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The Statistics Department (STA) of the IMF, and the IMF’s Central Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center (AFRITAC Central) have an opening for a Regional Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) Advisor (hereinafter referred as “Regional Advisor”) based in Libreville, Gabon. AFRITAC Central is a multi-donor financed Center of the IMF.

The Resident Advisor will oversee and undertake capacity development (CD) support in GFS and PSDS in nine member countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tomé-et-Principe and Chad) as part of AFRITAC Central’s statistical work program.

The Regional Advisor is a long-term expert position (contractual) open to Fund staff and external candidates. The initial appointment is for two years (expected to start in December 2023), with the possibility of an extension, contingent on performance and management approval.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Regional Advisor will support the nine member countries to improve the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and public sector debt statistics, which is intended to inform the authorities’ policy analysis and formulation, as well as support the IMF’s operational work with those countries.

The successful candidate is required to:

•  Develop and implement the annual work program and manage statistical CD (technical assistance and training) in GFS and PSDS, including public sector balance sheet. In this process, s/he will be guided by the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (PSDSG), which are the latest internationally accepted methodology for comprehensive, timely, accurate, reliable and cross-country-comparable fiscal and debt statistics of adequate frequency.
•  Offer tailored country advice, hands-on training, as well as regional training in GFS and PSDS to assist the targeted countries achieve the specific outcomes of the project.
•  Manage and backstop missions by short-term experts.
•  Coordinate CD activities with the relevant IMF Departments and with other AFRITAC Central advisors working on related CD fields, including the real sector statistics, public financial management, and debt management advisors.
•  Apply IMF standards and policies (and STA’s guidelines) in documenting CD activities.
•  Monitor the implementation and evaluation of activities in the IMF’s CDMAP IT portal; and
•  Contribute to reports prepared for the AFRITAC Central Steering Committee, as well as to other outreach activities that promote AFRITAC Central and STA’s CD program, including AFC semi-annual reports.

The successful candidate will work under the general direction of the AFRITAC Central Director and the technical direction of STA staff at IMF headquarters.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have an advanced university degree in economics, statistics, or related field. S/he should have extensive knowledge of the GFSM 2014 and PSDSG concepts and principles, as well as proven experience in the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and debt data. Strong relationship management and negotiating and influencing skills are critical for the position. Excellent interpersonal skills, full proficiency in French and strong English oral and written communication skills, drive for results, and ability to work on various projects under tight deadlines are essential.

The following qualifications are highly desirable: (i) experience in managing and backstopping capacity-building projects; (ii) experience in and knowledge of GFS and PSDS compilation practices and systems in countries with similar GFS/PSDS challenges; (iii) background in the areas of macro-fiscal policy and/or public sector accounting; (iv) practical experience with countries that have limited capacities; and (v) familiarity with the synergies between GFS/PSDS and Public Financial Management reforms in recipient countries.

Department:

STAGO Statistics Department Government FinanceHiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.