Senior Economist – GG

IFC a member of the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). Our goal is to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop impactful investment projects. This strategy is, in part, premised on improved country/sector diagnostic, strategic, and public sector engagement capabilities, which seek to: 1) resolve obstacles to private sector growth via diagnostic and strategic work that informs both IFC operations and relevant IBRD/IDA policy operations; and 2) overcome the shortage of investable projects in priority markets by proactively improving the private sector ecosystem at the country and regional level.

The Country Advisory and Economics Unit of the East Asia and Pacific region (CEAAE) supports the IFC business by: (i) developing diagnostics and supporting targeted reforms that help remove market barriers; (ii) providing  direct support to operational teams and country units; and (iii) leveraging coordination across the WBG. The Unit is composed of economics, strategy, and operational staff responsible for:

•  Producing regional and country-level economic assessments to support IFC’s strategy and operations.
•  Collaborating with regional and industry colleagues to produce analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and IFC Country Strategies.
•  Significantly contributing to WBG products such as Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), and IBRD/IDA lending operations; and
•  Implementing IFC’s country strategy and diagnostic recommendations into practice through Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, civil society, development partners and other relevant stakeholders, to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector development.

The Unit is seeking to recruit a Senior Economist to be based in Singapore and reporting to the CEAAE manager. The Senior Economist shall be a motivated and dynamic professional, with exceptional analytical skills; policy-relevant experience; expertise in private sector development and applied research; a track record of publications; and proven skills as team player and aggregator. 

 

Duties and Accountabilities:
•  Identify and develop real-time analytics to create markets and help shape business strategies in the region.
•  Provide timely and quality input to IFC investment projects on country/regional context, macro/market analysis, policy issues, strategic fit, key risks, and other analysis during the full project life cycle, especially on high-risk projects.
•  Contribute to business development by providing investment and upstream/advisory teams with customized, up-to-date research, such as macro/market updates, assessments of regional-global trends and/or analysis of real-time issues, etc.
•  Provide analytical support and advice to CEAAE project teams to identify and deliver actionable reforms that can open private sector opportunities and support IFC industries. 
•  Lead preparation of CPSDs in selected countries, including: (i) coordinating with regional and industry colleagues and WB’s counterparts to select strategic sectors; (ii) designing and leading data collection and analysis; and (iii) identifying/developing deep dives. 
•  Focal point for coordination/collaboration between IFC and the World Bank (WB). This includes: (i) contributing as co-TTLs and focal points to strategic country engagement products (CPFs, CCDRs, etc.), to help frame a consistent WBG agenda in EAP countries; (ii) providing inputs to country/sector analysis; (ii) coordinating and contributing to policy dialogue and IBRD lending programs (DPOs, IPFs, and P4Rs) to ensure that key private sector reforms are considered.
•  Work closely with IFC’s global economics and industry teams, to (i) coordinate diagnostics (i.e., macroeconomics assessments, investment trend updates, etc.); (ii) jointly develop flagship studies (i.e., climate-related policies and impacts, decarbonization, new technologies, etc.); and (iii) ensure a consistent IFC’s position on global/country/market issues/trends. 
•  Provide front-office support to the Regional Director and the Vice-President of the Asia Region including: (i) preparing analytics and updates on countries’ economies and selected markets; and (ii) in collaboration with the communication team, preparing briefing and talking points for key meetings and events (conferences, interviews, blogs etc.). 
•  Facilitate consultations with various stakeholders including other development finance institutions, civil society and enterprise sector.
•  Mentor junior colleagues and provide quality control of strategic and analytical work, as well as operational projects.

 

Selection Criteria

•  PhD or master’s degree in economics with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience.
•  A track record of excellence in research and analytics, including published research. 
•  Proven expertise in both macro- and micro-level issues; that is, in addition to typical macroeconomic diagnostics and public sector analysis, the ideal candidate shall have solid expertise in private sector policies and market issues, as well as experience in private sector diagnostics and/or sector/market analysis. 
•  Expertise in a specific thematic area (private sector regulations, climate policies, etc.) and sector (finance, infrastructure, etc.) will be considered a plus.
•  Experience with economic models, financial models, or econometrics approaches is desirable.
•  Ability to understand how the macroeconomic framework and trends at global/regional/country level produce impacts at the micro-level, e.g., on financial flows, private investments, and risks/opportunities within specific sectors and markets. 
•  Strong understanding of the interdependence between various sectors of an economy. 
•  Ability to translate economic and policy analysis into country and sector strategies/programs/reforms.
•  Experience with policy dialogue, lending operations (including policy-based and investment lending) and delivering programs and solutions to clients.
•  Familiarity with WBG country engagement process; experience in leading/contributing to WBG analytical work such as CPSDs, CCDRs, CPFs will be considered a plus.  
•  Strong writing skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner.
•  Strong communication skills, including ability to interact with internal stakeholders within the WBG and IFC’s client countries, and participate in programs/initiatives in collaboration with the WB/MIGA/external stakeholders.
•  Demonstrated interpersonal skills; proven ability to work effectively as a team leader and team member, build and maintain relationships with colleagues, manage junior staff and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders. 
•  Proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently

 

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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 and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.

 

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