied the geographical move requirement under the present administrative instruction, whichever basis best facilitates the staff member's eligibility, up to and including the last day of the fifth year following the effective date of the present administrative instruction. 6.4 (b) Staff members (including staff serving in language jobs) who enter on duty on or after the effective date of the present administrative instruction will be required to have the following number of geographical moves before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and above: (i) Staff members who enter on duty at the P-4 or lower level shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and at least two geographical moves before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the D-1 level and above. (ii) Staff members who enter on duty at the P-5 level shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the D-1 level and above. 6.4 (c) There is no requirement for geographical moves for consideration for jobs at the same level. Pursuant to section 6.10 of ST/AI/2025/2, Interns, consultants, individual contractors, and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories and for positions at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. This restriction does not apply to Junior Professional Officers appointed under the Staff Rules or to United Nations Volunteers. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals' programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, , Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Cabo Verde, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nicaragua, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America, Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Naoero, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. 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Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.