Senior Economist

Senior Economist

Job #:

req22668

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Human Development

Grade:

GG

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English, Spanish

Preferred Language(s):

Portuguese

Closing Date:

6/7/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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

Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR) Region. The WBG serves 30client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clientsrange from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDAcountries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immenseresources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about$4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarterof the Region's people living in poverty. The last Bank's strategy for LCRfocused on three pillars: (a) supporting the foundations for inclusive growth;(b) investing in human capital and protecting the poor; and (c) buildingresilience. In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, this strategy will needto be adjusted to better support the countries deal with a health crisiswithout precedents and an economic crisis not seen since modern statisticalrecords started in 1900. Yet, the basic elements of the strategy: acceleratinggrowth (following a projected GDP contraction in 2020 of 7.2%), investing inhuman capital, including in health (in the most affected region by COVID19),and building resilience appear fully relevant.

LatinAmerica and the Caribbean Region (LCR): https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/lac

The HumanDevelopment (HD) Practice Group (PG):

Human development is atthe core of the World Bank's strategy to improve people's lives and supportsustainable development. The Human Development research program spanseducation, health, social protection, and labor.

Human Development:

TheHuman Development work at the Bank is about incrementally providing the financialresources and analytical tools to help the governments prioritize investmentsthat support human capital accumulation, protection and utilization, andimprove the quality of that spending to achieve better outcomes. The. The LACHuman Development team works at the country an regional level to promoteinvestments in human capital through financing, analytical work, convening powerand advocacy.

Education:

Educationis a human right, a powerful driver of development and one of the strongestinstruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace,and stability. It delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income and isthe most important factor to ensure equality of opportunities. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education

Health,Nutrition & Population:

TheWorld Bank Group (WBG) supports countries' efforts towards achieving UniversalHealth Coverage (UHC) and to provide quality, affordable healthservices to everyone -regardless of their ability to pay - by strengtheningprimary health care systems and reducing the financial risks associated withill health and increasing equity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/health

SocialProtection & Jobs:

Socialprotection systems help individuals and families, especially the poor andvulnerable, cope with crises and shocks, find jobs, improve productivity,invest in the health and education of their children, and protect the agingpopulation. Social protection programs are at the heart of boosting humancapital for the world's most vulnerable. They empower people to be healthy,pursue their education, and seek opportunity to lift themselves and theirfamilies out of poverty. Formore information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialprotection

Duties and Accountabilities:|

This positionreports to the LAC Human DevelopmentDirector. The selected candidate is expected to be a seasoned microeconomistproviding support in analyticalwork, global public goods andoperational activities across all HD topics relevant to LAC. Key duties include:

• Lead and contribute to the design, preparation, and dissemination of analytical products across HD and provide input on a range of issues (e.g., education/health financing, management and governance, human resource policies, school/health facility performance assessments, skills development, social protection etc.). Work on cross-sectoral teams to contribute to analytical products.
• Policy Dialogue and Building Client Capacity: contribute to policy dialogue with LAC governments on a range of sector issues in education, health and SP. Identify and nurture opportunities for participating in the broader policy dialogue. Working jointly with the practice teams, support in building client capacity to use findings of policy research/analytical work for developing new policies, innovative policy designs, and undertaking sector reforms.
• Provide technical advice on key issues and strategic directions for the region and country's human development agenda, by bringing relevant international experience and research to assist in developing local solutions.
• Support the LAC HD Leadership team in overseeing the main global and regional HD trends, the implementation and monitoring of the regional human capital activities and HD -related work at the regional and country level.
• Contribute to the operationalization of the human development agenda by supporting country teams working on operations.
• Contribute to partnership activities on a regular basis, with multilateral and bilateral development partners, UN agencies, non-profit organizations, academia, and civil society. Contribute to alignment and coordination around country-led priorities.
• Support the LAC HD Regional Director in the management of the HD leadership team (all Practice Managers and Program Leaders), key strategic initiatives and preparation for key meetings.

Selection Criteria

• Graduate degrees (Masters or PhD) in economics, public policy and administration, with specialization in relevant human development fields.
• Substantial professional experience - the successful candidate will have at least 8 years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility. Previous experience in policy design, policy evaluation and applied research in academia, or public organizations is a plus.
• Very strong analytical and economics skills in several of the HD areas of works, including education, health, labor economics, social assistance, pensions, digital technologies and service delivery, climate change, as well as a solid understanding of public finance issues.
• Ability to think and collaborate across sectors within and outside HD beyond the boundaries of the staff member's professionally mapped GP
• Knowledge of WBG financing operations as well as analytical and advisory services, and familiarity with WBG instruments.

• Proven experience in managing/supporting innovative ASA which has impacted policy dialogues and reform paths.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to write clearly and succinctly and deliver presentations convincingly to a wide range of audiences. Ability to prepare compelling presentation materials quickly.

• Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively across and within practice boundaries, inspire commitment to excellence and teamwork, and to liaise tactfully as a member of a multicultural team. Demonstrated leadership skills to motivate and lead teams without formal line-management authority.

• Excellent command of Spanish. Working knowledge of Portuguese is a plus.

Thisinternal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-termand extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requestednot to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will notbe considered.

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.