Agriculture Economist

Job #: req36080
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Agriculture
Grade: GF
Term Duration:  4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Antananarivo,Madagascar
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s): French
Closing Date: 4/14/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges.  For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Background / General description:
Africa (AFE) Region
Home to almost 60% of Africa’s population, the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region is geographically, culturally, and economically diverse and comprises 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. 
AFE boasts some of the world’s richest natural resources, including minerals that will be critical to low carbon development.  Signs of economic transformation are also emerging in ICT, infrastructure and a vibrant private sector that is supported by a young and dynamic population.  Despite the region’s potential, economic growth remains low in many of the AFE countries. Key challenges include persistent inequality and limited access to productive employment, heavy debt burdens exacerbated by slow growth, low agricultural productivity, weak infrastructure, low human capital and limited resilience to climate change and conflict.   
This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.  
The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,200 staff, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the five dimensions of People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure, and Digital to realize rapid economic transformation that unlocks the region’s growth potential, addresses unemployment and underemployment, reduces poverty and inequality, manages debt and fiscal pressures, and builds resilience.
Eastern and Southern Africa Planet Department
The Africa East and South Planet Department (AFEPD) provides a wide range of financial, knowledge and convening services to help address Eastern and Southern Africa countries’ most complex development issues.  The AFE Planet Department is led by the Regional Practice Director and consists of four global practices (GPs); Agriculture and Food, Environment, Social Development, and Water, and leads on the Climate Change agenda. The Department has a robust engagement in the region, including, in the last fiscal year, $1.6B in new lending, a portfolio of $17 billion in financing in 96 projects, and annual disbursement of over 21% of that financing.  Our knowledge program is extensive and provided through a mix of Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA), including Reimbursable Advisory Services.  The AFE Planet Department also innovates in the use of financial instruments and partnerships, leveraging One World Bank Group working in close partnership with IFC and MIGA.
The Agriculture and Food Global Practice 
Our AFE agriculture and food work contributes to and benefits from our efforts across the globe, and is brought together under the leadership of a Global Director, supported by ten regional Practice Managers and a Manager for Global Engagement. In addition, the Agriculture and Food GP Leadership team includes seven Global Leads: Data and Digital Agriculture; Agribusiness, Finance and Jobs; Public Policy and Expenditure; One Health; Climate and Nature; Food & Nutrition Security, and Science, Knowledge and Innovation. 
Agriculture and Food in Madagascar
Agriculture anchors Madagascar’s economy, contributing about 30 percent to GDP, employing 70 percent of the labor force, and generating 40 percent of export earnings. However, the performance of the sector has been low, with sectoral GDP growth averaging only 2.7 percent annually during 2013 to 2022. Agriculture production is predominantly for subsistence needs and crops are cultivated in rainfed mixed farming systems. The rural areas of Madagascar are characterized by persisting high poverty rates (80 percent), largely driven by low agricultural productivity, weak land tenure, resource depletion (soil, water, pasture), weak access to markets and finance, underdeveloped infrastructure (roads, irrigation), etc. Food systems are fragile and highly vulnerable to climate shocks, with malnutrition and stunting rates among the highest globally. Public spending in agriculture is hardly effective and is plagued with consistently low budget execution rates (35-40 percent during 2013-2022).
The Government of Madagascar’s priorities in agriculture, as articulated in Madagascar’s National Rice Development Strategy and other strategic plans, include: (i) boosting agricultural productivity, especially in rice systems; (ii) increasing irrigation capacity; (iii) promoting adoption of improved seeds and fertilizers; (iv) enhancing access to mechanization, credit and decision-making tools; (v) upgrading farm-to-market infrastructure; and (vi) and boosting rice and other exports. 
The World Bank’s active portfolio in agriculture includes three projects, with a total commitment of US$378 million, focused on increasing productivity and resilience of food systems. The Rural Productivity and Livelihoods Resilience Project primarily supports community-driven watershed restoration, irrigation and road infrastructure rehabilitation, and improved access to input credit and extension services. The Food Systems Resilience Project, part of a regional MPA, is bolstering data-driven research, innovation, and information systems and improved animal health and nutrition services.    
Duties and Responsibilities
The Agriculture Specialist/Economist will contribute to the delivery of the units work program in Madagascar and report to the Practice Manager for SAEA2 unit. Specifically, s/he will become a core member of technical task teams and contribute to the delivery of impactful projects and strategic advisory and analytical tasks, while working closely with the respective Task Team Leaders, Practice Manager, and the Madagascar Country Team. The specific responsibilities will include:
• Contribute to the design, preparation, and supervision of operation projects while providing high-quality technical inputs in all stages of the project cycle (identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision, and completion). 
• Provide analytical support for preparing knowledge products on agriculture and related issues, including assembling and analyzing data, drafting reports and policy briefs, and contributing to dissemination and communications. 
• Analyze, review, and process operational documents related to project operations and coordinate across WBG teams to ensure timely delivery of quality project packages. 
• Contribute to policy dialogue related to agricultural and rural development issues, particularly on jobs creation in agriculture value chains, linking smallholders to markets for inputs and outputs, climate resilient agriculture, etc.
• Lead or contribute to discussions on agricultural and rural development issues with the client, development partners, and other stakeholders, including actively participating in discussions on developing and implementing sector strategies. 
• Work closely with other members of the agriculture team and other task teams to actively collaborate across sectors and develop multisectoral solutions.
• Timely respond to ad-hoc information requests, including briefings to management and external parties on the agriculture sector in Madagascar. 
• Work closely with client counterparts and the CMU towards effective delivery of the agriculture and food sector portfolio.
• Represent the World Bank in local forums involving development partners and other stakeholders. 
• Conduct technical review and analysis of client reports and sector reports to inform the agriculture and food portfolio. 

Selection Criteria

Candidates must demonstrate professional excellence, outstanding oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to convert strategic thinking into practical solutions.  
The following specific criteria will also apply: 
• A master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics, agribusiness, agriculture or closely related discipline.

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness, and other disciplines related to food systems.

• Strong technical and analytical skills and the capacity to lead discussions on policy reforms at high levels.

• In-depth knowledge of the issues faced by smallholders in agricultural value chains and the potential of agriculture value chains to address core development objectives in the AFE region, including jobs. 

• Familiarity with the WBGs development initiatives, policies and practices related to lending and non-lending operations. 

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-sectoral and multi-cultural environment.

• Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English and French, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality documents and analytical reports.

• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills with ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions.

• Self-motivated with the ability to work under pressure and challenging conditions and willingness to travel extensively. 

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.

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