Diplomatic and Development Economics Fast Stream 2025
Apply before Midday on Thursday 7th November 2024
Details
Reference number
371750
Salary
£31,186
A
Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
FSET - Centrally Managed Scheme
Type of role
Fast Stream
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
15
Contents
Location
London and Glasgow (followed by overseas placement)
About the job
Job summary
The heart of international economic issues, development and foreign policy.
Job description
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advances UK national interests and promotes the UK as a force for good in the world. It serves British citizens, protects UK security, defends values, reduces poverty, and tackles global challenges with international partners. The FCDO operates globally with 280 posts worldwide.
Economics is vital to the FCDO, placing economists at the core of policy, partnerships, diplomacy, and aid spending decisions. The FCDO, an international economic department with a global development mission, relies increasingly on economic expertise to provide ministers with fresh ideas and deep policy insights.
Economics enhances policy and programming by:
understanding the impact of economic developments on broader policy interests
diagnosing and prioritising challenges
designing evidence-based solutions, considering trade-offs and cost-effectiveness
implementing policy with measurable success metrics
influencing others with data-driven arguments
Diplomatic and Development Economists engage in diverse, rewarding projects, focusing on country-specific and thematic issues across international borders. This role places you at the centre of development, global macroeconomic policy, and international relations.
UK-based roles involve collaboration with government departments, consultancies, international organisations, and academia, offering valuable experience and training before an overseas posting. Diplomatic and Development Economics fast streamers are placed in a range of varying roles with the primary purpose of making sure development and foreign policy is underpinned by sound economic analysis. No two Diplomatic and Development Economists fast streamers will share the same career path and you can choose to spend a large part of your career overseas. The unique benefit of this scheme is that the training it provides allows Diplomatic and Development Economists to apply for both analytical economics roles and policy roles later in their career, both within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or in other government departments. This offers a great range of career pathways and options for you in the future.
All Diplomatic and Development Economist fast streamers must be granted ‘Developed Vetting’ (DV) security clearance before starting. For DV clearance, you need to have lived in the UK for 5 of the last 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period. Security clearance relies on assurance checks that can only be carried out in the UK – which is why a sufficient UK footprint is a mandatory requirement for this scheme.
Economics is vital to the FCDO, placing economists at the core of policy, partnerships, diplomacy, and aid spending decisions. The FCDO, an international economic department with a global development mission, relies increasingly on economic expertise to provide ministers with fresh ideas and deep policy insights.
Economics enhances policy and programming by:
understanding the impact of economic developments on broader policy interests
diagnosing and prioritising challenges
designing evidence-based solutions, considering trade-offs and cost-effectiveness
implementing policy with measurable success metrics
influencing others with data-driven arguments
Diplomatic and Development Economists engage in diverse, rewarding projects, focusing on country-specific and thematic issues across international borders. This role places you at the centre of development, global macroeconomic policy, and international relations.
UK-based roles involve collaboration with government departments, consultancies, international organisations, and academia, offering valuable experience and training before an overseas posting. Diplomatic and Development Economics fast streamers are placed in a range of varying roles with the primary purpose of making sure development and foreign policy is underpinned by sound economic analysis. No two Diplomatic and Development Economists fast streamers will share the same career path and you can choose to spend a large part of your career overseas. The unique benefit of this scheme is that the training it provides allows Diplomatic and Development Economists to apply for both analytical economics roles and policy roles later in their career, both within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or in other government departments. This offers a great range of career pathways and options for you in the future.
All Diplomatic and Development Economist fast streamers must be granted ‘Developed Vetting’ (DV) security clearance before starting. For DV clearance, you need to have lived in the UK for 5 of the last 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period. Security clearance relies on assurance checks that can only be carried out in the UK – which is why a sufficient UK footprint is a mandatory requirement for this scheme.
Person specification
You must be a British citizen (those with dual nationality may apply)
Resided in the UK for at least 5 of the previous 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period
You need, or expect to receive, a 2:1 degree, degree apprenticeship or higher or a postgraduate degree in an economic subject for mixed degrees, at least 50% should be in economics
Resided in the UK for at least 5 of the previous 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period
You need, or expect to receive, a 2:1 degree, degree apprenticeship or higher or a postgraduate degree in an economic subject for mixed degrees, at least 50% should be in economics
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £31,186, contributes
£9,034 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
You will have the opportunity to work on international issues that really matter, from alleviating poverty to ensuring security and prosperity for the UK. The Fast Stream programme provides an excellent platform for promotion and long term career progression across the Civil Service.
Joining as a permanent employee, you will benefit from Civil Service Pension Scheme, recognised language qualifications, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, childcare assistance, diversity support networks and forums.
Joining as a permanent employee, you will benefit from Civil Service Pension Scheme, recognised language qualifications, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, childcare assistance, diversity support networks and forums.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
There are several phases in the Fast Stream application process. Some of these assessments are multimedia in that they present information in video, audio, graphical or visual formats, as well as text. We hope you find it an engaging process and one that gives you a real insight into the role of a fast streamer.
At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to four.
When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.
Assessment Phases
There are 3 online tests:
Using Data - In this test you will be asked to weigh up options and to make decisions on different scenarios, perform calculations, solve problems and evaluate and interpret numerical information.
Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.
Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take Work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.
Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process.
Fast Stream Assessment Centre - if you pass the above stages you'll be invited to attend a half day assessment centre. This will be conducted virtually on line. The Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a leadership scenario, a team scenario and a written scenario. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely.
Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board. We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to four.
When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.
Assessment Phases
There are 3 online tests:
Using Data - In this test you will be asked to weigh up options and to make decisions on different scenarios, perform calculations, solve problems and evaluate and interpret numerical information.
Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.
Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take Work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.
Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process.
Fast Stream Assessment Centre - if you pass the above stages you'll be invited to attend a half day assessment centre. This will be conducted virtually on line. The Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a leadership scenario, a team scenario and a written scenario. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely.
Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board. We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the
Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window)
and the
Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
