Lead Economist
Apply NowCompany: The World Bank Group
Location: Washington, DC 20011
Description:
Lead Economist
Job #:
req31442
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):
French
Closing Date:
2/18/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region
We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.
Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.
In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water, and sanitation-all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank's program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87 percent of the world's extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people's lives and help countries build back better after COVID.
For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
Poverty & Equity Global Practice
The Poverty and Equity Global Practice, part of the Prosperity vice-presidency, plays a key role in supporting the World Bank Group's goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. It generates knowledge and dialogue and supports operational solutions, focusing on poverty monitoring, distributional analysis and statistical capacity building, markets and institutions, fiscal and social policy, and resilience to shocks and sustainability. The practice is organized into seven regionally-oriented units-EAP, ECA, LAC, MNA, SAR and two in AFR-each managed by a Practice Manager.
The Western and Central Africa Poverty unit (EAWPV) covers 22 countries facing a broad range of challenges and opportunities, but they all share the common goal of eliminating extreme poverty and reducing inequality. For almost 25 years, extreme poverty was steadily declining. Now, for the first time in a generation, the quest to end poverty has suffered its worst setback. In 2020, global extreme poverty incidence increased for the first time in over 20 years as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic compounds the forces of conflict and climate change, which were already slowing poverty reduction progress. There is no silver bullet to ending poverty, and strategies to reach the least well-off must be tailored to each country's context, informed by the latest data and analysis and the needs of the people. How the world responds to these major challenges today will have a direct bearing on whether the current reversals in global poverty reduction can be turned around. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty
Duties and Accountabilities:
We are looking for an internationally recruited Lead Economist to join our team based in Washington DC. You will be responsible for leading the Poverty and Equity work program in the Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire Country Management Units (CMUs) to help support key engagement areas to implement the Country Partnership Frameworks across 9 countries.
Your responsibilities will include:
Provide team leadership and quality assurance to deliver of the Poverty and Equity work program anchored by CMU-wide multi-year Programmatic ASAs structured around 3 interrelated pillars:
(i) strengthening the data landscape, applying and developing innovative data-driven approaches and new technologies to measure and monitor trends in poverty and inequality (including gender-based inequality);
(ii) generating knowledge and analytics to inform policy priorities and the public discourse; and
(iii) provide cross-support to contribute to the design and monitoring of the Bank's operational portfolio.
Provide guidance and quality assurance to help country poverty economists lead, roll-out, and deliver the new Poverty and Equity Assessments (PEA) - a core Bank ASA - across AFW countries.
Help oversee efforts to support strengthening of country statistical systems-including sample surveys as well as administrative and monitoring data-through TA and supporting the implementation of a regional investment lending portfolio.
Lead the team to provide just-in-time and rapid poverty and distributional diagnostics and guidance to both the CMUs and sectoral teams to inform policy dialogue, TA, and analytical work and the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of lending operations.
Join the Unit Leadership Team and contribute to implementing the overall work program.
Help lead the strategic dialogue with government and international partners to define overall direction and content (policy dialogue, TA, analytical work, and financing operations) of the engagement areas to implement the CPF.
Provide upstream advice and guidance to the CMU and task teams on the design of individual tasks to ensure strategic fit with the overall engagement.
Selection Criteria
We are looking for an imaginative and innovative applied economist with a demonstrated track record of sound analytical work, excellent judgment, and experience in working closely with clients to tailor analytical and/or statistical advisory services. Experience working with national statistical agencies, providing technical support, and implementing lending operations to build statistical capacity will be considered a plus. Candidates must demonstrate strong client engagement skills, effectiveness in working collaboratively with teams from multiple practices, and prior experience of successful engagements in challenging and/or weak capacity contexts.
Minimum Education/Experience:
Master's degree (PhD preferred) in Economics with a strong quantitative background and at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience. Excellent quantitative and analytical background with a proven record of high-quality analytical work in the areas outlined above, including publications in peer reviewed journals. Demonstrated experience managing complex analytical tasks especially in collaboration w/other GPs.
Other Selection Criteria:
Recognized and respected by peers; demonstrated ability to interact effectively at senior levels in different parts of the Bank, other organizations, client governments and civil society.
Track record of innovation, leadership, and integrity in managing operational programs, analytical work; experience leading and designing capacity building activities is desirable.
Ability to deliver high-quality policy relevant analytic and advisory products within tight deadlines and in cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary team settings and demonstrated ability to translate analyses into recommendations for strategies, policies, and programs for poverty reduction.
Superb technical skills including in-depth knowledge and understanding of welfare measurement and monitoring, household survey data and statistical systems, ex-ante and ex-post analysis of the distributional impacts of policy reforms, labor market analysis, and risk and vulnerability analytics.
Ability to listen and integrate ideas from varied sources, create partnerships, and communicate to diverse constituencies inside and outside the Bank, and an ability to work in teams and across organizational boundaries, respecting the views of others.
Ability to work with staff from all levels and to mentor, coach and motivate junior staff.
Experience in low and middle-income countries working successfully with constituencies in both the public and private sectors to promote poverty reduction, gender equity and results-based management.
Excellent English writing and communication skills.
