Senior Economist

Senior Economist

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 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 https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home

VPU Context:

The South Asia Region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka) is at a crucial stage of development. Rapid economic growth, driven by urbanization and demographic dividend, has brought down poverty rates, but severe forms of exclusion and disparities based on ethnicity, caste, and gender remain. Rapid growth has also come with congestion and pollution in cities. South Asia is more than other regions affected by changes in temperature and extreme weather event. Additional challenges are that South Asia is underperforming in exports, has large informal sectors and low female labor force participation rates. All these challenges must be addressed to secure rapid growth in coming decades. Private sector led growth, focused on investments in infrastructure, energy, logistics and cities are essential to generate the jobs needed to employ South Asia’s sizeable youth population. At the same time, the region needs to continue building human capital so that South Asia’s population is well equipped for the jobs of the future. 
The World Bank in South Asia: https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/region/sar

Unit Context:

The Finance, Competitiveness and Investment (FCI) Global Practice of the World Bank combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private-sector led growth and help create markets in client countries. FCI’s core lines of business are: (a) Financial Stability & Integrity; (b) Financial Inclusion, Infrastructure & Access; (c) Firm Capabilities & Innovation; (d) Long-Term Finance; (e) Climate & Risk Management; (f) Markets and Technology; and (g) Investment and Competition. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci

SAR FCI unit is seeking a Senior Economist for a locally recruited, 3-year term appointment based in New Delhi, India, to support our growing portfolio of advisory and lending projects focused on private sector development. The selected candidate will contribute to financing and lending operations, analytical and advisory services (ASA), and policy dialogue related to financial sector development.

Duties and accountabilities: 

• Provide intellectual and technical leadership on financial sector development issues in India. Engage in strategic dialogue with senior government counterparts (e.g. Ministry of Finance and financial regulators) and private sector stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities in the financial sector. Offer policy advice and technical input on reforms related to financial stability and development.

• Lead / co-lead the development of lending operations aimed at mobilizing private capital. Structure innovative financing solutions, including blended finance instruments, to leverage private sector resources for development projects. This includes conceptualizing project design, preparing project documentation, and coordinating across teams to align operations with the new World Bank’s country strategy.
 
• Drive the creation of high-quality analytical work on financial sector topics. This entails leading economic and sector work that address key development challenges in India’s financial sector. Ensure analytical outputs are rigorous, relevant, and actionable, communicating complex financial concepts in clear terms for policymakers.

• Work in close collaboration with colleagues across the FCI Global Practice and other Global Practices to deliver integrated solutions. Coordinate with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and other World Bank Group teams to harness synergies and ensure a unified approach in engagements with clients.

• Champion private capital mobilization as a cross-cutting priority across all dimensions of the engagement, whether policy advocacy, the design of lending operations, analytical work, or collaboration with other Global Practices and sister organizations. Embed private capital solutions systematically into the team's work program, ensuring that opportunities to crowd in private finance are identified and pursued consistently rather than treated in isolation.

• Serve as a key point of contact for financial sector engagements in India, maintaining strong client relationships built on trust and technical expertise. Represent the World Bank in meetings, workshops, and conferences related to the financial sector. Proactively identify client needs and emerging issues, and respond with relevant World Bank support or knowledge offerings.

• Mentor and guide junior staff and team members, fostering a positive and inclusive team environment. Share knowledge and best practices within the team and across the Global Practice. Demonstrate a collaborative team spirit, working effectively in multi-disciplinary and culturally diverse teams.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field, with at least 8 years of relevant experience in the financial sector or financial sector development, including banking, capital markets, financial regulation, or development finance. A Ph.D. or advanced certification is an advantage.

• Proven expertise in India’s financial sector development, including deep knowledge of the banking system, capital markets, non-banking financial institutions, fintech, and digital finance.

• Strong understanding of India’s regulatory and supervisory frameworks and experience engaging with key institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, and IRDAI.

• Demonstrated analytical and advisory skills, with a track record of producing high-quality financial sector analyses, reports, or technical papers that inform policy or reform.

• Experience designing or implementing lending, investment, or blended finance projects, ideally leveraging private capital through guarantees, co-financing, or PPPs.

• Excellent project management and leadership abilities, including experience coordinating teams and delivering results under tight timelines.

• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with fluency in English (spoken and written); proficiency in Hindi or other Indian languages is an asset.

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.