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: Governance Practice and Public Sector Institutions Unit (GOV PSI)

In the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR) region, the World Bank Group serves 30 client countries. Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to less developed International Development Association (IDA) Borrowing Countries, small Caribbean states and one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about US$4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The Bank’s strategy in LCR is focused on three pillars: promoting inclusive growth, investing in human capital, and building resilience. This includes encouraging better governance and economic integration and leveraging the private finance necessary to address the region’s pressing development needs.

The regional context has become even more complex in the context of sluggish growth, institutional weaknesses, high food and energy prices, and climate change which several affect the most vulnerable. Rising interest rates complicate the management of already high debt levels. The Bank – and the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) practice group in particular – will play an important role in supporting the countries in the region to navigate these challenges.

The World Bank’s Governance Practice and Public Sector Institutions Unit (GOV PSI) is part of EFI for LCR. GOV PSI works with Governments and stakeholders to improve the performance and accountability of public institutions. The practice applies a problem-driven, diagnostic approach, combining global comparative knowledge of reform successes and failures with keen understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities of developing countries.

GOV PSI works across the following business lines: Public Financial Management, including public investment management; Domestic Resource Mobilization and Tax Administration; State-Owned Enterprises and Corporate Governance; Public Institutions (includes civil service, center of government, legislatures and administration of justice); Decentralization and Sub-National Government. GOV PSI also works across the following cross-cutting themes: Digital Governance; Anti-Corruption; and Political Economy.

GOV PSI support clients with a wide range of products: diagnostics; technical assistance and advisory services; learning, innovation and knowledge management; design and supervision of investment projects, results-based and development policy operations.

GOV PSI is seeking an outstanding Junior Professionals Associate to work on public sector and institutions analytics and lending projects, with an emphasis on applied economics and data analytics in the LCR region. The JPA’s work program will include a focus on conducting quantitative and econometric analysis of large administrative datasets, in view of informing the policy dialogue and lending operations in the regions. An initial focus will be on the analysis of public investment data in view of informing the dialogue on public investment management, including in Peru and Colombia.

The successful candidate will work closely with the GOV PSI team and the EFI Lead Country Economist/Program Leader. The JPA will be an integral part of the global Governance GP and will report to the GOV PSI Practice Manager covering Latin America and the Caribbean.

Duties and Responsibilities

The JPA’s main responsibilities will include the following:

– Conduct quantitative and econometric data analysis, including of large administrative datasets on public investment management, public procurement and public employment;

– Contribute to the design of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and survey instruments for empirical work on governance issues in the LCR region;

– Support the preparation of effective policy briefs based on analytical findings for policy makers of client countries;

– Contribute to the drafting of analytical products and policy research papers of the Governance Practice and Public Sector Institutions Unit;

– Participate in the client dialogue, missions, and in designing lending operations in the LCR region.

Selection Criteria

* Academic specialization: Preferably a Master’s degree in economics, public policy or a related field with strong quantitative research skills.

* The candidate must have demonstrated technical expertise in econometric analysis (including proficiency in STATA and/or R or other statistical software).

* Two years of professional experience with public financial and investment management, intergovernmental transfers, or policy analysis in a related field are an advantage.

* Writing skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish are critical.

* Language skills: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

* Interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in teams and with government counterparts.

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.