Entry level Economists (Trade and Competitiveness) at the World Bank

The World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group, is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.

The World Bank Group is launching a recruitment drive aimed at increasing the number of Sub Saharan Africans in its work force. This commitment to hire Sub Saharan Africans reflects the Bank Group’s senior leadership commitment for a diverse workforce in which African nationals can play a key role in fighting poverty and increasing shared prosperity. Employment opportunities will be in various technical areas and professional streams for talented and diverse young professionals and mid-career level professionals to contribute and grow their skills in a career in international development.

A career with the World Bank Group offers a unique opportunity for exceptionally talented individuals with a passion for international development to contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. Bank staff work with governments, civil society groups, the private sector, and others in developing countries around the world, assisting people in all areas of development, from policy and strategic advice to the identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision of development projects.

We are recruiting to fill the below position:

Job Title Economist

Location: Africa
Area: Trade and Competitiveness

Description
With 90 percent of jobs created by the private sector, new solutions to support firm growth, higher productivity, innovation, and competitiveness are critical. The practice partners with governments, the private sector, donor agencies, and civil society to improve the business and trade environment, promote competitiveness across key industries, and encourage productive and responsible investments.

Specific Role
The specific roles and responsibilities are:

• Conducting and delivering technical assistance and analytical work one of the core areas of the T&C agenda (Trade, Investment Climate, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Competitive Sectors).
• Carrying out responsibilities for a variety of operational tasks, for example, technical analyses, design of technical assistance interventions, participation in loan negotiations.
• Participating in developing and implementing sector strategy and assists in country-specific policy work.
• Participating in missions in area of specialization; providing technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on one of the core areas of the T&C agenda; preparing terms of reference for project- or sector-related work.
• Developing knowledge pieces, as well as indicators and statistics on the relevant topics.
• Contributing to the development of collaborative partnerships with external and internal partners and contributing to a coherent strategy across teams for the benefit of the client country.
• Contributing to the development of monitoring and evaluation of relevant indicators for as well as analyze the impact of policy interventions.
• Working independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior specialists.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced Degree (Masters or PhD) in a relevant field; ideally economics, business administration, trade, industrial organization, or a related discipline, and with a focus on competitiveness or private sector development.
• Candidate must have at least 5 years work experience.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas in the public or private sector (government, international organization, private company, non-government organization): trade, investment climate, competitive industries, innovation and entrepreneurship, competitiveness diagnostics, value chain analysis, diversification, etc.
• Good command of microeconomics, industrial organization, or related fields is strongly preferred, as are econometric skills. International experience is an advantage.
• Ideal candidates for this position must have a demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking, the ability to conduct dialogue on relevant development policies and priorities, and be fluent in English with very good writing and communication skills.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

If you are interested in this position, please click the link above to submit your application. You will be prompted to log in to the "Member Center" or "Create a New Account". Please fill in all fields, answer the screening questions if any, attach your resume or CV, and submit your Statement of Interest (no more than 700 words).

Note

• A select number of candidates will be interviewed in September and October 2015 in Washington, D.C. and locations in Africa and Europe.
• Those applications that were not selected for interview during this campaign will be kept on file for up to one year and may be considered for future opportunities.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.