Senior Economist at World Bank Group

GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR MACROECONOMICS, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT

The Global Practice for Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) comprises about 450 staff working across more than 100 countries. The Practice houses the Bank’s country economists as well as professional staff with expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, trade, and investment. About fifty percent of MTI professional staff is decentralized to the field working very closely with the Country Management Units (CMUs) and in proximity to clients. MTI professionals most often work across sectors helping carry out key integrative functions. In this context MTI professionals are responsible for the preparation and delivery of the majority of the Bank’s Development Policy Operations using both IDA and IBRD resources. MTI professionals also lead or participate in a wide variety of Analytical products (AAA) and client advisory work requiring integrative functions that add to the core MTI expertise. As such MTI staff often lead or participate in the preparation of Strategic Country Diagnostics, Country Economic Memorandums and cross sector Public Expenditure Reviews, among others. An important additional element of engagement in macroeconomic, trade, and investment is carried through work on debt management supported by the Debt Management Facility.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice is looking for a seasoned Senior Economist (GG) (International hire) to work on Kenya, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The MTI team provides economic analysis on a range of macroeconomic, fiscal management, trade and investment issues; supports bank management with regular economic monitoring and macroeconomic modeling/forecasting; maintains local databases for economic and social statistics for use by Bank staff based in the countries and Washington D.C; and supports the country teams working on Kenya. Additionally, the MTI team also works closely with the Country Management Unit on a range of macroeconomic issues through Analytical and Advisory products (AAA), lending operations and client advisory work.

The successful candidate will be a core team member of the MTI East Africa team and will report to the Practice Manager (EA1M1). In the day to day work, s/he will lead and contribute mostly to the Kenya MTI work program.

Duties include:

• Lead or contribute to MTI core deliverables including development policy operations, analytical reports, and policy notes on a wide range of issues and structural issues. These include specifically fiscal policy, domestic revenue mobilization, natural resources revenue management, economic diversification, public investment management, structural transformation, and fiscal decentralization.
• Lead or participate in the design, preparation and dissemination of analytical economic work and reporting, including bi-annual economic updates, macroeconomic modelling/forecasting, ASAs and various briefs;
• Collaborate closely with the CMU and other Practices in analytical work;
• Contribute to the interpretation of analytical findings, formulation of key messages, and identification of policy implications and recommendations that are supported by the evidence;
• Contribute to the drafting of presentations, memos, reports, notes, blogs, and analytical findings as per business needs.

Competencies:

• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses Cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to link the macro, institutional, and micro-level behaviors; able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Macroeconomic Skills and Country Economics Experience - Able to translate technical analyses of macroeconomic, debt, trade, fiscal policy, and growth linkages into policy recommendations and cross-country lessons.
• Written and Verbal Communication - Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions – Recommends and takes decisive action.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in economics, with eight years of experience. Strong technical and operational skills and a proven track record in delivery of Bank operations, such as ESWs or Development Policy Lending (DPLs);
• Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills;
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely with senior policy officials.
• Strong integrative capacities; i.e., ability to situate IDA activities within a coherent strategic framework.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.