Employment

Job Purpose:

The Principal Economist plays a key role in the Surveillance and Financing Department by leading high-level macroeconomic analysis and providing strategic policy advice to support economic reform programs and loan operations. The role involves evaluating member countries' financial needs, designing reform frameworks, and contributing to AMF’s regional policy dialogue and capacity-building efforts to strengthen economic governance and fiscal sustainability across member states.

Roles and Responsibilities / Key Accountabilities

• Evaluate economic and financial eligibility of member countries seeking financing, in line with AMF’s Lending Policy and risk assessment guidelines.
• Draft macroeconomic and financial policy notes to support reform program design.
• Consult with member country officials to define policy priorities and gain consensus on reform initiatives.
• Monitor implementation of agreed reforms, tracking performance and macroeconomic developments.
• Contribute to AMF surveillance activities by preparing policy briefs, discussion papers, and advisory notes addressing fiscal, monetary, and structural challenges.
• Analyze country-level risks related to fiscal sustainability, inflation, debt, and external imbalances; propose mitigation strategies and policy measures.
• Provide technical assistance and strategic economic policy advice to support macroeconomic stability and reform planning.
• Participate in internal and external economic committees, contributing to policy recommendations aligned with AMF’s strategic direction.
• Conduct advanced research on global, regional, and national macroeconomic developments to inform policy and lending decisions.
• Contribute to internal knowledge products and economic flagship reports aligned with AMF’s regional surveillance efforts.
• Ensure methodological rigor and quality assurance in research outputs and policy evaluations.
• Propose improvements in data collection, analysis tools, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Design and deliver training courses, workshops, and technical assistance programs on macroeconomic policy design, public finance, and reform implementation.
• Mentor and support junior economists in research, modelling, and policy evaluation activities.
• Develop learning content in coordination with the Training Institute to build institutional capacity in member states.
• Contribute to the enhancement of AMF lending policies, procedures, and risk registers related to lending and surveillance activities.
• Liaise with ministries of finance, central banks, international financial institutions (IFIs), and regional economic forums to advance AMF’s strategic policy agenda.
• Represent AMF in conferences, working groups, and policy dialogues, communicating economic positions and research findings.
• Promote knowledge-sharing initiatives and alignment with global best practices.

Job Qualifications and Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience for Master’s degree holders, or 5–7 years for PhD holders, in macroeconomic policy analysis at the national or regional level.
• Experience preferably within a central bank, ministry of finance, or international financial institution; academic or research institute experience acceptable if combined with practical exposure to macroeconomic policymaking.
• Proven ability to engage diplomatically with member country authorities; strong interpersonal and communication skills in high-level policy discussions.
• Experience collaborating with regional or international financial institutions is preferred.

Education

• Master’s degree or PhD in Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Finance, or related fields.