Extended Term Consultant

Job #: req12962

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Poverty Reduction

Grade: EC2

Term Duration: 1 year 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 9/15/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

BACKGROUND

The Mind, Behavior, and Development Unit (eMBeD) is a multidisciplinary team in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice whose core objective is to support the use of behavioral insights by World Bank staff and clients in diagnosing, designing and evaluating interventions to reduce poverty and enhance equity. Behaviorally informed policy focuses on a wide set of determinants of behavior, paying attention to context and the social and psychological factors that influence decision making. It also explores the design and implementation details in existing systems of service delivery that affect how people engage. Behavioral policy can give rise to powerful policy solutions, often at low cost.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

eMBeD is looking for an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) to join the team with operational experience applying behavioral insights in public policy. An understanding of economic and behavioral science concepts is essential. The Behavioral Scientist will:

• Carry out responsibilities for a variety of behavioral science tasks (e.g. behavioral analyses, design of behavioral science work programs, participation in behavioral science policy research, discussions with country officials and task team leaders).
• Employ appropriate methodologies for handling and conducting experiments such as RCTs informed by behavioral science.
• Participate in developing and implementing behavioral science strategy and assists project teams in designing behaviorally informed interventions.
• Support World Bank teams and their country clients in designing, implementing and evaluating behaviorally informed interventions.
• Advise World Bank teams and their country clients on how best to systematically integrate behavioral science in policy work and provision of services.

Selection Criteria

• Must have a Masters degree in Social Psychology, Economics, Organizational Psychology, Public Policy, Behavioral Science, or a related field.
• At least two years of proven experience in behavioral economics and/or behavioral science, ideally in developing country contexts, with clear alignment to policy-relevant development research.
• Fluency in English is required; competency Spanish, French, or Arabic strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise designing, managing, and analyzing field experiments in developing countries.
• Strong entrepreneurial drive and strong interest in the use of evidence in policymaking.
• Well-developed teamwork and collaborative abilities, and strong communication skills.
• Willingness to travel frequently and remotely.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• General behavioral economics knowledge and analytical skills: Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with social research methods, including inductive and statistical methods, to conduct analysis on the dynamics, and consequences of social, cultural, political and economic change; understands underlying economic and statistical concepts; produces user-friendly written outputs.
• Knowledge and experience in the development arena: Understands policy issues relevant to client countries and policy-making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients. Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; lending operations; interacts with clients at the policy level; leads strategic analysis documents for the country strategy.
• Research skills: Experience and expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating randomized controlled trials in complex and diverse country contexts.
• Policy dialogue skills: Anticipates needs and requests from internal and external clients; conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners at different levels of seniority.
• Integrative skills: Understands how relevant cross-sectoral areas are interrelated; is able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations; has an integrated view of the different analytical approaches for poverty and inequality reduction.
• Written and verbal communication: Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).

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.

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