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Senior Energy Economist

The World Bank Economics logo

The World Bank
Washington DC - United States
S: Competitive

Description

Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with more than 16,000 staff located globally.

Over 1.2 billion people are without access to electricity worldwide, most of them concentrated in about a dozen countries in Africa and Asia. Another 2.8 billion rely on wood or other biomass for cooking and heating, resulting in indoor and outdoor air pollution attributable for 4.3 million deaths a year. Providing reliable electricity to the unserved and inadequately-served people of the world is central to efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and create shared prosperity. The World Bank Group (WBG) supports the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, and is committed to working towards accomplishing the initiative's three goals by 2030: i) universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels; ii) doubling the share of the world's energy supplied by renewable sources from 18 percent to 36 percent, and iii) doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

In terms of Extractive industries, about 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas or minerals. Many of these countries suffer from poverty, corruption and conflict stemming from weak governance. Too often, mineral, oil and gas resources have become a source of conflict rather than opportunity. Non-renewable mineral resources play a dominant role in 81 countries, collectively accounting for a quarter of world GDP, half of the world's population and nearly 70 percent of those in extreme poverty. Africa has about 30 percent of the world's mineral reserves, 10 percent of the world's oil, and 8 percent of the world's natural gas.

The Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) of the World Bank Group is made up of about 340 professionals, a lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. There are nine regional energy units, which oversee and develop lending and non-lending in different subsectors including renewable energy, energy efficiency, utility reforms and capacity, power system development, grid and off-grid access, regulatory and policy reforms; one global unit for energy and extractives; and one Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) unit.

The EEX GP focuses on: providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractives sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA) at the World Bank serves 21 client countries with a total population of about 335 million, with the vast majority living in middle-income economies, except for Djibouti and Yemen. Since the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011, the Middle East and North Africa region has been in an unprecedented period of flux. Most countries in the region have experienced considerable political and social changes as well as significant economic volatility. The region is currently at a crossroads, where transformational gains built on the ideals of the Arab Spring could be realized, or where fragility and instability could become the long-term norm.

In some countries of the MNA region, the political space has opened up, paving the way for inclusive governance. Other countries, however, have witnessed significant political instability and increased social divisions following the events of 2011. Furthermore, in countries such as Syria and Iraq, this instability has boiled over into violent conflicts that have effectively destabilized the region with massive outflows of refugees, exerting pressure on states with limited means and already weakened public services. On the other hand, most resource-rich states throughout the region have been relatively stable, although they continue to face significant medium- and long-term structural challenges.

The EEX unit for MNA, which comprises more than 20 staff, manages a diverse portfolio of active projects across 18 client countries, as well as numerous knowledge products, supporting: (a) reforms to improve energy services and promote the long term financial sustainability of the energy sector, for instance through pricing incentives; (b) the enhancement of service delivery including the development of national and regional electricity and gas markets, as well as reliable transmission and distribution systems, and (c) the diversification of generation mix, including the scale up of renewable energy and energy efficiency investments. The Unit has a strong engagement in development policy operations in the MNA region where energy and related reforms are key components/pillars of the economic reform agenda, and works closely with other donors active in the region, including the European donors and the Arab Funds. Finally, the region increasingly offers advisory services that address emerging issues in both the power and the oil and gas sectors.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The World Bank seeks to recruit a Senior Energy Economist to join the Energy Team in Washington DC, with focus on task management of projects and advisory work in some of our middle income countries, including but not limited to Jordan. The work program would also include advisory tasks and/or lending in middle and high-income countries (under the Reimbursable Advisory Services program) focusing on sector reforms, subsidy analysis and broader sector economic analysis. The Senior Energy Economist is expected to lead the Energy GP engagement in Jordan and other countries including work on sector reforms, electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects, mid- and downstream natural gas projects; Renewable Energy, public-private partnership (PPP) projects and technical assistance in both electricity and gas sectors.

A core part of the work will be to continue the Multi-GP support to Jordan as part of the 5-year reform matrix and Development Policy Lending program focusing on regulatory reform, removal of cross subsidies, opening up of markets for third party access, as well as to support the emerging work program on demand side energy efficiency and PPPs in renewable energy.

S/he will actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations with the aim to enhance quality and accelerate implementation. The Senior Energy Economist would play an active role in Bank's policy dialogue with the authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders on strategic energy issues and implementation of ongoing energy sector reforms.

The Senior Energy Economist will be expected to forge strong partnerships with organizations and individuals which can better inform the Bank's energy strategies and result in higher quality implementation and impact of Bank-supported programs. This will require effective communication and outreach to key stakeholders including client governments, academia, civil society organizations, media, other development partners and other Bank Group units. The MNA Energy team is a key contributor towards the WBG strategy for "Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) with the objective to help countries maximize their development resources by drawing on private financing and sustainable private sector solutions. The Senior Energy Economist is expected to actively seek opportunities to apply MFD principles in our work program and build a strong internal WBG partnership with IFC and MIGA as well as networks with private sector stakeholders that can contribute to the achievement of our development objectives.

The Senior Energy Economist will be expected to lead teams and to provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on operational, policy dialogue and analytical activities. The Senior Energy Economist would report to the Practice Manager of GEE05 who is based at the Bank HQ in Washington DC and work alongside a group of professionals based in Washington DC and throughout the region.

The selected candidate will initially be located in Washington DC but with a commitment to potentially relocate to Amman, Jordan country office in about one year's time.

Selection Criteria

Master's degree in energy planning/economics or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;
At least 8 years of combined experience in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with demonstrated track record of successful engagement with complex projects;
Demonstrates solid understanding of energy/extractives policies, technologies or strategies, Private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work.
An excellent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities would be advantageous;
Experience of analysis and advice on regulatory reform, economic analysis of sector reform impacts (subsidies etc) and cost of service.
Experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and stakeholders.
Experience working on World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending and non-lending operations is desirable;
Demonstrates active listening skills and the ability to influence the audience (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).
Experience working with large global teams, with an ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision is required;
High level of excitement, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients. and
Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Oil & Gas; Mining; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.
Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Oil & Gas; Mining; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.

COMPETENCIES

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;
Energy Sector Technologies - Deep experience applying knowledge (hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, and energy efficiency) to policy-related decisions and advice;
Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations;
Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for clients.;
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 the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions; and
Make Smart Decisions – Recommends and takes decisive action.

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.

Job summary

Employer:

The World Bank

Location:

Washington DC, United States

Education:

Master's Degree

Sector:

Economist

Salary:

Competitive

Job Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full-Time

Posted:

20th March 2019

Apply By:

8th April 2019

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