Economist (Fiscal Analysis and Impact Evaluation)

Job Title: Economist (Fiscal Analysis and Impact Evaluation)

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Appointment: International Hire

Closing Date: 31-Mar-2010

Background / General description

The World Bank together with 10 Development Partners is providing budget support to the Government of Uganda under a Joint Budget Support Framework.

In partnership with the Government of Uganda, the JBSF Development Partners are committed to providing budget support on an annual basis against a jointly-agreed Joint Performance Assessment Framework (JAF).

To support the administrative and technical work of the development partners that underpins the JBSF, a Technical and Administrative Support Unit (TASU) is being established, to be financed through a multi-donor trust fund with contributions from the participating development partners.

This unit will be staffed with international and national staff with a mix of general management and technical skills. The unit will provide high quality technical/research analysis, which will lay the basis for informed policy design, as well as providing administrative and logistical support to the JBSF Technical and Policy Dialogue Taskforce.

It will also coordinate and where appropriate, commission studies as part of the substantial analytical work needed to inform the assessment of performance under the JAF and establishment of policy frameworks for subsequent years.

Two Economists will be hired under the TASU – one specializing on empirical analysis of poverty and social policy and the other specializing on impact evaluation and fiscal analysis. In addition, the TASU will comprise a Senior Program Coordinator who provides the day-to-day management of the TASU, 2 research analysts, a communications/operations officer, and a budget/administrative officer.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Support MoFPED’s Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit on analysis of Value for Money and efficiency of public spending
• Provide independent assessment as to whether targets set in JAF are realistic in view of budget allocations, reform measures and envisaged efficiency improvements.
• Provide independent assessment as to whether GoU has made reasonable efforts to achieve JBSF targets (in particular in presence of shocks).
• Provides quality control of statistics used for performance monitoring (administrative data, survey data including panel survey).
• Produces policy relevant analytical background papers and policy notes on public spending and results in JBSF sectors as input to JBSF annual review and public expenditure analysis.
• Design interventions that can inform policy decisions
• Form solid treatment and control groups and design questionnaires and sampling strategy
• Implement and supervise surveys as a basis to measure impact
• Undertake impact evaluations and produce analytical papers on the impact in JBSF sectors of policy solutions
• Provide input to annual JAF pre-appraisal, appraisal and identification, including policy suggestions.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s, preferably Ph.D., in economics (area of specialization preferably in impact evaluation and analysis of public spending); a minimum of 6 years of direct relevant experience;
• Experience in fiscal analysis at both macro and micro-levels (analysis of overall budget composition, trends, etc, and impact or effectiveness of public spending on various outcomes);
• Excellent quantitative and analytical background with a proven record of high quality analytical work in the areas outline above, including publications in peer reviewed journals;
• Experience on the ground in developing countries, preferably in Africa;
• Recognized and respected by peers; demonstrated ability to interact effectively at senior levels with partners, client governments and civil society.
• Track record of innovation, leadership, and integrity in managing operational programs, analytical work; experience leading and designing capacity building activities is desirable;
• Ability to listen and integrate ideas from varied sources, create partnerships, and communicate to diverse constituencies inside and outside the Bank, and an ability to work in teams and across organizational boundaries, respecting the views of others;
• Ability to deliver high-quality policy relevant analytic and advisory products within tight deadlines and budgets;
• Superb interpersonal skills, proven team orientation and leadership qualities; ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, governments, NGOs and donors, while being diplomatic and sensitive to cultural, political and gender issues;
• Ability to work with staff from all levels and to mentor, coach and motivate junior staff.
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complicated analyses to non-specialist audiences.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

How to apply

Visit the World Bank Website here to apply online

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