Senior Economist - Ghana

Tetra Tech is Leading with Science® to implement clean energy projects and policies that advance global climate and decarbonization goals. We advise on national energy transition initiatives and structure finance to deploy clean energy solutions. We help create sustainable utilities and modern power grids. We promote equality and inclusivity in the global energy sector. We improve lives and livelihoods in the biggest cities and smallest villages, and at the intersection of energy-health and energy-water-food.

Tetra Tech is implementing the recently awarded, five-year USAID Power Africa Empower West Africa Activity. Building on a decade of Power Africa success, Empower West Africa aims to close the energy poverty gap in the region by increasing supply of and access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity. By 2029, Empower West Africa aims to establish six million new electricity connections; reach financial close for 2,500 megawatts of new generation capacity; construct 1,500 kilometers of new power lines; and achieve sales of 40,000 productive use of energy devices.

Tetra Tech is searching for a Senior Economist for USAID Empower West Africa Energy Activity. Under the oversight of the ERERA Chairman, the Senior Economist will perform financial and economic analysis, advance policy and regulation, and establish effective data management and dissemination to operationalize the regional electricity market. 

The Senior Economist will:

• Perform Financial and Economic Analysis
  • Collect and analyze technical, economic, and financial data collection to ensure accuracy and consistency.
  • Follow-up and analyze the financial standing of operators, valuation and follow up on the assets and the separation of accounting for the activities of operators.
  • Ensure the monitoring of the financial viability of the regional electricity system.
  • Participate in benchmarking and economic forecasting.
  • Participate in benchmarking of economic and financial performances of the operators at the regional level with periodic update.
• Advance Policy and Regulation
  • Support in the definition of the regional energy policy and harmonization of national policies on Electricity Regulation.
  • Develop proposals for improvement of the regulatory tools in the Member States (support for the development of economic regulatory models and methodology, and support in mediation activities).
  • Formulate, propose, review, and apply the regional tariff methodology and pricing model for the regional electricity market.
• Establish Data Management and Dissemination
  • Develop and maintain up-to-date statistical data bases covering ERERA activities
  • Supervise and ensure effective dissemination of statistics and offer guidance on their analysis and interpretation.
• Other Tasks
  • Support the work of Empower West Africa in the development of a grant request to USAID aiming to assist in the implementation of the second phase of the Regional Electricity Market deployment.
  • Assist in negotiations of cooperation agreements with authorities in charge of competition.
  • Contribute to a series of reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and to monitoring and evaluation tools.
  • Liaise with USAID and U.S. government agencies.

Expected Deliverables

• Spreadsheet models and associated reports.
• Meeting agendas and summaries.
• Weekly, monthly, quarterly reports – summary of activities in support of above tasks.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, or any related field.
• 12 years of proven professional experience in financial planning, modelling, and economic analysis of the energy sector, especially in regulation or management of power systems.
• Good knowledge of institutional reforms and economic regulation of the power sector.
• Good knowledge of energy policy issues, in particular, electricity sector institutional reforms, as well as economic or financial issues related to cross-border electricity exchanges and electricity market management (planning, tariff/pricing, competition, funding, etc.).
• Good knowledge of Community institutions and mechanisms within the ECOWAS region, as well as proven experience in the electricity sector regulation in West Africa.
• Good knowledge of ECOWAS policies, management, administrative, budgetary and staffing systems, procedures and regulations.
• Ability to present sensitive issues/positions and prepare reports on short notice.
• Good team player, performance oriented, and capability to work in a multicultural team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suites (Work, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc).
• Excellent communication skills (spoken, written and presentational) and interpersonal skills (team player).
• Must be fluent in one of the three official languages of ECOWAS Commission (English, French, and Portuguese).

Preferred but Not Required Qualifications

• Experience in the development and management of cross border interconnected power network.
• Experience in international relations and negotiations.
• Experience with regional or international organizations.
• A working knowledge of any of the other ECOWAS language.

Please note that this call for a Senior Economist is an ongoing expression of interest and not a direct employment opportunity. Interested experts will be engaged as short-term (6 months), specialized needs arise.

To submit your interest, please utilize the “Apply with LinkedIn” option.