Note: This internal requisition isopen to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended termconsultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. Incase an external 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.
Job #:
req31442
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):
French
Closing Date:
2/18/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region
We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.
Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.
In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water, and sanitation-all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank's program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87 percent of the world's extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people's lives and help countries build back better after COVID.
For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
Poverty & Equity Global Practice
The Poverty and Equity Global Practice, part of the Prosperity vice-presidency, plays a key role in supporting the World Bank Group's goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. It generates knowledge and dialogue and supports operational solutions, focusing on poverty monitoring, distributional analysis and statistical capacity building, markets and institutions, fiscal and social policy, and resilience to shocks and sustainability. The practice is organized into seven regionally-oriented units-EAP, ECA, LAC, MNA, SAR and two in AFR-each managed by a Practice Manager.
The Western and Central Africa Poverty unit (EAWPV) covers 22 countries facing a broad range of challenges and opportunities, but they all share the common goal of eliminating extreme poverty and reducing inequality. For almost 25 years, extreme poverty was steadily declining. Now, for the first time in a generation, the quest to end poverty has suffered its worst setback. In 2020, global extreme poverty incidence increased for the first time in over 20 years as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic compounds the forces of conflict and climate change, which were already slowing poverty reduction progress. There is no silver bullet to ending poverty, and strategies to reach the least well-off must be tailored to each country's context, informed by the latest data and analysis and the needs of the people. How the world responds to these major challenges today will have a direct bearing on whether the current reversals in global poverty reduction can be turned around. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty
Duties and Accountabilities:
We are looking for an internationally recruited Lead Economist to join our team based in Washington DC. You will be responsible for leading the Poverty and Equity work program in the Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire Country Management Units (CMUs) to help support key engagement areas to implement the Country Partnership Frameworks across 9 countries.
Your responsibilities will include:
Provide team leadership and quality assurance to deliver of the Poverty and Equity work program anchored by CMU-wide multi-year Programmatic ASAs structured around 3 interrelated pillars:
(i) strengthening the data landscape, applying and developing innovative data-driven approaches and new technologies to measure and monitor trends in poverty and inequality (including gender-based inequality);
(ii) generating knowledge and analytics to inform policy priorities and the public discourse; and
(iii) provide cross-support to contribute to the design and monitoring of the Bank's operational portfolio.
Provide guidance and quality assurance to help country poverty economists lead, roll-out, and deliver the new Poverty and Equity Assessments (PEA) - a core Bank ASA - across AFW countries.
Help oversee efforts to support strengthening of country statistical systems-including sample surveys as well as administrative and monitoring data-through TA and supporting the implementation of a regional investment lending portfolio.
Lead the team to provide just-in-time and rapid poverty and distributional diagnostics and guidance to both the CMUs and sectoral teams to inform policy dialogue, TA, and analytical work and the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of lending operations.
Join the Unit Leadership Team and contribute to implementing the overall work program.
Help lead the strategic dialogue with government and international partners to define overall direction and content (policy dialogue, TA, analytical work, and financing operations) of the engagement areas to implement the CPF.
Provide upstream advice and guidance to the CMU and task teams on the design of individual tasks to ensure strategic fit with the overall engagement.
Selection Criteria
We are looking for an imaginative and innovative applied economist with a demonstrated track record of sound analytical work, excellent judgment, and experience in working closely with clients to tailor analytical and/or statistical advisory services. Experience working with national statistical agencies, providing technical support, and implementing lending operations to build statistical capacity will be considered a plus. Candidates must demonstrate strong client engagement skills, effectiveness in working collaboratively with teams from multiple practices, and prior experience of successful engagements in challenging and/or weak capacity contexts.
Minimum Education/Experience:
Master's degree (PhD preferred) in Economics with a strong quantitative background and at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience. Excellent quantitative and analytical background with a proven record of high-quality analytical work in the areas outlined above, including publications in peer reviewed journals. Demonstrated experience managing complex analytical tasks especially in collaboration w/other GPs.
Other Selection Criteria:
Recognized and respected by peers; demonstrated ability to interact effectively at senior levels in different parts of the Bank, other organizations, client governments and civil society.
Track record of innovation, leadership, and integrity in managing operational programs, analytical work; experience leading and designing capacity building activities is desirable.
Ability to deliver high-quality policy relevant analytic and advisory products within tight deadlines and in cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary team settings and demonstrated ability to translate analyses into recommendations for strategies, policies, and programs for poverty reduction.
Superb technical skills including in-depth knowledge and understanding of welfare measurement and monitoring, household survey data and statistical systems, ex-ante and ex-post analysis of the distributional impacts of policy reforms, labor market analysis, and risk and vulnerability analytics.
Ability to listen and integrate ideas from varied sources, create partnerships, and communicate to diverse constituencies inside and outside the Bank, and an ability to work in teams and across organizational boundaries, respecting the views of others.
Ability to work with staff from all levels and to mentor, coach and motivate junior staff.
Experience in low and middle-income countries working successfully with constituencies in both the public and private sectors to promote poverty reduction, gender equity and results-based management.
Excellent English writing and communication skills.
Note: This internal requisition isopen to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended termconsultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. Incase an external 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.