Senior Economist

The World Bank
Washington, DC - United States
S: Competitive

Background / General description:

THE WORLD BANK GROUP

Established in 1944, the World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. It has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030: ending extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3%, and promoting shared prosperity by fostering income growth for the poorest 40% of people in every country. With more than 100 offices in client and partner countries, the World Bank Group consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). IBRD and IDA are commonly known as the World Bank, which is organized into regional vice presidencies, global practices, and cross-cutting solutions areas to help developing regions and countries fight poverty and improve living standards.

THE ROLE OF THE WBG IN TRADE AND COMPETITIVENESS
Trade and Competitiveness (T&C) is a joint World Bank and IFC Global Practice, built around a common vision: sustained economic growth, productivity gains, job creation, and rising incomes for developing countries to eradicate poverty and boost shared prosperity. T&C's mission is to serve as a trusted partner for countries that seek to develop dynamic and resilient economies, expand market opportunities, and enable private initiative. To this end, T&C supports global and country efforts to boost the volume and value of trade, enhance the investment climate, improve competitiveness in sectors, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

T&C boasts a global footprint of about 500 staff working in over 80 locations around the world. T&C's current portfolio comprises about 100 World Bank active and pipeline lending operations, totaling $6.8 billion in commitments; and over 400 advisory and analytical activities and projects, totaling $376 million in over 100 countries.

To ensure that the Bank Group is at the forefront of knowledge and development practice, T&C has enriched its offerings and organized them under four global themes: trade, investment climate, competitive sectors, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Under trade, the global practice supports trade policy and cooperation, trade facilitation and logistics, trade performance, and competition policy. T&C's offering under investment climate covers business environment, indicator based reforms, as well as investment policy and promotion. Competitive sectors work focuses on sector or industry-specific policies and growth, as well as spatial growth and investment strategies. Under innovation and entrepreneurship, T&C helps strengthen innovation and technology policies, strategies, and financing, and it promotes entrepreneurship and SME development.

T&C also focuses on five cross-cutting topics: global value chains, connecting to markets and opportunities, catalyzing firm productivity, private sector development in fragile and conflict states, and promoting green competitiveness.

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.

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 and Accountabilities:

The Trade and Competitiveness Sr. Economist will report to the East Africa Practice Manager on Trade & Competitiveness and will focus on the following activities:
• Lead and/or contribute to the policy dialogue on Trade and Competitiveness (T&C) issues (Business Regulations, trade policy and facilitation, competitive sectors, and innovation and entrepreneurship) with key government and private sector counterparts as well as internal clients such as the Country Director, Program Leader, the CMU and other GPs and CCSAs.
• Lead and/or contribute to: (i) high quality advisory services on Trade and Competitiveness issues and (ii) analytical/knowledge work, such as competitiveness diagnostics, firm surveys, value chain analysis, stakeholder analyses, diversification and other relevant T&C technical analyses; and play an active role in the planning and dissemination strategy to promote policy uptake of evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead or contribute to the development and implementation of lending projects.
• Support the development of a work program of future financing and ASAs to meet the country's needs in line with country/regional and Global Practice (GP) priorities.
• Work closely with IFC and WB country management units to ensure the integration of relevant T&C issues in country strategy and work programs. As required the candidate will produce technical notes, briefings, presentations, donor report, etc.
• Support in developing effective coordination with other Global Practices (GPs), key clients, development partners, civil society organizations and media. The candidate will be expected to engage in business development by cultivating strategic relationships with country clients, donors, and IFC and WB management units.
• The candidate shall promote synergies across product teams, providing support through trouble shooting anticipating problems and solving them. Facilitate cross learning across projects, regions and best practices.
• Provide support to oversee financial management, procurement, results measurement, and donor relationships with respect to Ethiopia program.

Other Responsibilities:
• Represent World Bank Group, as needed, at public forums and meetings; Contribute to T&C GP planning, budgeting and reporting;
• Assist in the mentoring of more junior staff; and
• Assist in the recruitment of consultants and staff.
• Other tasks as requested by the East Africa Practice manager or the Ethiopia Program Lead/CMU Lead.


Selection Criteria:

The successful candidate will have:
• Master degree (Ph.D. is highly desirable) in public policy or closely related field with at least 8 years of experience in private sector development.
• Solid knowledge of trade and competitiveness policy areas (trade policy and facilitation, investment climate, innovation, entrepreneurship, competitive industries, and competition policy) and issues affecting competitiveness in Ethiopia, and capacity to influence policy discussions at the country level and the sub region on trade and competitiveness issues.
• Proven track record for delivering very high quality analytical work on time, including very strong analytical writing skills.
• Ability to understand and analyze complex problems and develop innovative approaches. Proven ability to manage complex projects and programs.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with internal and external clients.
• Ability to lead teams and mentor junior staff.
• Practical understanding of IFC WBG processes and instruments related to project preparation & implementation, resource management, client management, knowledge management and stakeholder communications.

In addition the following attributes would be preferable:
• Work experience in the Africa region.
• Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management tools, processes & methodologies.
• Proven ability and willingness to prepare and supervise projects across the country including – leading project supervision and completion reports, overseeing result and impact measurement activities, producing donor reports and technical notes, etc.

Other Competencies:
• Knowledge and experience in the development arena - Influences the design and execution of major policy and/or research initiatives; conceives and promotes innovations in development policies, project design, organization and management to improve operational and sector work.
• Knowledge and experience in private sector development areas, especially on investment climate and competitive sectors.
• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a track record of intellectual leadership and ability to integrate economic-specific knowledge and specific micro/sector fields of expertise; provides quality assurance and assesses technical soundness of work/reports.
• Integrative Skills - Possesses in-depth understanding of WBG resources in all areas of work in the network, and proven fungibility.
• Client Orientation - Translates insight into practice across disciplines, hierarchies, geographies and organizational units in service of clients.
• Drive for Results - Ensures successful implementation and delivery of key programs and projects, ensuring that outputs positively impact results.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Creates a team climate of practical and innovative action, facilitating collaboration between competing interests and stakeholders.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Serves as a trusted advisor to others on their decisions, ensuring alignment across units and optimal impact on the organization as a whole.

• The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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