Political Economy Adviser at British High Commission

Job Ref.: 06/20 LOS) - AU
Location: Lagos
Grade: C4 (L)
Type of Position: Fixed Term, Full-time
Working hours per week: 35
Duration of Post: 24 months
Type of Post: British Deputy High Commission
Start Date: 1 April 2020
Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory: Economic and Prosperity

Main Purpose of the Job

• Developing and implementing the Nigeria network’s strategic Prosperity objectives through policy advocacy with state governments, business and civil society. 
• Lead on providing high-quality economic analysis and reporting focussed on the three southern geopolitical zones, working closely with other members of the joint DFID-DIT-FCO Nigeria Prosperity Team, including the Prosperity Fund.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos is recruiting for a Political Economy Adviser.
• The successful candidate will work with colleagues from the Department for International Development (DFID), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Trade (DIT) teams in Lagos and Abuja on mutual prosperity issues. He/She will report to the Head of Prosperity based in Lagos.
• This will be an exciting job. The prosperity partnership with Nigeria is important for the UK, as Africa’s largest economy and because of the long-established cultural and commercial links with the UK, as well as the UK being a major development partner for promoting growth and poverty reduction.
• The UK is expanding the joint prosperity team to support Nigeria’s efforts to deliver on its huge long-term economic potential.
• The successful candidate will be comfortable handling a wide range of economic issues around growth, structural reform, business environment and sectoral issues.

Key Elements of the Role are to:

• Provide quality analysis of the economic situation and developments in the southern states of Nigeria, with a particular focus on progress with structural reforms; improving the business environment and efforts to diversify the economy, including the transition to low carbon. Throughout, the analysis should identify political economy linkages to inform, influence and shape wider HMG policy
• Maintain and expand the UK’s network of contacts across state governments, business and academia, to support the UK Government’s engagement, as well as drawing on information from contacts for analysis and policy recommendations.  This is likely to focus on states in the South-West; South-South and South-East
• Contribute analysis and evidence to Prosperity Fund programmes in Nigeria and, depending on demand, to DFID economic development programmes:
• Working closely with DIT Nigeria, identify and analyse economic and business trends of potential interest to UK businesses looking for market opportunities particularly in states proactively seeking foreign direct investment:
• Broader contributions to high-level visits and events
• There will be opportunities to travel in Nigeria and occasionally to the UK.  The team is large, diverse, friendly and mutually supportive.  We are keen to accommodate work-life balance wherever possible and there will be some opportunity for working from home

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Masters Level qualification in economics or equivalent.
• Permission to work in Nigeria
• Willingness to travel to other states in Nigeria
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Economics

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Experience of economic policy-making for federal or state governments
• Masters research in a relevant economics or political economy issues
• Experience of working in or with government in Nigeria
• Experience of working in the private sector or organised civil society in relevant fields

Language requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Fluency in one of and preferably both Yoruba and Hausa.

Required Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering

Other Benefits and Conditions of Employment  
Learning and development opportunities:

• BDHC Lagos is keen to support continuous learning and development. The prosperity team includes professional economists and practitioners in areas such as programmes, trade and investment promotion, trade policy and business environment. 
• This job should appeal to anyone keen on continuous professional development but especially as an opportunity to apply macro, micro and international economics practically.

Working Patterns:

• Monday to Thursday:  7:30 - 3:30
• Friday: 07:30 - 12:30
• Opportunity to work from home (1 to 2 days a week)

Starting Monthly Salary
NGN 827, 892

Additional Information

• Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Lagos are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.