Transport Economist/Transport Specialist (WBG Young Professionals Program)

Do you want to join a diverse group of professionals who help change the world?

The World Bank Group (WBG) is 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.                   

Our Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP) is an exciting way to start a career with the World Bank Group. For close to 60 years, the program has recruited some of the brightest young minds to contribute to our top priorities, from poverty eradication, social development and climate change to the current response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

From June 15 - July 15, Transport Economists/Specialists with YPP qualifications below are encouraged to apply from June 15 - July 15 at www.worldbank.org/ypp

We are looking for individuals who are younger than 32 years of age, who demonstrate a passion for international development, graduate level education, relevant professional experience and the potential to grow into leadership roles across the World Bank Group. 

Description

Infrastructure Practice Group 

Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

Transport Global Practice

The World Bank Transport Global Practice (Transport GP) includes experts in every area of the transport sector.  The transport sector is a key driver of economic activity by providing mobility to people and goods.  Better transport has the potential to improve the lives and livelihoods of billions of people by facilitating access to jobs, markets, and essential services such as healthcare or education. The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to help countries implement sustainable mobility solutions that create real, lasting development benefits. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport  

The transport sector is undergoing momentous changes due to a variety of factors, including mega trends, such as digitalization, urbanization and climate change, as well as shocks from the COVID19 Pandemic, changing supply chain networks, and regional integration efforts in many parts of the world. These major changes and trends are disrupting traditional business models and networks and laying bare the vulnerability of the transport sector. At the same time, these changes, shocks and trends offer the World Bank, policy makers and development partners a historic opportunity to shape the global transport agenda and steer the sector into a sustainable, resilient, safe, and inclusive mobility system. 

The Transport Global Practice seeks to connect people, goods and services to jobs, schools, hospitals, local, regional and international markets, using faster, cheaper, safer and more efficient solutions, while keeping traffic fatalities, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and local air pollution in check.  It responds to the needs of developing countries and transition economies for modern and reliable transport and logistics solutions. These needs are growing exponentially under the combined effect of globalization, population growth, rapid urbanization, economic development, and technological progress – making transport a cornerstone of the global development agenda.

The World Bank Group is the largest provider of development finance for transport globally, with an active transport portfolio of $39 billion in 115 countries. 

YPP Selection Criteria

• Born on or after October 1, 1990
• Relevant Master’s by September 2022 OR PhD by September 2023
• 3+ years of relevant experience OR continued study at the doctoral level
• Fluency in English

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Transport economics, engineering, or planning;micro economics, finance, climate or related fields
• Experience in at least one sub-sector of transport discipline (urban mobility, roads, railways, maritime and ports).   
• Desirable specialized expertise in transport decarbonization and resilient infrastructure, regional connectivity, supply chain, and logistics, competition and regulatory policies in transport, innovative and private sector financing for infrastructure 
• Strong background in policy analysis, regulation reforms, and/or transport investment planning and implementation, 
• Desirable training and understanding of the interplay between climate and transport, and/or transport and urban development
• Desirable training in regulatory economics/economics 
• Ability to draw cross-sectoral linkages as important as technical depth;  
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or French is a plus

World Bank Group Core Competencies

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Project Design for Impact and Sustainability - Contributes to the design of projects and programs based on an understanding of the country and sector context.
• Sector Dialogue - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client including on complex issues, based on a solid understanding of the sector.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions, and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning, and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

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, IFC and MIGA including our values and inspiring stories.