Senior Economist
Job #: req23121
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Poverty Reduction
Grade: GG
Term Duration: 3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 6/23/2023 (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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.
Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE)
Home to about half a billion 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. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The sub region boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters.
The sub region harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continues to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.
The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,207 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities:
Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate job creation and economic transformation by leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to promote investment.
Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa’s vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030 – a vision that, if realized, can boost growth by up to 2 percentage points per year, and reduce poverty by 1 percentage point per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.
Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support is helping governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services.
Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities. With the influx COVID-19, we are mobilizing financial support and timely analysis and advice to countries across the subregion deal with the pandemic.
Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption: In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure. Several East African countries are currently facing a debilitating Desert Locust infestation, threatening the already precarious food security situation. The Bank has put together a program to help affected countries deal with the scourge.
Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity.
Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for Africa is a better future for the world.
East Africa Poverty team
The Poverty and Equity Global Practice, part of the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions 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 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 development and flow of global knowledge within the practice is facilitated through cross-cutting thematic lines, each of which is led by a thematic Lead Economist. Every member of the practice is affiliated with, participates in and contributes to the work of the thematic lines. In addition, the practice takes the lead in two corporate priority areas: (a) Data for Goals; and (b) Systematic Country Diagnostics.
The East Africa Poverty unit (EAEPV) covers a large number of countries in East and Southern Africa with a broad range of challenges and opportunities. They are at different stages of economic development but all share the common goal of eliminating extreme poverty and reducing inequality.
Duties and Accountabilities
The selected candidate will be based in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and will lead the exciting and diverse Poverty and Equity program in Tanzania as well as participating actively in the broader CMU engagement with a variety of counterparts. Like all members of the poverty global practice, he/she will also be expected to contribute to the global knowledge base of the practice.
The selected candidate will be expected to:
• Oversee the design and delivery of the poverty program and serve as the poverty and Equity global practice’s country focal point for the country in terms of both poverty monitoring and poverty-related policy and programmatic interactions with internal (the CMU, in particular the Program Leaders overseeing the poverty programs, and other practices within the country team) and external country-level partners.
• Engage with task teams from other practices working in the selected countries to support the operationalization of the WBG’s twin goals by identifying opportunities to enhance the poverty reduction impact of specific operations through more granular analyses using micro data.
• Mentor and guide junior members of the teams working on various poverty programs.
• Contribute to the global knowledge base of the poverty practice by participating in and contributing to the work of at least one of the four thematic lines.
Selection Criteria
We are looking for a seasoned imaginative and innovative micro-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 and operations. Candidates with strong client engagement skills, demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively with teams from multiple practices and with prior experience of successful engagement in weak capacity contexts will be given special preferences. Prior exposure to and experience with working to narrow gender gaps, working on jobs and economic participation, and working with statistical agencies on the development and implementation of statistical strengthening plans are highly desired.
Minimum Education/Experience
• Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in economics, public policy, statistics or other related field, with a strong quantitative background and at least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience.
Other Selection Criteria
• Program management skills and experience – someone with hands on delivery skills.
• Strong analytical skills and experience of policy influencing/engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with government clients and development partners; track record in donor management and resource development.
• Strong track record of substantially contributing to reports in fields related to poverty, inequality, labor markets, economic mobility.
• Ability to operate in French is an advantage.
• Desired experience includes acting as a practitioner in developing and/or transition countries, and experience with poverty, labor, and/or gender-related operational programs (including capacity building).
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.
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