Junior Professional Associate

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, please visit www.worldbank.org

Junior Professional Associates – Program Description

The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet.

We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/careers/jpa

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:

– Be 32 years of age or younger

– Hold a bachelor’s degree

– Be fluent in English

The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank’s Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.

Positions may be in any of the World Bank’s offices worldwide.

Specific Unit Description – Finance, Competition and Innovation

Sector Context (The Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice, FCI)

The Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice (GP) belongs to the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) Vice-presidency. FCI 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

Regional Context in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR)

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income countries to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. The World Bank works with governments, the private sector and civil society for education, inclusion, and resilience in the face of climate change to end poverty on a livable planet. In 2022, the region weathered the challenges it faced in the context of COVID-19 relatively well, including rising inflation pressures, global economic uncertainty, and rising debt. Poverty and employment returned to pre-pandemic levels. The growth outlook for 2023 is 2 percent but headwinds persist and may become more pronounced. The growth forecast for 2024 is 2.3 percent, indicating that the region has regressed to the low levels of pre-pandemic growth. Household income losses due to the pandemic have not fully recovered, especially for the middle class. The average poverty rate now stands above pre-pandemic levels at 30.3 percent.

The World Bank seeks to boost sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth in Latin America and the Caribbean by protecting and enhancing human capital, helping countries adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts, and taking advantage of new opportunities in green industries. It also seeks to promote an inclusive recovery by attracting investment, fostering job creation, and interacting with traditionally excluded groups, such as indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and people with disabilities. Operationally, the program consists of roughly 250 operations under implementation with almost US$33 billion in commitments, and 200+ knowledge products.

FCI in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR)

The FCI portfolio and pipeline in LCR includes about 20 loans (IPFs and DPLs) focused on both private sector and financial sector development issues, including competitiveness, business environment, entrepreneurial skills, innovation, integration into global value chains, firm productivity, digital economy, financial inclusion, Fintech, infrastructure and housing finance, and pension funds. We also co-lead several loans with other practice groups (including Human Development, Sustainable Development, Infrastructure and Digital). Similarly, FCI delivers several analytical work pieces and regional reports as well as RAS in the region, including in collaboration with other PGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

* Conduct research and analysis on policies that support sustainable growth and private sector development in Peru and Ecuador. Assist in the development of reports and policy recommendations that promote sustainable private sector investments and practices.

* Work closely with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to unlock private sector investment opportunities that align with growth and sustainability goals.

* Analyze trade and value chain dynamics in Peru and Ecuador. Support the formulation of strategies to enhance growth and increase resilience of high value-added export segments.

* Assist in the preparation and supervision of WB-financed public investment projects in Peru and Ecuador in the area of competitiveness and governance.

* Contribute to the development of frameworks and tools for effective public investment management. Participate in capacity-building activities for local government officials on public investment practices.

* Support analytical activities in the areas of fiscal decentralization and subnational governance

* Support the analysis of local economic development policies in Peru. Assist in the development of regional strategies that promote job creation leveraging public and private investment to unlock local growth opportunities.

Selection Criteria

– Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field.

– Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information.

– Proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., Excel, Stata, R).

– Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish.

– Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multicultural environment.

– Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

– Knowledge of the economic and development context of Peru and Ecuador is an asset.

Diversity and Inclusion

The World Bank continually searches for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. 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, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Individuals with different abilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.