Lead Economist

Lead Economist

Job #:

req26656

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Human Development

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Arabic, French

Closing Date:

4/4/2024 (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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The MENA Region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region serves twenty countries, of which twelve are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers and eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis. The mission of MENA is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. MENA attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. MENA is organized in five Country Departments (CMUs), the Office of the Regional Chief Economist, and the Development Effectiveness Unit (MNADE). It places high value on diversity.

With an expanded regional strategy, the World Bank aims to help the MENA region weather the current crises, move from stabilization to transformation, unlock its vast economic potential of youth and women, and ease the constraints that hamper their creative energies. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena

The Bank's MENA Regional Vice Presidency has placed Human Development including education at the heart of its engagement as a critical part of its strategy in supporting countries rebuild trust between citizens and the state, promoting regional cooperation, building resilience in countries amidst the refugee challenges in the region, and supporting recovery and reconstruction.

MNA Human Development Department

The MENA Human Development (HD) team is led by a Director and encompasses three units (Health, Nutrition and Population; Social Protection and Jobs; and Education). In addition, there are Program Leads (PLs) who are placed in each SMU and a small front office team. The MENA HD strategy aims to enhance Human Capital in the Region to help MENA become a region that realizes its vast potential by harnessing its greatest untapped assets: the human capital of its population, including youth, women, and the elderly.

The MENA Region is seeking a Lead Economist, Human Development, to support the timely and high-quality delivery of the HD Regional Director (RD) Office's strategic, analytical, and operational program in the region.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Lead the Department's Quality Enhancement/Assurance of Knowledge and Analytical Products through
  • Strategic support and advice to the RD, Practice Managers (PMs), Program Leaders (PLs) and task teams on the design and preparation of the ASA work program of the GP.
  • Lead/Advice the RD, PMs, PLs and task teams on the preparation of key regional analytical products.
  • Lead the development of the MNA HD Flagship Report.
  • Advise the RD, PMs and PLs on the development and implementation of the Knowledge agenda in the region with particular attention to dissemination efforts.
  • Coordinate with other GPs and CMUs in the region and with Global Units in HD on key analytical and knowledge initiatives.
  • Serve as the first point of contact within the Practice Group (PG) for corporate commitments, initiatives, communications as they relate to knowledge and analytical products, including the emerging agenda on the Global Challenge Programs.
  • Work with management and teams to develop country-specific and regional cross-sectoral engagements relevant for the region, such as ECD, jobs, climate change, aging and the care economy, digitalization and resilience of delivery systems.
  • Produce, in collaboration with sectoral teams and global units, the knowledge necessary to support cross-sectoral engagements.
  • Lead/ support country-specific engagements that require cross sectoral coordination and expertise.
  • Lead/ contribute to country and regional reports within and outside HD.
  • Be the Human Capital Project focal point for the region and contribute to HCP activities and products.
  • Represent HD in external/ internal forums and events.
  • Support the regional director and management team in the preparation of HD strategies, briefs, and analyses/ presentations on key HD topics.
  • Participate in RMT meetings and support dialogue and cross-sectoral products with the Front Office and other practice groups.
• Strategy and Coordination
  • Lead/coordinate preparation of materials for Senior Management, including presentations. briefing materials, talking points, etc., ensuring consistency with PG and Regional Strategy and corporate guidelines; and that due diligence and quality standards are met.
  • Support the implementation of the PG strategy for the region; contribute to the MNA Regional Strategy.
  • Coordinate with the regional FO and DE units on behalf of the PG/RD on corporate, strategic, and operational matters.
  • Coordinate PG comments on regional/corporate reviews (IEG, GIA, ROC, OC, etc.) on behalf of the RD.
  • Liaise with PG FO on portfolio monitoring, strategic issues, and corporate commitments.
• Support the MNA HD management team on key Business Processes
  • Support the RD on the unit's management work, including but not limited to resource management and HR processes, Workforce Planning, onboarding of new staff, mentoring, organization of townhalls, retreats, budget, Work Program Agreement, etc.
  • Lead learning efforts, address training needs for PG staff, and conduct (or arrange for) training initiatives accordingly.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced university degree (preferably PhD or equivalent) in relevant social science/human development fields (HNP, EDU, SPJ). Candidates with combined degrees will have an added advantage.
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience (e.g., as senior/lead specialist or senior program management positions in one or more of HD-related sectors). Experience in two or more of these sectors is advantageous.
• Must have technical breadth and depth to devise development solutions and carry out client dialogue.
• Demonstrated skills in integrating multi-sectoral inputs into a package of solutions to achieve development results.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of WBG operations, products and ASA work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead discussions at the highest policy levels in one or more of the following areas: Education, Health, Nutrition & Population, Poverty, Social Protection & Jobs, Gender, and Migration.
• Demonstrated client orientation through identifying and evaluating emerging opportunities aligned with WBG strategy, and challenging others to remove barriers and to deliver beyond client expectations.
• Demonstrated achievement of results through building a culture that consistently delivers high-quality products and services to clients and through engaging others in implementing strategies that have long-term impact.
• Demonstrated leadership in teamwork, mentoring and inclusion to support collaboration and working across boundaries, and ensuring diverse talent and capability is mobilized across Global Practices.
• Proven ability to work across practice and disciplinary boundaries as well as with multiple stakeholders to build collaborative alliances for results.
• Demonstrated capacity to understand the political economy and local context.
• Strong inter-personal skills with proven experience in dealing with the media, external constituencies and expert groups.
• Fluency in English (excellent oral and written communication skills), with ability to prepare documents on complex subjects, speak and write persuasively, and present ideas clearly and concisely. Knowledge of Arabic and/or French highly desirable.

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.