Description

The World Bank is a leading multi-lateral institution in global economic development. The bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. 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 of 350 projects totaling more than $38 billion 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% 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. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice leads the World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, trade, competition and investment. MTI links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/mti-gp

Roles and Responsibilities

The Economist will be part of the Mali Country Management unit (covering Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad) MTI Team, which is comprised of a Lead Economist and a team of senior and country Economists based in DC and in the country offices in Bamako, Ouagadougou, N’djamena and Niamey.

The Economist will primarily work on Mali, which also means being part of the Mali Country Team, comprised of colleagues from the different practice groups and other senior global practice staff to ensure cross-cutting solutions to the core (typically multi-practice) country engagements around which the Mali Country Partnership Framework and the country program is organized. Each core engagement utilizes different Bank instruments (ASA, policy dialogue, lending [DPO, PforR, IPF]). In addition, the Country Economist is expected to also support the work programs of the other three countries in the Mali CMU as well as Mali CMU wide MTI tasks.

The Economist is expected to lead and co-lead tasks to support core country engagements:
1. Macro-fiscal stability and Inclusive growth
2. Domestic revenue mobilization,
3. Quality of public expenditures and Debt management
4. Private investment and Economic growth and diversification
5. Effectiveness, transparency and accountability of public institutions (in particular finance and fiscal institutions)

To deliver on the tasks, the Economist will work closely with the larger Mali CMU MTI team, in particular the Economist also working on Mali based in DC.

Specific responsibilities of the Economist include the following:
• Lead/support the macroeconomic monitoring of Mali, which includes the Macro and Poverty Outlook (MPO), the annual Mali Economic Update, and just-in-time economic briefings.
• Lead/support the policy dialogue on macroeconomic and fiscal policy and economic growth issues with the Malian authorities, with the IMF and economic departments of other development agencies and non-government stakeholders;
• Lead/support fiscal and debt ASAs, including Public Finance Reviews (PFR), Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), domestic revenue mobilization technical assistance, and the implementation of the Sustainable Financing Policy Development (SDFP);
• Lead/support core country diagnostics such as Country Economic Memorandums (CEM) and other growth diagnostics, working with other GPs to integrate structural, sectoral and macroeconomic issues;
• Lead/support the country macroeconomic engagement on climate change, including technical assistance and analytics, building on the Sahel Climate Change Development Report (CCDR);
• Lead/support Development Policy Operations, where applicable, or other types of lending operations focused on economic and fiscal reforms;
• Advise sector teams on the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of sector policies and investment decisions – for example on the oil and gas and power sectors – and provide cross-support where relevant;
• Provide analytical inputs for and advises the Country Management Unit (CMU) on country strategic engagement and economic policy issues, including participation in review meetings; and
• Actively develop new business that contributes to the development agenda of Mali. 

Selection Criteria

Required Competencies
• Minimum of a Master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) in economics with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience including a track record of delivery of high quality analytical and advisory products.
• Strong analytical skills in macroeconomic and fiscal management and ability to conduct policy-relevant research.
• Experience in leading high impact development policy operations; sound knowledge of Bank lending tools and procedures.
• Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present complicated analyses to non-specialist audiences.
• Strong client-orientation and diplomatic skills combined with candor and courage of opinion.
• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines.
• Entrepreneurial capabilities that can be deployed in identifying and securing new business opportunities.
• High energy and demonstrated interest in achieving impact through analytical work and technical assistance for demanding and sophisticated clients. Previous experience in delivering high impact work in a country under economic transformation would be a plus.

For information about WBG Core Competencies, please visit: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O.

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.