Economist

Economist

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

The Fiscal Policy and Growth (FPG) Global Practice, within the Western and Central Africa Region, leads the World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, debt, growth and trade.  The Practice links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development. Almost half of FPG professional staff are decentralized to the field working closely with the Country Management Units (CMUs) and in proximity to the clients! FPG professionals often work across sectors helping carry out key integrative functions. In this context, they are responsible for the preparation and delivery of the majority of the Bank’s Development Policy Operations using both IDA and IBRD resources. They also lead or participate in a wide variety of Analytic and Advisory Activities and client advisory work requiring integrative functions that add to the core Macroeconomic expertise. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/mti-gp

In Western and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 350 projects totaling more than $38 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87 percent of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
The EAWM1 unit covers 13 countries within the Western and Central Africa Region, including the Senegal (AWCF1), Côte d’Ivoire (AWCF2), and Mali (AWCW3) Country Management Units (CMU).

Duties and Accountabilities:

As part of the broader FPG Togo team and under the guidance of the Senior Country Economist and Lead Economist, the Country Economist will:

• Research and analyze a wide variety of specific economic, financial, country or sector issues to inform lending, policy dialogue and analytical work.

• Co-Lead macroeconomic monitoring for Togo, including weekly updates, the bi-annual Macro and Poverty Outlook (MPO), and the annual Country Economic Update.

• Develop and maintain a framework of Togo economic and social data that underpins broader FPG analytical products and needs from other GPs.

• Support policy dialogue on macroeconomic, fiscal and economic growth issues with the Togolese authorities, the IMF, and other development partners.

•Support and/or co-lead fiscal and debt non-lending activities, including Public Finance Reviews (PFR) Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), Sustainable Development Finance Policy (SDFP); as well as the preparation of core diagnostics such as the Country Growth and Jobs Report (CGJR) and Climate Change Development Report (CCDR).

• Co-manage projects, trust funds and grants, and support.

• Advise sector teams on macroeconomic and fiscal implications of sector policies and investment decisions.

•Provide analytical inputs for the Country Management Unit (CMU) on country strategic engagement and economic policy issues.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in economics, with at least five years of experience.

• A PhD would be an asset (equivalent to three years of experience).

• Strong technical and operational expertise demonstrated through the delivery of macroeconomic analytical reports, successful policy dialogue, and budget-support/policy-based lending operations.

• Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills;

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex economic issues clearly to senior policymakers.

• Strong integrative capacity to position country programs within a coherent strategic framework.

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills; ability to work flexibly, creatively, and independently while meeting tight deadlines.

• High motivation, positive attitude, and commitment to teamwork and knowledge-sharing across the World Bank Group. 

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.