Statistical Assistant Vacancy in a Bank

* Position title: Statistical Assistant ESTA2
* Grade: GS - 7
* Position N°: NA
* Reference: ADB/010/104
* Publication date: 02/08/2010
* Closing date: 02/09/2010

Objectives

Preparation of ICP activities: To assist in the assessment of the statistical capacity and development of RMCs; To assist countries in the design of their ICP work plan; To prepare draft reference classifications and lists of items to be priced by RMCs; To assist in the coordination of ICP activities at the regional level.

Conduct of ICP Surveys and Analysis: To contribute to the preparation of ICP technical documents; To collate and help process ICP data transmitted by countries; To help validate and analyze ICP results and prepare relevant flagship publications.

Implementation of Capacity & Institutional Building Activities in RMCs: To assist in preparing training materials for RMC’s statisticians; To assist in conducting statistical capacity building activities in RMCs; To assist in evaluating country and regional statistical architecture, data scope and quality within the context of Bank operations and programs needs; To assist in the preparation of meetings at sub-regional and regional levels; To assist in the design and updating of live databases; To assist in the dissemination of ICP and other relevant statistical results.

Research activities: To assist in the undertaking research on statistical methods and analysis relating to sensitive and new issues such as poverty, the informal sector, own-consumption, own-construction, surveys on price haggling; To assist in drafting articles on statistical research undertaken within the context of ICP and other capacity building activities of the Division.
Duties and responsibilities

Under the overall responsibility of the Manager of the Statistical Capacity Building Division, ESTA.2 and general guidance of the Research Assistant will be required to:

* Compile reference ICP classifications and lists of items which countries would use to update their own lists of goods and services to be priced;
* Assist in the preparation of ICP technical documents: methodological documents, survey schedules, reporting frameworks;
* Put together and organize ICP data transmitted by countries;
* Develop data editing and validation tools, edit, check and validate price data of participating countries and carry out quality adjustment as per ICP requirements;
* Collect and compile data from primary and secondary sources, which may be required for the computation and analysis of PPPs;
* Compile documentation needed to prepare working documentation for regional and sub-regional workshops;
* Design databank meant to store and facilitate the use of data and related information, maintain and manipulate it, ensure the integrity of this databank, develop data presentation formats, and/or prepare charts of specific reporting activities;
* Assist in undertaking statistical capacity building activities in RMCs and sub-regional organizations;
* Assist in providing statistical support to Bank operations;
* Collect and compile data needed to carry out research on statistical critical issues, and assist in further analysis. The following are research areas where assistance will be mostly required:
o ICP and PRSPs;
o ICP and National/Regional Poverty Lines;
o Price and Expenditure Related Analysis of other Surveys: HES, DHS, CWIQ, Census, Agricultural Census/Surveys,
o ‘1-2-3’ Survey on the Informal Sector;
o CPI Basket for the Poor (Food/Non-Food; Caloric Intake);
o ICP/CPI integration and synergy;
o Analysis of Price Related Behavior of the Poor;
o Bargaining Power Adjustment;
o Own Account Construction;
o Quality Adjustment in annual averages and PPPs;
o Typical Construction Inputs and Components;
o The Price Ratio Method in intra-country comparisons;
o Improvement of statistical surveys with respect to price and National Account raw data.
* Assist in the dissemination of ICP and other relevant statistical results;
* Perform other related duties assigned b the Chief and Principal Statisticians and/or the Manager of the Division.

*This Position Does Not Attract International Terms And Conditions
Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

* At least a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics or equivalent in quantitative economics, or related field with a good knowledge of quantitative and econometric methods;
* Preferably a minimum of 3 years relevant experience in a national or international research or development institute;
* Demonstrated ability in statistical, econometric methods, SAS environment, EViews, R, Matlab, SPSS, etc.) including forecasting techniques, and utilization of statistics management computer programmes;
* Competence in the use of software such as Excel, Bloomberg, Reuters and Office applications used by applications (Word, Access and PowerPoint), SAP knowledge desirable;
* Ability to communicate in English and /or French, with a good knowledge of the other language.


Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit (preferably electronically, to: recruit@afdb.org) a fully completed Personal History Form (PHF), available from the Bank’s web site, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) indicating date of birth and nationality. The President, ADB, reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.