Senior Economist - Program Lead for Regional Economics - Middle East and Pakistan

Senior Economist - Program Lead for Regional Economics - Middle East and Pakistan

Job #:
req19113

Organization:
IFC

Sector:
Economics

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):
Turkish, Russian, Arabic

Closing Date:
10/4/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

IFC-a member of the World Bank Group-is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating unique opportunities by proactively working "Upstream" to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. This strategy also calls for working with Governments and World Bank colleagues to first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges - where such solutions are advisable and can be effective - and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal. This approach is called the "Cascade".

The Regional and Country Economics and Engagement Department for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan leads the VPU's participation in WBG engagement process (CEM, CPF, DPO, PLR, etc.) and IFC regional and country strategies (IFC Country strategies, CCDR, CPSD); develops periodic and "just in time" regional an country economic analysis, ad hoc economic and strategic analysis for regional country directors and managers, and high level support for strategic operations, such as platform templates and inter-institutional programs.

Roles & Responsibilities:

IFC is seeking a senior country economist who will lead CMCCE program in the Middle East and Pakistan, with support from two country economists, and in coordination with CMCCE program leads for CPSD and CCDR.

CMCCE program includes:

Country Diagnostics and strategy: Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) which are done in collaboration with IFC Operations and partners in the World Bank Group, and feed into IFC Country Strategies and inform the WBG Strategic Country Diagnostic (SCD) and the Country Partnership Framework (CPF).

Support to operations: Support regional operations by reviewing the economic, development and strategic impact of IFC operations, as well as contributing to the economic analysis of project documents, board papers, regional/country briefs, etc.; and

Analytics: Conduct in-depth analytics on specific themes relevant to private sector development at the country or regional level.

The specific duties of the Senior Economist and Program lead for Regional Economics are to:
• Lead global, regional, and country macroeconomic performance analysis and forecasts.
• Lead policy notes on main economic issues pertaining to the Region.
• Monitor political, macroeconomic, and sector developments in the Region; analyze their impact on IFC operations, and develop "just in time" economic updates for the Middle East and Pakistan
• Liaise with the joint Global Practices to leverage their knowledge and support for Country Roadmaps/Strategies.
• Engage in WBG policy dialogue with internal and external stakeholders, in close collaboration with the Regional Country Director and Managers
• Produce focused analysis and policy papers to identify challenges to increasing private investment in the region and propose options to overcome the challenges.
• Conduct primary research and work with teams across the WBG and external experts to help develop new tools to identify and quantify opportunities for private sector investment with development impact
• Maintain close contact with IFC investment, advisory, upstream, and creating markets teams and mobilize relevant in-house expertise for countries diagnostic and strategies, including CCDRs and CPSD.
• Advise the regional country director, managers, and officers on investment opportunities and advisory services based on risks ratings and mitigations options.
• Lead IFC contribution in all relevant WBG engagement, including SCDs, CPFs, DPOs, and PLRs.
• Mentor other economists and strategists in the Regional and Country Economics Unit.

Selection Criteria
• PhD in economics, and 12 years of relevant professional experience in the public and/or private sector.
• A track record of relevant analytical work, demonstrated by publications (peer-reviewed journals or books) or reports, and experience with policy dialogue.
• Deep knowledge on the WBG country engagements, and experience leading WB/IFC or MIGA projects.
• Experience with economic models (IAMs, CGEs, macro-structural models, or agent-based models), financial models, or econometrics approaches (Python, Stata) is desirable.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner.
• Excellent command of at least the English language, both written and spoken. Arabic language is a plus.
• Interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• A proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.

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