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 – Poverty and Equity, East Asia and Pacific Region

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region

Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region still faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and the Region has a big role to play on global public goods. The COVID pandemic dealt EAP a setback, and as a result poverty rose for the first time in over 4 decades. A large portion of our region’s population remains vulnerable to income shocks, including from a global economic slowdown, changing global and regional value-chains, and climate-related risks.

If you are ready to make an impact, we are looking for dedicated professionals to join our committed, creative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help EAP countries.

East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap

The EAP Poverty & Equity Unit

We are seeking to recruit a highly qualified candidate for the EAP Poverty & Equity Team. We generate knowledge and dialogue and support operational solutions, focusing on four thematic lines:

• Data for policy analysis;
• Markets and institutions for poverty reduction and shared prosperity;
• Fiscal and social policy for poverty reduction and shared prosperity; and
• Welfare implications of climate change, fragility and conflict risks.

For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty

Our unit covers work across all Country Management Units (CMUs) within the Region, with country work spanning from the smallest Pacific Islands to China; and from fragile and low income countries, to upper middle income countries in the Region.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Poverty and Equity GP is looking for a Junior Professional Associate (JPA) in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region of the World Bank. This is a unique opportunity to become an integral part of our dynamic team, where your contributions will have a direct impact on shaping the global dialogue on poverty and equity. As an JPA, you will work closely with the GP’s leadership to contribute across a range of areas including:
• Support the delivery of the analytical agenda around poverty, inequality, fiscal, labor markets, gender, shocks and coping strategies
• Support the agenda on welfare impacts of climate; risk management policies and tools to reduce vulnerability and build resilience
• Manage data collection efforts or other similar tasks, including by ensuring consistency across products, quality, timeliness, and an optimal use of financial resources
• Support the production of public goods and knowledge and assist the team in dissemination through blogs and other media.
• Support corporate engagement of Poverty & Equity GP, including reviews, preparation of briefs and policy notes on thematic issues; support analytical activities conducted in partnership with other global practices.
• Support the delivery of other high-profile analytical products
• Support efforts to build new partnerships with relevant stakeholders across development and humanitarian stakeholders
• Provide capacity building support to said partner institutions on new topics.

Selection Criteria

• Applicants must be age 32 or younger, hold at least a bachelor’s degree, in international development, public policy, economics, or related subject
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize, work well under pressure, and capably handle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and visual communication skills, with the ability to effectively distill complex ideas into clear messages tailored to different audiences. Keen interest in applying creative and innovative approaches, including application of AI tools to solve computational problems.
• Strong analytical skills, with demonstrated experience in contributing to academic research and experience in analyzing household survey data, and visualizing data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse staff from all levels and to work effectively in a position in which confidentiality and discretion are essential.
• Proficiency in tools for data analysis (e.g. Stata, R, Python, GIS tools), machine learning methods, and experience with big data an advantage.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in additional languages 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.