Development Economist

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  
Main purpose of job:

• This is an important technical role focused on development economics and championing, supporting and using economic analysis and evidence across all our work.
• BHC Nairobi hosts over 400 staff from 10 HMG Departments covering roles on Kenya, Somalia and the region. In line with the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, the BHC Country Plan goals cover mutual prosperity, security and stability, sustainable development, climate change, people to people and democracy and human rights. Bilateral ODA budget for 2024/25 was £81m. BHC Nairobi works closely with the Government of Kenya at central, regional and county levels, with civil society and businesses. Our international partners include regional organisations and major multilaterals (UN, World Bank, IMF).
• This role will sit in the STrategy, Assurance and Results Team (START), which supports BHC to do the right things in the right way and maximise the quality and credibility of our actions, by:
  • Providing assurance to BHC leadership, central FCDO and the UK taxpayer;
  • Generating and promoting the use of information, evidence and learning; and
  • Giving expert support and advice to teams, pillars and leaders.
• We do this through facilitation and support to strategy and policy, and to programmes and ODA spend.  The team provides a one-stop-shop for support on finance, risk, safeguarding, programme management, commercial advice and evidence, results and monitoring and evaluation. It also leads on policy and programme assurance functions and relationships with scrutiny bodies.
• Your objective will be to strengthen and maximise the impact of economics, evidence, data and analysis for policy and projects ensuring the best use of finite resources. You will be innovative and consultative drawing on the latest evidence and existing knowledge of a large FCDO economic network, and adding and sharing to this knowledge. You will work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Adviser as well as the Knowledgment Management and Information Officer to provide a joined up, accessible and useful offer on evidence.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Enhance economic analysis in our development portfolio

• Analyse the value add of programmes across the development portfolio
• Conduct diagnostic or ‘what works’ analysis on key development sectors
• Conduct contextual economic/development analysis in key sectors or geographies

Enhance value for money analysis in our portfolio

• Develop a value for money strategy across the development portfolio
• Analyse the value add of programmes across the portfolio
• Conduct diagnostic or ‘what works’ analysis on key sectors

Improve the availability and use of evidence

• Maintain a statistical database on economic data across key sectors of BHC programmes work, drawing on resources from the centre
• Promote the use of good statistics and reliable analysis in all internal and external documents, through direct inputs and quality assurance

Be a proactive member of the FCDO economist community

• Provide up to 10% of their time (equivalent to 22 days per year) to support FCDO’s wider economic objectives, such as supporting country programme,  contributing to an annual review, developing an evidence product or the design and delivery of training for other cadre members or HMG officials

Active member of the Strategy, Assurance and Results team

• Be an active member of a small team, leaning into to support others and cover or lead workstreams as required.
• Contribute to a corporate role in the BHC office

Resources managed:

• This post will not manage any staff or budget directly.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

Technical competencies:

• A masters degree in economics
• 5+ years working on economics and development
• Excellent economic skills and a track record of delivering high-quality, impactful and timely economic analysis that shapes and influences policy,
• Strong skills and experience using micro economics (Being able to understand and explain the behaviour of firms or households including: the importance of choices and incentives; demand and supply analysis; competition; market or sector analysis; behavioural economics; the rationale for government intervention and core project appraisal skills (see )
• Strong analytical skills, feeling confident in using data, drawing policy-relevant conclusions, and in supporting others to do so
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain economic concepts to non-specialist audiences and identify the implications for policy

Other skills

• Experience and strong understanding of the Kenyan development context
• Experience of engaging internationally – often on complex and sensitive matters.
• Experience of working across and engaging diverse teams, being flexible and able to adjust.