Economist

Job #: req13673

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Economics

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 2 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): ENGLISH

Preferred Language(s): Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic

Closing Date: 11/15/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

BACKGROUND

The World Bank Group’s Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice (FCI) combines expertise in the financial sector and private sector development to foster private-sector led growth and help create stable, resilient and inclusive markets in client countries. Through this work, FCI strengthens the World Bank Group’s evolving approach to development finance: to maximize finance for development and to leverage private sector investments for sustainable and inclusive growth. FCI focuses on six thematic areas: Financial Stability & Integrity; Financial Inclusion, Infrastructure & Access; Firms: Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Markets and Technology; Investment Climate; Long Term Finance; and Climate & Risk Management.

The Firms: Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (ETIFE) unit is a team of microeconomists and development practitioners. Its goal is to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based advice to developing countries around the globe on policies to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, firm upgrading, technology adoption, productivity and resilience to climate change and shocks such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. It accomplishes this by carrying out original research, contributing to lending and technical assistance engagements led by FCI regional units, and developing partnerships with multilateral institutions such as the European Commission, OECD, Nesta, and the UN as well as bilateral partners and donors.

The responsibilities of the ETIFE unit include:

• Provide intellectual leadership on issues of innovation, entrepreneurship, firm upgrading, technology adoption, productivity and resilience to climate change and shocks through flagship reports, research papers, etc.;
• Support client countries by delivering lending operations and technical assistance projects in the ETIFE areas of expertise, in collaboration with FCI and other World Bank Group’s regional units;
• Facilitate knowledge diffusion and adoption of good practices in innovation, entrepreneurship, firm upgrading, technology adoption, and productivity policies through policy dialogue, analytical and advisory work, and particularly by leading the design and implementation of impact evaluations with a focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs);
• Support World Bank Group senior management through briefings, guidance notes, and other inputs to inform and shape the WBG institutional strategy on science, technology, and innovation (STI), productivity, firm growth, and entrepreneurship.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The selected Economist, with a specialization in applied microeconomics, will be based in Washington, DC. S/he will be a member of the ETIFE Team with other economists and private sector development specialists and will report to the Practice Manager of the ETIFE Unit. S/he will be a motivated and dynamic professional, with solid analytic skills and policy-relevant experience, expertise in firm-level dynamics and applied research, excellent client engagement, and team spirit skills, working as part of the ETIFE unit and in collaboration with other FCI global and regional teams. The key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Applied research

• Contribute to the development and dissemination of new analytical frameworks and approaches in the core areas of ETIFE expertise in collaboration with ETIFE team members as well as other global and regional teams across the FCI Global Practice;
• Perform descriptive and econometric analysis, including the application of advanced statistical/econometric techniques;
• Guide and manage the work of research analysts in preparing survey datasets (firm-level or similar), including cleaning and organizing the data;
• Lead the preparation of policy reports, working papers, and provide significant contributions to flagship publications;
• Work under the guidance of senior team members to transform the analytical outputs into operationally-relevant WBG products.

Policy dialogue and project preparation

• Present research findings to policymakers and clients in developing countries.
• Contribute to the preparation of lending or technical assistance engagements through analytical contributions, leadership of specific components, and liaising with government counterparts and partner implementers.

Impact evaluations:

• Design impact evaluations and provide coordination between the impact evaluation teams and local counterparts.
• Work with WBG project teams to provide technical guidance and advocate for strengthening and improving project monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications

• Advanced Degree in Economics or related field; candidates with Master’s degrees should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of econometrics, applied statistics, and management of large databases
• Experience in survey supervision and implementation preferred.
• Prior experience in carrying out impact evaluations and RCTs preferred.
• Strong organizational, research, oral presentation, and written skills.
• Publication record in relevant peer-reviewed journals preferred on the core research topics of the unit.
• Proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment.
• High level of personal and professional integrity.
• Self-starter, results-oriented personality with proven problem-solving skills

Computer skills:

• Strong STATA skills (other packages such as R, Python, are a plus), and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• Additional language skills would be a plus (Spanish, French,Portuguese or Arabic).
• Willingness to travel.
• Enthusiasm for, and commitment to development work; field experience in developing countries a plus.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.