Overview

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 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, visit www.worldbank.org.

GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR MACROECONOMICS, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice leads the World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, trade, competition and investment. MTI links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development. In our day-to-day engagement with countries, we support Ministries of Finance, Trade, Economy and Planning in their pursuit of reform agendas conducive to strengthening inclusive growth led by the private sector. https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/mti-gp

The MTI Team in Malawi is responsible for macro-economic analysis, policy dialogue, technical advice and capacity building support in the areas of macro-economic and fiscal reforms. An important additional element of engagement in macroeconomic and fiscal policies is carried through work on debt management supported by the Debt Management Facility. In addition to its regular economic monitoring mandate, the team manages a rich work program consisting of policy-based financing operations, and a wide variety of programmatic analytic work programs. These tasks are cross-sectoral in nature and integral to the policy dialogue of the country program.

DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• We are looking for a local Economist to work on Malawi, based in Lilongwe. You will be a core team member of the MTI East Africa team and will report to the Practice Manager (EA1M1). In the day to day work you will contribute mostly to the Malawi MTI work program.

• Responsibilities include monitoring and assessment of macroeconomic developments in Malawi and assisting in the preparation and supervision of MTI’s work program in Malawi. You will work closely with the Senior Economist and Lead Economist for Malawi to perform the following activities:

• Lead and/or contribute to the macroeconomic monitoring and the analysis on the country’s economic, financial and sector issues. Prepare briefs and just-in-time analytical notes;

• Use/run economic/financial models and toolkits using existing software packages, or Bank’s own models, to assess economic development and inform policy advice;

• Contribute to the design, preparation and implementation of budget support and lending operations in Malawi;

• Maintain the macroeconomic and financial database and regularly prepare updated medium-term macroeconomic projections for Malawi;

• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation and dissemination of analytical economic work and reporting on Malawi, including Malawi Economic Update, Country Climate and Development Report, Country Economic Memorandum, Public Expenditure Reviews, and the Macro Poverty Outlook (MPO); and participate in the preparation of the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA);

• Contribute to the monitoring of the Performance and Policy Actions in Malawi under IDA’s Sustainable Development Finance Policy and overall debt development.

• Support the Country Management Unit (CMU) in the implementation of the World Bank’s Malawi program;

• Engage in policy dialogue with government of Malawi, develop and maintain active engagement with other development partners, private sector, local think tanks and researchers, in coordination with a range of World Bank sectoral teams;

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of a master’s degree (PhD preferred) in Economics with at least 5 years of relevant work experience;
• Strong technical and operational skills to lead or contribute to MTI tasks. Previous experience on debt and fiscal policy issues is a plus;

• First-hand knowledge of the Malawian economy and strong understanding of key economic policy, especially fiscal and monetary policy issues, in Malawi;

• Familiarity with functioning of Malawian government and knowledge of key stakeholders and local networks that influence economic policy making;

• Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills;

• Strong communication skills in English, including ability to speak and write persuasively positions to colleagues, management and senior public officials, and to present ideas clearly and concisely;

• High level of personal and professional integrity.

• Strong ability to function well in a multi- cultural environment and working in teams.

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

• A thorough understanding of macroeconomics and interlinkages between the various macroeconomic accounts;

• Skills and experience in working on economic policy issues and data analysis.

• Skills to conceptualize and conduct economic analyses and derive policy relevant findings;

• Ability to translate technical analyses of macroeconomic, debt, trade, fiscal policy, and growth into policy recommendations and cross-country lessons;

• Proficiency in basic econometric and statistical analysis and relevant software packages (STATA, E-views, or other statistical packages and MS Office programs, including Excel) is essential;

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.