View Vacancy – Trade and Economic Reform Analyst C4/B1 (19/21 ACC)

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to one of the UK’s top priorities in Ghana – promoting a resilient and productive economy. Home to five of the world’s fastest growing economies, Africa’s GDP could double between 2015 and 2030. Yet for too many Africans, this prosperity – and the improvements to education, health and security that come with it – still feel distant, and we expect this disparity only to sharpen in the wake of COVID-19. In a global world, this is a global challenge: by 2050 a quarter of the world’s population will live in Africa.

The UK wants to support the development of strong, prosperous and peaceful African nations, through modern, dynamic and long-term partnerships that deliver mutual benefit for the UK and Africa. The UK is making a new and distinctive offer to work alongside, invest in, and partner with African nations. By supporting African-led ambitions with British expertise we want to create more opportunities, more jobs and greater stability. 

This role offers applicants the opportunity to help shape this new, long-term partnership. You would join a multi-disciplinary team delivering policy and programme outcomes to support the Government of Ghana’s ambition to move ‘beyond aid’.

You would help organise and drive forward the UK’s close engagement with the Government of Ghana on economic development, trade and investment, including through the six-monthly, high level UK-Ghana Business Council, where you would help shape the agenda and ensure it delivers maximum impact. This is an exciting opportunity to work with senior levels of both the UK and Ghanaian governments and to help deliver real progress in Ghana’s economic development.

The successful applicant will also focus on providing value-added advice and analysis on Ghana’s political economy, key economic sectors, the regulatory environment and trade and investment trends. This will help us build a broader and deeper understanding of the operating environment in Ghana, which in turn will allow us to better target our support to make the biggest difference to Ghana’s development.

The British High Commission in Accra employs around 250 staff. All staff embody the new FCDO approach to cross-HMG working, and the High Commission aims to be a highly-inclusive place to work, celebrating a workforce with both diversity of thought and background. To help achieve this the British High Commission takes a values-based approach to leadership and people management, and has a zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment. Our local values are Respect; Openness; and Honesty & Integrity. An understanding and commitment to inclusion and values-based leadership will be discussed during interview and tested during probation.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

A key role helping to deliver one of the UK’s highest priorities in Ghana, you would sit at the heart of a team working on economic development, job creation, trade and investment. This is an exciting, challenging and outward-facing job in a dynamic and fast-moving area, and will provide ample opportunity to engage at a senior level with government officials, private sector companies and experts.

• Working closely with our two economists and the International Trade Team, provide analysis of key economic sectors, political economy and macroeconomic, trade & investment trends and use this to make recommendations for how the UK can reinforce its position as Ghana’s partner of choice for economic development. Lead on developing a narrative for what differentiates the UK from other partners, including understanding UK comparative advantage, Ghanaian priorities and the approach of other partners.
• Deliver key elements of the UK-Ghana Business Council around economic development, trade and investment, a six-monthly high level forum co-chaired by Ghana’s Vice President and the UK’s Minister for Africa. Work closely with the Vice President’s Office and other key ministries on implementing agreed actions quickly and effectively, and work with teams across the mission to deliver a robust, joined-up UK ‘offer’, aligned with UK and Ghana’s priorities.
• Proactively widen the High Commission’s network of contacts in government, the private sector and among international organisations, think tanks and other Embassies, to build knowledge and expertise, to maximise UK influence; and to project our key messages around support for Ghana’s economic development. Map out existing work on economic development by the UK and others, work with the government to understand their economic and industrial priorities, and help to ensure that this matches closely with what the UK can offer through development finance, technical assistance and private sector support.
• Work closely with other UK missions in the region, including reporting on issues of joint interest and sharing of knowledge and expertise

Resources managed:

No direct reports. Some budget responsibility may be delegated on a project basis.

• Familiarity with economics and trade issues in Ghana and internationally
• Experience of working in either development, trade and investment or government
• Proven ability to analyse complex situations and come up with solutions
• Experience of working in an international environment
•  Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong networks within government and relevant stakeholders