Job Description

We are seeking an outstanding Country Adviser for the Centre for Tax Analysis in Developing Countries (TAXDEV). This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with researchers and policymakers to conduct high quality quantitative analysis on the effects of tax policies on government revenues, inequality and growth.

1. Background

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is the UK’s leading independent microeconomic research institute. Our research remit is one of the broadest in public policy analysis, covering subjects from tax and benefits to education policy, from labour supply to corporate taxation. Our research not only has an impact on policy makers, think tanks and practitioners, it has also gained a worldwide reputation for academic rigour, and contributes to the development of academic scholarship. We communicate our research widely on a national and international scale, providing independent advice to policy makers in the UK, Europe and in developing countries; collaborating with world renowned academics on new economic theories and techniques; and disseminating our research globally through the press, media and the web.

In 2018, IFS completed a two-year pilot phase of the Centre for Tax Analysis in Developing Countries (TAXDEV).

TAXDEV works with partner governments in low- and middle-income countries to co-produce modelling tools, conduct applied analysis of key tax and transfer policy and administration issues, and provide technical support to the development of evidence-based policymaking.

In collaboration with partners and a network of academics, the programme also generates high quality, rigorous research on taxation in low and middle-income countries more broadly.

During the pilot phase, IFS successfully established country programmes in Ethiopia and Ghana. Phase II of TAXDEV, lasting four years between Autumn 2018 and Autumn 2022, involves scaling up in these two countries and expanding our work to Rwanda and Uganda, in partnership with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

2. About the Role

We are seeking applications for a full-time Country Adviser for our Ghana country programme. The Country Adviser will work closely with our partners at the Ministry of Finance in Ghana, and will be based in Accra.

During Phase I of TAXDEV, IFS researchers developed a partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) to undertake rigorous analysis of proposed and hypothetical tax reforms and help improve the analytical tools and capabilities of the Ministry’s Tax Policy Unit (TPU). This also involved regular collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

We are seeking a motivated and skilled individual to become a Country Adviser for Phase II of the TAXDEV programme, to:

• Deepen and strengthen our partnership with the MoF, GRA and other relevant organisations;
• Conduct applied, policy-relevant analysis and research on Ghana’s tax and transfer systems, in conjunction with IFS researchers based in London and MoF and GRA analysts;
• Work with the MoF to help embed new analytical and dissemination tools and processes at the Ministry, to ensure the TAXDEV programme has a long-run and sustainable beneficial impact, and supports evidence-based policymaking.

The Country Adviser will report to a London-based Country Programme Manager (CPM) and receive training and support from the cross-country IFS and ODI teams throughout the project.

3. Main Duties

Research Management

Work with MoF partners and the CPM to:

• Ensure strong and productive working relationships between the TAXDEV team, MoF analysts, and other relevant government partners, including GRA;
• Map the legislative and administrative frameworks governing tax and transfer policies in Ghana and other relevant countries, and keep up-to-date with policy developments and debates;
• Use this knowledge to help identify tax and transfer policy and research questions that could be addressed as part of the TAXDEV programme, and where appropriate, liaise with the IFS and ODI’s network of researchers and academics to identify opportunities for collaborative research projects;
• Conduct in-depth data scoping activities, draft and establish data sharing arrangements between the IFS, ODI, MoF and other relevant government institutions and establish systems for formatting, cleaning and processing data for analytical purposes;
• Work closely with government partners to plan, manage and undertake high quality applied analytical projects, and develop tools with support from the cross-country IFS and ODI research teams;
• Work with analysts to respond to questions from policy makers using analytical tools within the time constraints of the budget process, and develop systems and processes to ensure that routine analysis can be conducted efficiently and accurately.

Project management

Work with MoF partners, the CPM and any additional researchers involved in a project to:

• Develop realistic and implementable project plans that meet MoF and TAXDEV priorities and timelines, and ensure that all project activities progress in line with these plans;
• Develop and manage the negotiation of research deliverables, work plans and budgets for data collection agencies and sub-contractors (if required);
• Help to organise workshops, conferences, dissemination events and study tours, including taking a lead in making logistical and travel arrangements.

Training

Work with MoF partners, the CPM and any additional researchers involved in a project to:

• Identify training and professional development needs and objectives, and develop a structured training programme to respond to these needs;
• Organise and deliver appropriate training workshops and study tours;
• Develop training manuals that can be used for the continuous maintenance, improvement and embedding of analytical tools within the MoF, and that can be adapted for publication on the IFS and ODI websites as examples or guides for other countries.

Dissemination and impact:

Work with MoF partners and the CPM to:

• Coordinate project communication, liaison and engagement activities to ensure effective coordination with research, policy and technical assistance stakeholders and enable them to feed into ongoing projects;
• Support the dissemination of project findings and outputs (including policy options or evaluations, follow-on questions or issues identified, and new tools, facts and figures) to government, and where appropriate, external stakeholders;
• Draft policy reports and briefing notes to support dissemination and impact activities.

Required Skills or Experience

Essential:

• A Master’s degree in economics, applied public policy, or a relevant social science subject;
• At least 3 years of experience in research and public policy. Other relevant experience will also be considered;
• An interest in the economic analysis of public finance and knowledge of Ghanaian public finances and the Ghanaian tax system;
• An interest in the economic analysis of public finance and development issues, and a strong motivation to bridge the gap between academic research and issues of practical policy design or evaluation;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with wide range of stakeholders, including government partners and researchers;
• The ability to effectively manage complex projects, including outlining project objectives, planning work in a structured and systematic manner in alignment with the stated objectives, assessing progress and making changes to project plans to reflect changing timelines and realities;
• The ability to work proactively and on own initiative, draw on support from a wide network, and share insights with a broader team of researchers;
• Outstanding economic reasoning skills;
• Outstanding quantitative and numeracy skills, including knowledge of mathematical and statistical techniques used in applied public economics and policy analysis;
• Excellent data management and processing skills – including knowledge of MS Excel, and Stata;
• Well-developed writing and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex economic ideas in plain language;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines;
• A willingness to maintain the highest standards of intellectual rigour and objectivity.

Desirable:

• Previous experience of working in a tax policy unit or revenue administration.