E T Consultant - Country Economist

The Country Economist will provide macro-economic analysis and support IFC's country strategies and investment operations in Eastern Africa. The role involves economic assessments, advisory projects, and collaboration with World Bank Group teams to promote private sector development and investment.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the macro-economic conditions and trends for countries in the designated IFC country cluster and advise the Country Manager and operational teams on its impact on IFC operations, in particular, macro-economic risks to IFC projects and strategies to mitigate them.
• Provide macro-economic analysis to support IFC investment operations including due diligence. Draft relevant sections of IFC Board papers including country context and strategic fit.
• Contribute to Country Private Sector Diagnostics/ and Country Analytical Notes, and provide IFC input to WBG Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, Learning Reviews and other joint initiatives.
• Support Country Manager and teams to develop IFC country strategies (country notes) to help maximize IFC development impact.
• Maintain close liaison with World Bank teams, other development partners and client governments to help ensure that IFC engagements are aligned with WBG strategies and government development strategies.
• Support the implementation of IFC country and industry strategic priorities through advisory reform support in selected sectors and projects. Closely liaise with upstream and industry colleagues in preparation and execution of CAEAE advisory projects in the country cluster. Support client in implementing recommendations and help troubleshoot as needed.
• Contribute to analytical work on selected topics that inform IFC country and sector programs.
• Support business and project development in line with client and market needs while working collaboratively across WBG.
• Participate in senior level client meetings to provide technical advice and monitor progress in implementing relevant reforms to unlock investment.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in economics, business, finance, or closely related field with a minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to apply economic theory and concepts and demonstrate a solid understanding of key drivers of economic growth in emerging markets and to contribute to discussions with internal clients on topics of economic or strategic relevance.
• Ability to carry out analytical work and demonstrate judgement in making sound assumptions when there are gaps in data and information.
• Ability to assess market failures and economic soundness and feasibility of policy options to enhance investment attractiveness and private sector development, from a cross-cutting and sectoral perspective.
• Ability to understand the economic parameters behind private investment decision making.
• Ability to consider problems from new perspectives and expand on the thinking/solutions proposed by others; independent engagement in analysis and tasks requiring the interpretation of complex or imperfect sets of information.
• Logical, coherent approach to economic/strategic questions based on own work and an awareness of organizational or departmental strategies.
• Ability to communicate clearly economic and technical concepts to non-technical audience and present key messages and most relevant findings in compelling manner and appropriately embed empirical support for conclusions and recommendations.
• Demonstrate good command of the economics of a particular sector & key drivers of sector growth, productivity, profitability & efficiency.
• Ability to build strong work relationships with colleagues across operational teams, country teams and organizations within the World Bank Group.
• Experience in and strong knowledge of the economic context and challenges of countries in Africa.
• Solid understanding of IFC project cycles, approval/decision processes, and key drivers of IFC business decision making as well as knowledge and understanding of key IFC/WBG products and instruments and how they are deployed to pursue private sector development and country engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with high level stakeholders in English as well as other languages (desirable).

Skills

• Economic Theory Application
• Economic Growth Analysis
• Analytical Work
• Market Failure Assessment
• Policy Feasibility Analysis
• Private Investment Analysis
• Economic Problem Solving
• Economic Communication
• Sector Economics
• Stakeholder Engagement
• African Economic Context
• IFC Project Cycle Knowledge
• IFC Business Decision-Making
• Private Sector Development
• Economic Advisory
• Macroeconomic Analysis
• Investment Operations Support
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication

Languages

English