Description
About the World Bank Group
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 nearly 15,000 staff located globally.
The WBG 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). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.
Global practices & cross-cutting solutions areas
The strategy has three components:
1. maximizing development impact by engaging country clients in identifying and tackling the most difficult development challenges;
2. promoting scaled-up partnerships that are strategically aligned with the goals; and
3. crowding in public and private resources, expertise and ideas.
Global Practice for Macro Trade & Investment
The Global Practice for Macro Trade & Investment (MTI) comprises about 320 staff working across more than 100 countries. The Practice houses the Bank’s country economists as well as professional staff with expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, growth, and statistics. About fifty percent of MTI professional staff is decentralized to the field working very closely with the CMUs and in proximity to clients. MTI professionals most often work acrosssectors 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.
As such MTI staff often lead or participate 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. Knowledge and learning is a central part of MTI with work focused on 5 thematic areas: (a) macroeconomics; (b) fiscal policy; (c) growth; (d) economic management in resource rich environments; and (e) statistics.
Background and general description
The MTI practice is looking for an outstanding Country Economist for Lesotho, to be based in Maseru.
MTI is responsible for macro-economic analysis, economic and fiscal policy dialogue, technical advice and capacity building support in the areas of macro-economics, trade and investment. In addition to regular economic monitoring, we contribute to the delivery of analytical and advisory products as well as technical assistance and training activities. All of our tasks are cross-sectoral in nature and are integral to the policy dialogue of the country program.
You will the core member of the Lesotho MTI team and contribute to the country team, as well as the global MTI team working on other countries as needed. You will work closely with the country manager and program leader and report to the MTI Practice Manager covering southern Africa.
The Country Economist will:
• Contribute to MTI GP’s Analytical and Advisory Activities (AAA) and Technical Assistance (TA) in the areas of macroeconomic and fiscal management, macromodelling and data work, and economics of the public sector;
• Contribute to the design of the operational and analytical work in alignment with the growth and poverty alleviation objectives of the country;
• Establish partnerships with other bilateral and multilateral agencies, increasing cooperation and leveraging Bank resources in analytical and operational work;
• Serve as a task leader or a team member for country-specific financing operations and/or analytical and advisory services;
• Collect, analyze and maintain economic and financial data and information related to Lesotho’s economy, and communicate findings in concise form, namely through statistical tables and charts, and short analytical notes;
Selection Criteria
• Minimum of a Master’s degree in economics (PhD preferred), with 5 years of experience. A PhD would be considered as equivalent to 3 years of work experience;
• A background in macro-economic modelling and policy analysis;
• Familiarity with Lesotho’s development problems and issues;
• Excellent analytical and communications skills and ability to write clearly and concisely;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team-based environment and under tight time constraints;
• Ability to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues;
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.
| Closing Date: | 6/28/2019 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |