Lead Economist

Lead Economist

Job #:

req23380

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Economics

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

7/13/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

THE ROLE OF THE GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR MACROECONOMICS, TRADE and INVESTMENT (MTI) IN THE WBG

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice comprised of some 450 staff, with almost half working in country offices around the world. MTI houses the Bank's country economists together with trade economists and specialists, debt and macro modeling experts, and fiscal experts. MTI offers integrated solutions to macroeconomic and structural reform programs. In doing so, MTI staff work closely with other GPs.

MTI staff help to shape and lead knowledge and learning related activities across a range of thematic areas, including but not limited to: (a) macroeconomics; (b) fiscal policy; (c) growth; (d) economic management in resource rich environments; (e) macroeconomic modelling & statistics; (f) trade and regional integration.

THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION (AFE)

Home to about 700 million of Africa's people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally, and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa

Clients range from high-income and middle-income clients to IDA countries, small states, and fragile and conflict-affected states. The Region has been helping countries realize their development potential by focusing on priorities detailed in the World Bank Africa strategy, including responding to shocks, helping countries reduce their debt burden, addressing climate change, and promoting economic transformation for jobs. Towards that end, the Region has prioritized macroeconomic stability, access to power, digital development, food insecurity, water and sanitation, and human capital. Policy and institutional reforms are integral to promoting growth and supporting the sectoral priorities with a view to private capital, mobilization, and jobs. The strategy also prioritizes regional integration especially in the context of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The multiplicity of crises has set back the gains of the past several years, pushing millions into poverty, accentuating inequalities, and deepening vulnerabilities. The Bank has responded to the urgent needs through scaled up support, innovative financing, and timely interventions in close collaboration with other development partners. This is a huge agenda, to not only reverse the development losses but to seek new drivers of sustainable growth and promote resilience.

The regional context has become even more complex in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, sluggish growth, climate change and high food and energy prices, which severely affect the most vulnerable. Rising interest rates complicate the management of already high public debt levels. The Bank, and MTI in particular, will play an important role in supporting the countries in the region to navigate these challenges. Given the scale of these challenges and momentum, there is a pressing need to scale up integrated technical advice that helps countries combine progress on macroeconomic, fiscal, social and climate objectives.

We are seeking an outstanding Lead Economist for EAEM2 to work on regional and country-specific macro-economic analytics and country operations in the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region. The EAEM2 unit covers 14 countries over three Country Management Units: AECS1 (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho); AECS2 (Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles); and AECE3 (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Eritrea). The unit has recently seen a significant increase in work program following the onset of COVID-19. The unit has very strong focus on promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, structural reforms and prudent macro-fiscal policies.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

You will lead a rich and exciting work program supporting the AFE MTI team on the preparation of impactful DPOs and high-profile analytical work and contribute to the regional macro monitoring with a view of providing policy advice across the region. You will play a critical role in coordinate also with internal and external stakeholders. You will also support the AFE MTI Practice Manager on some key functions.

In particular, you would:

• Provide thought leadership on macroeconomic, fiscal, trade policy and growth issues, including related to climate change;

• Lead the development state-of-the-art approaches in applied economic analysis and in pioneering their implementation in operations and analytical work;

• Lead and contribute to a broad range of analytical and operational tasks;

• Actively initiative dialogue and build working-relationships with key government counterparts and development partners to ensure a high impact of analytical work and operations;

• Play a central role in business development;

• Lead the regional macro monitoring team;

• Coordinate and provide key inputs to the Macro-Poverty Outlooks for Eastern and Southern Africa in close collaboration with MTI country economists;

• Support the Practice Manager in maintaining high quality of operations and analytical work and coaching junior staff and provide inputs on corporate briefs and due diligence on macroeconomic issues;

• Facilitate knowledge exchange with the broader MTI GP.

Selection Criteria

• Masters' degree in Economics with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience (a completed PhD is equivalent to 3 years of relevant professional experience), including a track record of delivery of high quality analytical and advisory services.

• Strong analytical skills in macroeconomic, fiscal, trade policy and growth analysis, including related to climate change. Mastery of modern macroeconomic modelling techniques is a plus;

• Proven track record in delivering high quality and technically sophisticated analytical work and high-impact DPOs;

• Sound knowledge of WBG lending tools and procedures;

• Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework;

• Strong oral and written communication skills, in both English and Spanish, including the ability to present complex analyses to non-specialist audiences;

• Strong client-orientation and diplomatic skills combined with candor and courage of opinion;

• Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and teamwork qualities, and ability to work effectively across sectors/GPs;

• Entrepreneurial capabilities that can be deployed in identifying and securing new business opportunities;

• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines;

• High energy and demonstrated interest in achieving impact through analytical work and technical assistance for demanding and sophisticated clients.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex technical issues into practical policy options.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.