Description
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 on a livable planet. 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.The World Bank Group (WBG) is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
The Development Data Group (DECDG), located within the Development Economics Vice Presidency, strives to unlock the full value of development data for achieving the World Bank Group’s mission to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable planet. Inspired by the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, DECDG envisions a world where data are actively transformed into decisions that improve lives and livelihoods of the poor and marginalized. Through leading global data public goods, innovative research, pioneering partnerships, and specialized technical expertise, DECDG leads effort to ensure that development data are of high quality, accessible, and widely used and reused for impact across the world.
The Director of DECDG also serves as the Chief Statistician of the World Bank Group, providing strategic vision for the institution’s work and innovations in development data and statistics. The Chief Statistician’s main functions are to: (i) lead and promote the adoption of standards and best practices for data and statistics across the World Bank; (ii) champion data innovations by advising Senior Leadership on the implementation of major data and statistics initiatives, identifying strategic priorities for World Bank data governance, and fostering collaboration among partners on data and statistics priorities; and (iii) represent the World Bank in global discussions and deliberative fora on data and statistics. A dedicated team within DECDG forms the Office of the Chief Statistician (DECCS) to support the effective execution of this role.
The ET Consultant will be expected to contribute to efforts championing data innovations, particularly related to the integration of georeferenced survey and census data with alternative data sources to produce subnational estimates of socioeconomic indicators, in collaboration the Development Data Group – Living Standards Measurement Unit (DECLS), the Development Research Group – Poverty and Inequality Unit (DECPI), and other internal and external collaborators.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Consultant will be expected to:
- Contribute to the further development and execution of an on-going methodological research program on small area estimation (SAE), specifically to answer open research questions regarding the integration of georeferenced census/survey data with high-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial data, as well as georeferenced alternative data sources, including call detail records (CDRs), administrative records, and citizen-generated data, to obtain sub-national, hyperlocal estimates of sustainable development outcomes, including, but not limited to, monetary poverty, consumption, income, and wealth.
- Contribute to ongoing research that aims to identify the optimal volume of and approach to georeferenced ground data collection through surveys and censuses in order to provide the requisite training data for remotely sensed, hyperlocal estimates of sustainable development outcomes that are obtained by integrating georeferenced census/survey data with high-resolution satellite imagery, and geospatial data (henceforth referred to as integrated survey/census-geospatial data applications).
- Related workstreams will be to (a) validate the use of survey-to-census imputation to produce reliable predictions that can in turn be used as training data; (ii) identify the recommended estimation techniques, including machine learning approaches, for integrated survey/census-geospatial data applications; and (iii) determine the optimal scope and type of geospatial features that should be used in these applications. These efforts will culminate in co-authored working papers, journal articles, and methodological guidelines.
- Apply knowledge from the aforementioned research program and the latest developments in data integration and machine learning to provide methodological guidance to World Bank-supported integrated survey/census-geospatial data applications.
- Produce geospatial rasters that document the extent of variation in subnational levels and changes in selected sustainable development outcomes in a minimum of five countries at different income levels and stages of structural transformation. These products will be based on the integration of survey/census and geospatial data sources to produce subnational estimates of poverty, mean household consumption/income, and household wealth, including estimates of uncertainty, both at 5-kilometer pixel-level and at the finest level of administrative sub-division in that country, generated at least two points in time separated by approximately 10 years. The process for producing these estimates must be aligned with the forthcoming World Bank policy on data quality, and The Consultant will therefore test, evaluate, validate and verify different models, consult with stakeholders, and produce careful and thorough documentation.
- Perform any other related assignment, as requested by the supervisor.
Selection Criteria
•Masters Degree or equivalent (PhD preferred) in Economics, Statistics, or related field.
•A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
•Proficiency in the use of Stata and R to analyze household survey and geospatial data.
•Demonstrated expertise in data integration, preferably with respect to estimating poverty and welfare, machine learning, and small area estimation.
•Demonstrated experience producing high-quality Development Economics research.
•Excellent English writing and communication skills.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
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.