Description:
The World Bank Group is one of the largest
sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global
partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty,
increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189
member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and
private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data,
research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global
challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
The Global Practice for Economic Policy (EP):
The Economic Policy Global Practice leads the
World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, economic
growth, fiscal policy, and trade. EP links the macroeconomic dialogue with
programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic
development and job creation. In our day-to-day engagement with countries, we
support Ministries of Finance, Central Banks, as well as Ministers of Economy,
Planning, Trade, and Production in their pursuit of reform agendas conducive to
faster, more inclusive, and resilient growth.
Economic Policy in Southern Africa:
The EP unit for Southern Africa and the Horn
of Africa (EAEM2) is looking for a Senior Country Economist to be based in Pretoria,
South Africa. The Senior Country Economist will cover countries in the Southern
Africa Country Management Unit (AECS1). We are looking for a skilled and
energetic Senior Country Economist who is passionate about tackling complex
development challenges, comfortable working in a fluid operating environment,
has technical breadth and depth, with strong results and integrative
orientation, and effective policy dialogue skills.
The selected candidate will report to the EP Practice
Manager for the EAEM2 unit (also based in South Africa). The EAEM2 unit covers 14
countries over three Country Management Units: AECS1 (South Africa, Botswana,
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia), AECS2 (Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Seychelles, Comoros), and AECE3 (Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan).
The AECS1 countries—Botswana, Eswatini,
Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa—are part of the Southern African Customs
Union (SACU). The interconnectedness of these countries underscores the
importance of their collective development to the broader Southern African
region. Since 2019, SACU governments have embarked on socio-economic
transformation programs aimed at promoting faster and more inclusive growth.
SACU countries have recently seen a
significant increase in the work program, including through Development Policy
Operations (DPOs) and advisory services in countries that had previously not
been borrowing.
The EP team plays a key role in supporting
governments identify policy solutions to break away from current low-level
equilibriums of modest growth, high unemployment, and high income inequality.
Each SACU country has its unique features and challenges, requiring tailored
approaches to boost their economic potential and deliver inclusive growth.
Achieving impact requires robust policy dialogue at both the national and
regional levels.
As Senior Country Economist, you will lead the
policy dialogue on macro-fiscal, growth, trade, and structural reforms. The EP team
based in South Africa comprises a Lead Economist, a Senior Economist, and a
Country Economist. The EP program in Southern Africa includes DPOs, technical
assistance, and highly visible analytics and economic surveillance work,
including regional flagships.
Duties include:
- Lead the macro-fiscal, growth, and structural reform dialogue, in close coordination with government counterparts, the IMF, development partners, and country stakeholders;
- Contribute to EP core deliverables including Development Policy Operations (DPOs) and other lending operations, core advisory services and analytics (ASAs), including Country Growth and Jobs Reports (CGJRs), Public Finance Reviews (PFRs), Economic Updates, Regional Flagships, and policy notes on a wide range of issues such as fiscal efficiency and sustainability, productivity, revenue mobilization, public spending quality, and economic transformation for jobs.
- Provide analytical inputs to advise the Country Management Unit (CMU) on country strategic engagement and economic policy issues, including through active participation in key review meetings;
- Contribute to developing state-of-the-art approaches in applied economic analysis relevant to operations and analytical work.
- Supports the Practice Manager and the Prosperity Management Team on strategic engagements through corporate briefs, presentations, and policy notes.