ACS/ Project Management Officer

• Updated, achievable and approved work plan.

• Successfully verified DLR reports with clear recommendations and rationale.

• Weekly, monthly and quarterly program implementation progress and financial reports.

• Finalized ToRs and documentation for non-key experts (NKEs).

• Reports on successful engagement of NKEs

• Successful organization of workshops.

• Support to ACS staff and consultants in achieving project goals through successful delivery of outputs.

• Quarterly ACS reports for the ECA Accountability and Programme Performance Review Meeting

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 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 solution 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. 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, and promoting the use of statistics for evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development.

The Centre also plays a key role in coordinating regional statistical development and supporting the implementation of global and continental frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The African Centre for Statistics (ACS) is implementing several regional and national initiatives, including the Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program-for-Results (EARSP-for-R), aligned with the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA2). The ACS also supports digital transformation strategies, national statistical development, and verification of Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs) across multiple countries including Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. A Regional Program Coordination Unit (RPCU) was established to provide oversight and monitor activities and the verification process for the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI).

The six (6) 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, and the ECA through the African Centre for Statistics (ACS) as the implementing verification agency (IVA) partner to undertake verification of a subset of the EARSP. Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs) using agreed verification protocols. The DLRs to be verified will be under 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); and 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 to support the program until 2027.

To ensure effective implementation of the project, ACS seeks to recruit a Consultant Programme Management Officer (PMO) with a proven track record in supporting multi-sectoral project across member states; to provide strategic, technical, and operational support across its portfolio. The consultant project management officer (PMO) will have a substantial role in implementing the project on time, quality and excellent efficiency and effectiveness.

The successful candidate will support the African Centre for Statistics of ECA staff and manage the project staff to ensure the successful completion of verification studies or finalize and submit the reports within the 28-day cycle set forth quarterly by the project.

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

The position is in the African Centre for Statistics. The Consultant reports to the Director of the African Centre for Statistics. 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 ACS’ work programme and strategic initiatives; Coordinate programme and project planning processes, including results-based budgeting and logical frameworks; Monitor the implementation of the programme, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and adherence to quality standards; Prepare programme documents, progress reports, and evaluation summaries; and identify risks and propose mitigation strategies.

• Support the preparation of funding proposals and donor reports for ACS’ work programme; Liaise with ECA’s Resource Mobilization Section, regional organizations, and national statistical offices to strengthen collaboration.

• Liaise with programme funders and partners in close collaboration with the Strategic Planning Oversight and Results Division (SPORD) and the Resource Mobilization Section of the Commission, in the continued management of the various programmes and projects within the division and provide substantive information on the same.

• Develop and maintain monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for ACS’ work programme; Track performance indicators and prepare analytical reports for internal and external stakeholders; Contribute to the preparation of annual reports, briefing notes, and presentations.

• Coordinate meetings, workshops, and missions related to the EARSP-for-R project activities with project countries and regional partners; Support procurement, recruitment, and travel processes in collaboration with administrative units; Maintain project documentation and knowledge management systems.

• Draft and finalize the work plan and project milestones for each project verification period including updating and finalizing them prior to the verification of results.

• Review, finalize and consolidate the draft verification reports of the EARSP-for-R project based on the set of agreed protocols as advised by ACS Staff.; Ensure timely submission of reports and deliverables.

• Lead the engagement of non-key experts (NKE) including reviewing and finalizing the TORs and ensure the uploading of all relevant documents in the system following UN protocols including managing the necessary internal and external approvals.

• Ensure that support and travel arrangement of staff and non-key experts including accommodations and flight itineraries including the settlements (expense reports, outputs/reports relative to consultant’s claim/s) are managed and executed.

• Lead the organization meetings and activities under the project and/or the ACS including but not limited to internal meetings and finalizing meeting notes/highlights; ensuring that all deliverables are met, finalizing the relevant materials for submission to RPCU (upon discussion with sector leads)

• Perform other duties as may be required by the ACS, and Director’s Office, from time to time.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.