Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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.

Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region

A predominantly middle- and high-income region, the ECA region continues to be at the forefront in confronting the numerous development challenges that countries face in the evolving global economy. The region is at the vanguard of building regional connectivity while having to manage the changing structure of the labor market. At the same time, digital technologies are changing the nature of work, populations are aging, and large migration flows have generated social tensions that have contributed to increased political polarization. These emerging trends threaten to reverse the region’s achievements in regional integration, poverty reduction and shared prosperity.   

ECA continues to be negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine, tighter global financial conditions, persistent inflation, and global economic fragmentation. Economic growth in the region is projected to remain weak relative to the long-term trend, delaying the convergence of living standards to those of high-income countries. The impacts of climate change are becoming a serious constraint on growth, as extreme weather events are affecting the region with increased frequency and severity. The ECA region has a large potential to strengthen climate change resilience and improve energy efficiency, thereby reducing its contribution to climate change. Other important challenges affecting parts of the region include frozen conflicts and domestic political instability. For more information:  https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca

Prosperity Practice Group 

The Prosperity Practice Group (PG) supports economic policies and legal, regulatory and institutional reforms to enable equitable and sustainable growth and to reduce poverty.

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
The Practice houses the Bank’s country economists as well as professional staff with expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, growth and trade. 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 AAA and client advisory work requiring an integrative function that add to the core MTI expertise, often leading or participating in the preparation of Strategic Country Diagnostics, Country Economic Memorandums and cross sector Public Expenditure Reviews. An important additional element of engagement in macroeconomic and fiscal policies is carried through work on debt management supported by the Debt Management Facility. 

Country Management Unit (CMU) Context

The Western Balkans CMU oversees the operational engagement of the Bank in all six Western Balkan states. MTI’s work program is diverse and includes macroeconomic, fiscal and structural reform dialogue based on CEMs, PFRs, spending reviews, policy notes, lending, and advisory services. The regional economic work has been largely driven by the Western Balkans Regular Economic Report, the Western Balkans Country Climate and Development Report as well as policy reforms and institutional capacity building in the areas relevant for EU accession in which the Bank has comparative advantage.

Kosovo Country Program

The ongoing WBG program in Kosovo is being implemented under the Country Partnership Framework (2023 – 2027). The CPF rests on the following three objective areas: (i) greater public service efficiency and quality; (ii) more formal private sector jobs; and (iii) increased environmental resilience.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, stable economic growth helped to improve living standards and reduce poverty. In 2019, Kosovo reached upper middle-income status. However, there remains a large income gap between Kosovo and the average European Union member state. Similarly, despite the considerable progress in poverty reduction, around 2 in 10 Kosovars still live on less than US$5.5 per day.
Successive shocks—first the pandemic and then the energy crisis—hit Kosovar citizens and businesses hard triggering the country’s first ever recession and then a severe inflationary spike. However, the economy has experienced a strong recovery driven by consumption and diaspora spending and is expected to grow at close to 4 percent annually in the next two to three years. Kosovo is among the world’s least indebted countries, with public debt now comfortably under 20 percent of GDP. Yet, the country has significant investment needs, both in terms of physical capital—particularly to decarbonize the energy sector and improve regional connectivity—as well as in human capital.  Further, Kosovo will need to focus policies on tackling key structural constraints to higher productivity growth, greater private investment and stronger skills which would allow it to grow beyond its current potential. 

MTI ECA-West is seeking an outstanding and dynamic Economist to work primarily on Kosovo with proven and strong macroeconomic, integrative and teamwork skills. The selected candidate will participate in and lead core integrative MTI tasks in Kosovo and, as needed, in other countries in the unit. The Economist will also work to develop new engagements for the Practice and collaborate extensively with other GPs.  

Role and Responsibilities

•Lead and contribute to the policy dialogue with the authorities in Kosovo, including but not limited to development policy financing in close collaboration with the CMU and the Senior Economist.
•Contribute to ASA products to underpin the policy dialogue on macroeconomic and structural reforms.
•Lead country-specific macroeconomic monitoring activities and provide inputs as needed to corporate briefs and for due diligence on macro issues.
•Take part in lending and or ASA for other countries in this unit, as needed.
•Engage in policy dialogue with internal and external stakeholders, in close collaboration with the CMU(s);
•Work closely with other GPs (within the Prosperity PG as well as Planet and People) on the preparation of key strategic and integrative pieces and/or engagements.

Selection Criteria

•Minimum of a Master’s degree in Economics with five years of relevant professional experience (A completed PhD is equivalent to 3 years of relevant professional experience);
•Strong technical skills on macroeconomic and growth issues and a proven track record in delivering high quality and technically sophisticated analytical work, with particular focus on fiscal policy (including tax policy, public expenditure, and public financial management) at the national and subnational level;
•Operational and policy dialogue skills, as evidenced by a proven work history;
•Integrative skills in order to support the CMU in articulating its strategic thinking on macroeconomic issues, economic growth and poverty reduction and to articulate a coherent policy dialogue with the authorities;
•Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and teamwork qualities, and ability to work effectively across sectors/GPs;
•Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak persuasively and to present ideas clearly and concisely with authorities;
• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines;
• 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.

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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