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 which are: advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This post is located in the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Executive Secretary and in close collaboration with the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). The Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support) will assist the Executive Secretary in carrying out the mandate of ECA, through its core functions, namely, its convening function, its function as a think tank and its operational function. In addition, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support) is fully accountable for the effective supervision, strategic oversight, and operational performance of the Sub-Regional Offices (SROs), the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), the Publications, Conference, and Knowledge Management Division (PCKMD), and the Division of Administration (DoA) to ensure alignment with ECA’s mandate and priorities. Within delegated authority, the Deputy Executive Secretary will be responsible for the following functions: • Assists the Executive Secretary in the planning, coordination, direction and management of the programme support functions of ECA in support of its mandate to promote economic and technical cooperation for economic and social development of member states. • Contributes to the implementation of the Commission's mandate by coordinating the work of the divisions under his/her supervision. • Ensures that the IDEP/SROs effectively contribute to ECA’s knowledge generation, policy advocacy, and technical assistance by fostering closer integration between their work and the Commission’s broader initiatives. • Strengthens the coordination between the IDEP/SROs and ECA’s headquarters to enhance synergy, efficiency, and responsiveness to the needs of member states. • Leads efforts to mobilize resources for the ECA, ensuring sustainable financing and operational effectiveness. • Represents the Executive Secretary in engagements with key stakeholders, including regional economic communities (RECs), governments, and development partners, to reinforce the strategic role of the SROs in advancing Africa’s development agenda. • Advises the Executive Secretary on all matters pertaining to human resources management, and administrative support and its work with other institutions. • Plans, organizes, implements, manages and oversees the activities of all administrative and programme support operations. • Provides effective management of human, financial and material resources of the Commission. • Identifies broad strategies required for the development and implementation of the Commission's work programme. • Ensures development, preparation, coordination and monitoring of overall work plans, strategies and programmes for the programme support activities of the Commission and takes the lead in securing the required human and financial resources for the Commission. • Establishes a set of sound policies, procedures, practices, standards and tools that are consistent with UN regulations, rules, policies and practice in order to ensure proper budget, accounting, financial and human resources management and control. • Liaises, negotiates and coordinates with national authorities with respect to administrative and programme support matters. • Works with the Deputy Executive Secretary Programme to ensure that the human resources requirements and staff are aligned with the overall priorities of the organization. • Provides additional support to the Executive Secretary and acts as the point person on all matters related to the United Nations reforms with support from the Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division. • Contributes and supports ECA's think tank and research functions. • Act as Chairperson of the various standing and ad-hoc interdivisional management support committees established by the Executive Secretary. • Ensures the provision of guidance, performance evaluation, supervision and mentoring to all administrative support and other staff in the areas of his/her responsibility. • Maintains good order and discipline of staff under his/her overall supervision. • Represents the Commission before legislative bodies, providing information and clarification in support of budget proposals. • Represents the Executive Secretary at meetings, protocol and ceremonial occasions, etc. • Performs related duties as may be required by the Executive Secretary, e.g., provides briefings to visiting senior officials on mission, administrative and technical support activities, etc. • Performs other related work as required by the Executive Secretary