ACS/ Project Management Officer

Background

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa, informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions:

• Advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution
• Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options
• Designing innovative financing models for infrastructure
• Contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges
• Advocating Africa’s position at the global level

The African Centre for Statistics (ACS) is the data and statistics division of the ECA. It supports African countries in:

• Strengthening their statistical systems
• Improving data quality
• Promoting the use of statistics for evidence-based policymaking

The ACS is implementing several initiatives, including:

• EASTERN AFRICA REGIONAL STATISTICS PROGRAM-for-RESULTS (EARSP-for-R)
• Supporting digital transformation strategies
• Verifying Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs) across multiple countries

A Regional Program Coordination Unit (RPCU) was established to provide oversight and monitor activities for the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI). The six implementing agencies under the program include:

• The Republic of Kenya
• The Republic of Rwanda
• The United Republic of Tanzania
• The East African Community (EAC)
• The African Union Commission (AUC) through STATAFRIC
• The ECA through the ACS as the implementing verification agency (IVA)

The DLRs to be verified will include:

• DLI 1.1: Improved harmonization and quality of statistics
• DLI 2.2: Improved availability of enterprise-based survey data
• DLI 2.3: Improved availability of agricultural statistics
• DLI 2.4: Improved availability of administrative data
• DLI 2.5: Improved availability of price & macroeconomic statistics
• DLI 2.6: Gained experience with big data sources and new technologies

ECA has been supporting the EARSP-for-R since March 2024 and will continue until 2027. To ensure effective implementation, ACS seeks to recruit a Consultant Programme Management Officer (PMO) with a proven track record in:

• Supporting multi-sectoral projects across member states
• Providing strategic, technical, and operational support
• Managing project staff for successful completion of verification studies

The consultant will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of ACS programmes and projects, ensuring effective coordination, resource mobilization, and alignment with ECA’s strategic priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Manage the day-to-day operations and monitoring of the EARSP-for-R project.
• Support the development and implementation of ACS’ work programme and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate programme and project planning processes, including results-based budgeting.
• Monitor the implementation of the programme, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
• Prepare programme documents, progress reports, and evaluation summaries.
• Support the preparation of funding proposals and donor reports.
• Liaise with ECA’s Resource Mobilization Section and national statistical offices.
• Develop and maintain monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for ACS’ work programme.
• Track performance indicators and prepare analytical reports.
• Coordinate meetings, workshops, and missions related to the EARSP-for-R project.
• Draft and finalize the work plan and project milestones for each verification period.
• Review, finalize, and consolidate draft verification reports.
• Lead the engagement of non-key experts (NKE) and manage necessary approvals.
• Ensure support and travel arrangements for staff and non-key experts are managed.
• Lead the organization of meetings and activities under the project.
• Perform other duties as may be required by the ACS and Director’s Office.

Qualifications/Special Skills

To qualify, candidates should possess the following:

• Advanced university degree in business administration, public administration, international development, statistics, economics, management, or related social science fields is required.
• Training certificate in project management is an advantage.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience related to national and regional programme or project management is required.
• Experience working with UN agencies, regional organizations, or African governments is desirable.
• Proficiency in results-based management and project cycle management.
• Familiarity with statistical development issues in Africa is desirable.

Languages

The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are:

• English and French are required for this consultancy.
• Fluency in oral and written English or French is required.
• Knowledge of other languages is advantageous.

Skills Required:

• Economics / Statistics
• Political / Science / Ir
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development