Principal Country Economist

Job Vacancy | Monday, December 9, 2024

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The Principal Country Economist is assigned to the India Resident Mission (INRM) within the South Asia Department (SARD). SARD is responsible for providing leadership in innovation, lending, project implementation and knowledge sharing for ADB’s sector and thematic work that covers operations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. You will be based at our Resident Mission office in New Delhi, India.

You will report to the Country Director, INRM and work under the guidance of Regional Lead Economist, SARD, and supervise national staff (NS) and administrative staff (AS).

This is open to internal and external applicants.

If you are selected for the position, your assignment to INRM will be immediate unless it involves a change in staff category. If you are a selected external candidate or new IS, you will initially be based in ADB Headquarters in Manila for 1 year before moving to INRM.

Your Role

As a Principal Country Economist, you will lead the preparation and implementation of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) in line with the country’s development plans and ADB’s medium and long-term strategic frameworks (Strategy 2030), including conducting an annual country programming exercise and preparing the annual Indicative Country Pipeline and Monitoring (ICPM) report. You will lead and support a full range of economic-based work in India Resident Mission (INRM) including quality control. Under the guidance of the Country Director, you will also lead and support (i) knowledge production and management; (ii) finance, industry, trade, and private sector; governance and public financial management work, (iii) regional cooperation and integration, external relations management for INRM. Work is undertaken within a framework of broad policies, principles, and goals to accomplish the required outputs. The incumbent will also have a dotted functional reporting line to Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI) on country diagnostic studies, sector/thematic study, macroeconomic analysis, debt sustainability assessment and vulnerability analysis and Asian Development Outlook (ADO) related output, and regional development research if any.

You will:

• As the Country Team Leader, coordinate and lead the implementation of the CPS with any adjustments recommended and introduced in response to the country’s development priorities and conditions, in accordance with principles of results-based management and in close coordination with development partners.
• Serve as the focal point in ADB on programming matters and regularly apprises Management on the country program and its implementation and prepare briefing papers for use by Management.
• Formulate the annual ICPM report that reflects INRM’s changing needs and shared emphasis on integrated approaches, innovation and value addition, and knowledge and regional cooperation; and facilitate and monitor the delivery of annual lending and non-lending programs.
• Lead in identifying key issues to be addressed in ADB’s policy dialogues.
• Establish networks and communicate effectively with key national and international development stakeholders, including private sector, media, academic and research institutions, NGOs, and civil society to facilitate ADB’s operations and dialogues.
• Lead the India country team, effectively coordinate between Headquarters and INRM staff to ensure consistency of approach, integration of policy commitments, and knowledge sharing.
• Lead, conduct, review, and ensure the quality of economic, sector and thematic work as substantive inputs into economic and programming related studies. Lead ADB’s overall knowledge program for India, from programming, conceptualization, execution, and dissemination in coordination with related departments or offices.
• Lead and support the preparation of the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) and ADO Update chapters and the preparation of India Macroeconomic Updates and other economic reports as required.
• Provide guidance to ADB-wide economic analysis documents and publications, including ADO and its update chapters.
• Review and strengthen analysis and presentation of economic related documents to ensure quality of operations and publications.
• Assist in analytical and operational works under SARD’s regional cooperation and integration (RCI) initiatives and economic corridors development.
• Lead in the processing and administration of technical assistance (TA) projects assigned.
• Provide substantive assistance to review and comment on loan (including the country assessment matrix) and TA draft concept papers and draft report and recommendation of the President (RRPs) ensuring consistency with CPS approach and product quality.
• Establish and maintain cordial and effective relations with senior government officials and serve as the communication link between India and ADB in resolving policy and programming issues.
• Actively participate in donor coordination, advance donor harmonization agenda, and seek cofinancing opportunities for ADB operations.
• As the mentor and lead for the team, supervise the work of reporting staff members in the areas of knowledge management; finance, industry, trade, and private sector; governance and public financial management work, regional cooperation and integration, external relations management for INRM, as well as their performance and development.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s Degree, or equivalent, in economics (Ph.D. preferred) with expertise in one or more of the following fields: economic development, macroeconomics, public finance, international economics; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered
• At least 12 years work experience in development planning and policy formulation and operations. International experience working in several countries.
• Sound conceptual and practical understanding of macroeconomic and inter-sector linkages in large developing economies.
• Strong analytical and technical capability in development policy studies, and country and sector economic analysis.
• Broad-based exposure to country programming and project development business processes.
• Substantial experience in knowledge management and external communication
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 6.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development
• Retirement plan
• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

Additional Information

ADB will be rolling out a new job grading structure on 1 January 2025, which may result in a change of the position grade and title with no change in the terms of reference. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge and accept all changes resulting from the new job grading structure.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

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