Economist

The World Bank
Washington DC - United States
S: Competitive

Background

The Transport and ICT Global Practice (T&I GP) helps connect people to markets and services for greater development impact. The GP manages about 20 percent of the total World Bank portfolio, leveraging about 300 staff located in 50 countries. It is the largest provider of development finance for transport globally—with an active portfolio of $41 billion--, out of which 53 percent in rural and interurban roads, and a growing demand for urban transport and railways. It manages the Bank's activities and portfolio on telecommunications and information infrastructure and provides support to clients and other GPs on mainstreaming ICT in operations. The Practice is uniquely positioned to provide cutting-edge expertise on complex connectivity issues, such as urban mobility, development corridors, green transport, road safety, infrastructure sharing, broadband, ICT-based sector solutions and sector policy reforms.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties

The economist will provide data and analytics support to the T&I Global Practice and work under the guidance of the Lead Economist of the Global Practice.

Specific tasks that the economist is expected to perform will include:

• Monitor, contribute and consolidate Transport & ICT inputs for Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks and other strategic documents;
• Draft technical input and prepare chapters to key documents (e.g., flagships, guidance notes, Outlook Report on Sustainable Transport);
• Collect and analyze data, conduct analyses and draft recommendations for Management Team;
• Participate in the economic research program of the GP (e.g., impact evaluation, review of proposals);
• Provide technical support to global positioning with external stakeholders;
• Contribute to the Community of Practice of Economists and participate to its management;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of a global data platform;
• Carry out responsibilities for a variety of economic tasks (e.g. economic analyses, design of economic work programs,
• Help developing the engagement of the GP on the poverty side (partnership with the Poverty GP, guidance notes, sector engagement notes for SCDs, etc.)

Selection Criteria

Minimum Education/Experience:

• An MA or PhD in economics, public policy (or equivalent) and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience.

Required Competencies:

• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical tools and models to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs; understands underlying statistical concepts.
• Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of the T&I sector.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Transport/ICT Policy, Strategy, and Institutions - Familiarity with transport/ICT policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Transport/ICT Economics - Solid understanding of many of the economic concepts relevant to transport/ICT, with hands-on experience.
• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients' stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

Other Selection Criteria:

• Strong background in economics (micro), strategy, development policies, and analytical work;
• Ability to successfully develop new initiatives and related funding proposals;
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills;
• Strong inter-personal skills and ability to effectively engage with staff at all levels (including senior management);
• Commitment to teamwork and knowledge-sharing;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential;
• Fluency in other Bank languages (French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, ..) is an additional asset

Job summary