A2L Economist

About Department for International Development Afghanistan

Job Summary

The UK’s overarching strategy for engagement in Afghanistan is approved by the UK’s National Security Council (NSC). The strategy has three mutually reinforcing pillars covering: (i) security (ii) political settlement and (iii) creating a viable Afghan state. DFID leads on the ‘viable state’ pillar. We work closely with other government departments at all levels, in Afghanistan and in the UK to deliver this strategy. The strategy timetable is driven by what is commonly termed ‘transition’ – the process of handing over responsibility for security from international forces to Afghan leadership by the end of 2014. The UK is clear that transition does not mean the end of our support for Afghanistan. The Enduring Strategic Partnership signed between the UK and Afghan governments’ states that we will continue to have a strong relationship based on diplomacy, trade, aid, and development.

The Government of Afghanistan has stated its vision for the country as a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. The UK’s role in supporting this is to focus on making progress towards a viable Afghan state and a sustainable economy to reduce fragility and poverty, as well as achieve a lasting end to violent conflict. This is a long-term agenda that requires DFID’s on-going presence well beyond the security transition at the end of 2014.

DFID Afghanistan’s 2011-2015 Operational Plan supports delivery of the NSC Afghan strategy and focuses on:


Improving security and political stability

Stimulating economic growth and job creation and

Helping the Afghan government deliver basic services.

The programme budget is £178 million per year and the UK publicly confirmed its commitment to maintaining development funding at this level until 2017.

DFID Afghanistan's portfolio of governance support covers public sector reform with a focus on public financial management reform and sub-national governance, anti-corruption, elections, parliament, women's political participation, support to civil society and empowerment of women and girls. Our support to economic growth includes rural livelihoods, infrastructure, private sector development and humanitarian assistance. DFID Afghanistan also provides considerable support to the World Bank managed Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), which uses government systems to provide services and build state capacity.

Duties & Responsibilities

Reporting to the Team Leader of the ARTF and Donor Coordination Team, you will be responsible for providing economic advice to the DFID office as one of our two economists.

In this role you will be a core part of the team that manages DFID’s contribution to the ARTF. You will lead on the UK’s contribution to the Incentive Programme of the ARTF and work with DFID colleagues, the World Bank, other donors, and the Government of Afghanistan to ensure that the ARTF delivers clear and robust incentives for reform to the Afghan government. You will also provide technical inputs to broader ARTF policy discussions depending on your skills and interests.

You will also lead on Value for Money issues, helping the UK Embassy get the maximum impact from our programmes. You will contribute to Business Case development for programme interventions, Annual Reviews and Project Completion reports. Part of this work will include building the capacity of your colleagues to understand and analyse Value for Money issues themselves.

This role has responsibility for supporting economic development work across the UK Embassy’s programmes. This aspect of the role will require particular collaboration with the Private Sector Development and Livelihoods teams in order to ensure that DFID’s ambitious economic development plans are delivered. It also requires ongoing monitoring of the fragile financial sector, which was rocked by one of the world’s biggest banking scandals (the Kabul Bank fraud) in 2010.

The role will also involve leading on DFID’s work on trade, in particular monitoring the Afghanistan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement. You will need to spot opportunities to move this process along and work as part of a regional trade team, led from London, on other aspects of Afghanistan’s trade relationships. You will provide up to 5% of your time to other offices in DFID, either in London or elsewhere.

You will also cover for the other economist in the office when s/he is out of the country. This role will include analysis of the macroeconomic situation in Afghanistan, engagement with the IMF, economic reporting to London and the wider British Embassy and taking forward DFID’s support to the banking sector in Afghanistan.

The UK Embassy programme is high profile and this will be reflected in your role, which is likely to include contributing to progress reports for the UK Parliament, briefing for senior visitors and responding to requests for other information. You will also need to build strong relationships with colleagues in the UK Embassy, Government of Afghanistan, the World Bank and other international development partners.

Job Requirements

Candidates need to demonstrate:
o An understanding of the economics issues facing Afghanistan, the challenges and opportunities
o Have relevant and recent employment experience, preferably with a donor agency, multilateral organisation, international NGO, or diplomatic mission.
o Have completed an economics or related first degree complemented by a post-graduate degree in economics or similar.
o Strong communication skills, oral and written
o Ability to collaborate and work well in a team.
o Management and organisation skills
o Able to quickly adjust priorities to meet changing demands
o Some knowledge of programme management and commercial awareness
o Be able to work in a busy environment, under pressure.
o Be familiar with Microsoft Office software, in particular Outlook, Word and Excel.
o Respect DFID’s working principles, including understanding and adherence to equal opportunities and being able to work productively with others and with respect, regardless of gender, race, culture, religion or personal orientation.

Specialist technical expertise

In addition to the generalist competencies set out below, this post requires technical competencies as set out in the Economics Technical Competency Framework
Application

Candidates will be required to demonstrate a breath of competence across the Economist Competency Framework. Candidates are asked to complete the technical competency self-assessment to address the competencies outlined in the competency framework. This is in addition to the core civil service competencies required for the application.

General Competencies
UK Civil Service Core competencies at Level 3 (A2L)

Seeing the big picture

Making effective decisions

Delivering at pace

Managing a quality service

Leading and communicating

Collaborating and partnering

Assessment Centres:

Candidates will be shortlisted and invited to participate in an Assessment Centre, likely to be held in the last week of May 2015. This is likely to consist of an interview, written test, language test, group exercise and management role play.

Salary and Benefits:

According to DFID local staff pay scales, a competitive salary and benefits package will be offered. Salary range for A2L is between $3,610 and $4,564 per month (before tax) and will depend on experience, quality of the candidate and previous salary.

Transport and medical allowances are paid monthly. DFID is committed to staff development. The successful candidate will receive both on the job and formal training and have the opportunity to apply for funding for higher/further education upon satisfactory completion of their probation period and having completed 12 months in post and are performing well.

Submission Guideline

How to apply

If you meet the requirements in the job descriptions, you should apply by submitting the following three application documents to the submission email address.


Completed application form which must set out how you meet the requirements for the post including evidence of work under the competencies highlighted for the post you are applying for.

Completed Technical Application form for Economists.

CV.

You can access the General Application Form, DFID General Competency Framework for A2L grade, Technical competency form, and Technical economist competency Framework from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development in the recruitment section:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/recruitment

Other Sources

DFID External Jobsite: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/recruitment

BEK Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-kabul/about/recruitment

BEK FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ukinafghanistan

JOBs.AF: http://www.jobs.af

ACBAR: http://www.acbar.org

Only applications with all three duly completed application documents listed above will be considered. All application forms should state “A2L Economist” in the subject box.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 20:30 hrs KBL time 10 May 2015. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The successful candidates will be required to complete medical, security, reference, and educational qualification checks.

The successful applicant will need to hold Afghan citizenship.

DFID is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcomed from all parts of the community and we actively encourage interest from women, ethnic minority groups, and those with a disability. Selection is on merit although you will need to hold Afghanistan citizenship.

Functional Area

Economic Growth

Countries

Submission Email

r-kabul@dfid.gov.uk

Apply Now