Economist

Economist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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 Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the premier research and data arm of the World Bank. Under the leadership of the Senior Vice President and World Bank Group Chief Economist, DEC sets the Bank's research agenda and advises Bank Management on a wide range of development policy issues. DEC also advises policy makers on development challenges and helps to promote development issues within the broad development community. The Development Data Group (DECDG) under the Development Economics Vice Presidency provides global public goods, including methods, standards, and tools for data work, as well as high-quality development indicators and datasets. DECDG also supports member countries engaged in building their statistical capacity, supports the use of development data within the World Bank, and manages several Trust Funds to support the global data agenda. The work of DECDG calls for an extensive partnership with the Word Bank’s Global Practices and country teams, other international organizations, and member countries’ statistical offices.

Responsibilities:
DECDG is seeking to recruit an economist to support its work program on Indicators and and Statistics Unit. The economist should possess extensive knowledge and experience in macroeconomic statistics such as real sector statistics, external sector statistics, understanding the role of global development indicators in monitoring progress—such as those related to nutrition security and other development priorities—is important for interpreting trends and supporting evidence-based policy discussions. 
The economist will: 
• Lead methodological development and analytical work related to global indicators and statistics on nutrition security and other areas of development monitoring. 
• Coordinate the production, validation, and dissemination of these indicators through World Bank data platforms in collaboration with internal teams and external development partners.
• Engage with national statistical offices and country teams to strengthen methodological standards and support national monitoring systems.
• Contribute to analytical research and international collaborations related to nutrition security and other development data initiatives. 
• Contribute to the external debt statistics for DRS countries based on the established methodology; ensure that data are collected, reviewed for quality, compiled per the DRS manual, and made available in a timely manner.
• Develop methods to collect and gap fill missing information to improve the coverage and accuracy of debt statistics. 
• Perform data quality control tasks and work on improving the metadata quality and timeliness of statistical indicators. 
• Contribute to the analysis of the International Debt Report series, blogs and the accompanying International Debt Statistics database. 
• Participate in improving the dissemination and transparency of statistical indicators. 
• Liaise with internal partners including global practices, central units, and country teams to collectively improve debt data transparency and support Bank policies. 
• Support data users, respond to user queries, and provide explanations on data methodology, coverage, quality. 

Selection Criteria

•Master’s Degree in economics, finance, statistics, mathematics, or related field. A PhD in economics, public policy, or nutrition policy would bring added depth to the role. 
•Minimum of five years post-graduate relevant work experience, preferably with an international organization, country’s central bank or ministry of finance.
•Proven expertise in the compilation and analysis of Balance of Payments, International Investment Position, External Debt, and statistical indicators on nutrition security.
•Knowledge of statistical methods and concepts underlying debt statistics and nutrition security. 
•Strong analytical skills, and ability to interpret and communicate statistical information in a clear and analytically rigorous manner. 
•Commitment to high quality work and conceptual and analytical problem-solving ability. 
•Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment, and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues. 
•Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high quality products in a timely fashion to meet tight deadlines. 
•Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
•High proficiency in statistical and data management software, such as Python, Stata, R, and SAS, and Microsoft Office. 
Core competencies 
•Statistical Knowledge and Experience 
• Demonstrates substantive working or functional proficiency level sufficient to apply this competency to all tasks requiring the competency including those with significant challenges.
•Data Collection and Management 
• Demonstrates substantive working or functional proficiency level sufficient to apply this competency to all tasks requiring the competency including those with significant challenges. 
•Data Interpretation and Analysis 
• Demonstrates substantive working or functional proficiency level sufficient to apply this competency to all tasks requiring the competency including those with significant challenges. 
•Written and Verbal Communication 
• Delivers information effectively in support of team or workgroup. 
•Client Orientation -Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success. 
•Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results and has the personal organization to do so. 
•Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view. 
•Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner. 
•Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.