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Economic Governance Specialist (open to Tier 0 & 1 Applicants)
Better Than Cash
Dakar, Senegal
Posted on Jun 1, 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa (WACA), based in Dakar, Senegal, is a key operational platform within UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) and forms part of the broader Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA) framework. The Hub was established to bring policy expertise, programme support, and strategic coordination closer to country operations across the sub-region. It currently provides support to 24 UNDP Country Offices, covering a diverse range of contexts, including middle-income economies, least developed countries, and crisis-affected settings
At the outset of the SDG era and reinforced through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to strengthening cooperation and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through economic policies that reflect long-term development impacts. In West and Central Africa, countries possess considerable human, natural, and economic capital that, if effectively leveraged, can drive transformative and inclusive development.
This mandate is unfolding against a backdrop of declining Official Development Assistance (ODA) and a rapidly evolving international cooperation landscape. As a result, countries are increasingly required to strengthen domestic economic governance systems, mobilize and manage their own resources more effectively, and reduce structural vulnerabilities. Digital transformation—particularly through the Global Digital Compact—has emerged as a critical enabler of this shift, offering new tools to enhance public sector performance, financial inclusion, and service delivery.
Aligned with these global priorities, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026–2029 places economic governance at the center of the strategic objectives on Effective Governance and Prosperity for All, closely linked to the Sustainable Finance Accelerator. Digital public finance systems, domestic resource mobilization (DRM), fiscal integrity, and accountable governance are core elements of this agenda.
Position Purpose
The Economic Governance Specialist shall work under the overall supervision of the Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor. He/She will advise countries and regional entities towards building strong economic governance systems to accelerate the delivery of national priorities and the SDGs.
He/She will contribute to advance the UNDP West and Central Africa (WACA) contribution to the UNDP Regional Programme Document for Africa and its strategic priorities related to: 1) Output 1.3: Regional, subregional and national capacities and financial systems in Africa are strengthened to advance the 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063, while improving accountability, transparency, fiscal effectiveness and women’s economic empowerment and 2) Output 2.3. Governance systems and local communities in Africa are strengthened to manage natural resources, deliver basic services, enhance socioeconomic opportunities, and foster peaceful conditions in line with Rio conventions and the goals of the Paris Agreement. He/she will be based in UNDP WACA governance and peacebuilding team and will work closely with UNDP Advisors, Specialists, program and operation staff from UNDP WACA and Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA).
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide strategic policy advisory support to country offices in West and Central Africa:
- Provide senior-level policy advice to government counterparts and national institutions on economic governance reforms, including public finance management (PFM), fiscal policy, budget transparency, anti-corruption, domestic resource mobilization, transparency and accountability as well as natura resource governance
- Lead political economy and institutional analyses to inform national reforms as well as UNDP policy and strategic documents, UNDP programming, and UN country-level engagement.
- Integrate gender equality, human rights, conflict sensitivity, and inclusion into economic governance policies and reform processes.
- Provide technical assistance to Country offices as they roll out DPI and IIPS initiatives for economic transformation
- Act as UNDP WACA Hub technical lead advisor on thematics related to DPI and in particular IIPS to advance the SDGs
- Mainstream DPI/IIPS into UNDP WACA Hub projects or resource mobilization initiatives
Lead economic governance programme design and delivery:
- Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of UNDP economic governance programmes aligned with the regional programme for Africa and UNDP Strategic Plan.
- Facilitate the collaboration with UNDP HQ, Regional office for Africa and country offices in promoting the economic governance pillars- public finance mobilization and management, integrity and anti-corruption and natural resource governance
- Lead the design and implementation of DPI and IIPS projects in UNDP WACA
- Ensure that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including Instant Payment Systems (IIPS) are fully mainstreamed in UNDP WACA projects, portfolios and programs
- Develop DPI and IIPS programming and quality assurance tools and knowledge products
- Ensure application of results-based management (RBM), risk management, and adaptive programming approaches.
- Oversee programme quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, ensuring achievement of outputs and outcomes.
- Lead UNDP WACA Hub resource mobilization related to DPI/IIPS topics
Lead partnerships and resource mobilization
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government, civil society, private sector, IFIs, and development partners for enhanced economic governance and domestication of the Global Digital Compact with focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including Instant Payment Systems (IIPS).
- Expand UNDP WACA partnership base for the promotion of economic governance and DPI/IIPS
- Represent UNDP in policy dialogues, coordination mechanisms, and donor forums related to economic governance.
- Resource mobilization for economic governance, DPI and IIPS include development of concept notes, doner intelligence and outreach funding proposals
- Ensure accountability in partnership with donors and stakeholders including timely involvement and reporting and compliance with agreements
- Ensure adequate communication and visibility of knowledge products and projects results
- Promote innovative partnership and financing.
Advise and support knowledge management and innovation
- Contribute to thought leadership in economic governance, including policy briefs, analytical products, and lessons learned.
- Promote innovative approaches, including digital public finance, data-driven decision-making, and integrity systems.
- Support knowledge sharing across UNDP country offices, regional hubs, and global policy networks.
- Develop platforms for peer learning and experience sharing
- Promote innovation in the provision of advisory services and project management
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise and manage the Economic Governance and Partnership Officer
Competencies
- Core Competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
- Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy-System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Direction and Strategy-Negotiation and Influence: Reach a common understanding/ agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.
Partnership Management-Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
Business Management-Partnerships management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
2030 Agenda: Prosperity-Inclusive Growth: Digital economy
2030 Agenda: Peace-Governance: Economic Governance
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in International Development/Relations, Public Administration/Policies, Political Science, Economics or related fields is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
- Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s Degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience in progressively responsible positions in working with governments on economic governance, digital financial services, digital economy, financial inclusion or a related field is required
- Previous experience in managing multi country projects related to advancing economic governance and digital financial inclusion for development / SDGs in West or Central Africa is required, the experience must include (at minimum) aspects related to: development of country strategies, stakeholder engagements, budget planning, reporting to donors/partners (list not exhaustive)
- Experience in serving as Lead Advisor in digital financial inclusion/digital economy to governments in at least 2 countries in West or Central Africa for advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs at national or regional levels is desired.
- Experience in collaborating with global donors and international organizations for developing and implementing country initiatives advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs at national or regional level with focus in West or Central Africa is desired
- Experience in donors’ engagement and resource mobilization, track record in leading new project(s) development and financial resource mobilization for advancing financial inclusion and the SDGs in West or Central Africa would be an asset
- Expertise in developing and publishing flagship research in collaboration with governments or international organizations for advancing digital financial inclusion and the SDGs in West or Central Africa region is an asset
- Track record in successful facilitation/organization of south-south peer exchanges involving governments, private sectors or development partners aiming at increasing knowledge sharing on digital financial inclusion and the SDGs is desired asset
- Experience in working with at least 3 French speaking countries in the West and Central Africa region would be an asset
Language:
- Proficiency in oral and written French is required.
- Knowledge of English is desirable
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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Duties and Responsibilities