Description

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 in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating unique opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. This strategy also calls for working with Governments and World Bank colleagues to first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges – where such solutions are advisable and can be effective – and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal. This approach is called the “Cascade”.

The Regional and Country Economics and Advisory unit for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan leads the VPU’s participation in WBG engagement process (CEM, CPF, DPO, PLR, etc.) and IFC regional and country strategies (IFC Country strategies, CCDR, CPSD); develops periodic and “just in time” regional an country economic analysis, ad hoc economic and strategic analysis for regional country directors and managers, and provides high level support for strategic operations, such as platform templates and inter-institutional programs.

Roles & Responsibilities:

IFC’s Regional Country Economics and Advisory unit for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkiye, Pakistan and Afghanistan (CMCAE) is seeking to recruit a Country Economist to cover the Levant region (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and West Bank and Gaza).  The Economist will report to the Regional Program Lead (Senior Economist) for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and to the Practice Manager of the CMCAE unit.  Key roles and responsibilities of the Country Economist are expected to include:

• Serve as a focal point for CMCAE on economic issues in the Levant region and contribute to macroeconomic monitoring for the respective countries, including collation and analysis of macroeconomic projections and drafting of monthly updates
• Provide significant contributions to IBRD and/or IFC analytic, diagnostic, and strategic products and engagements covering some or all countries in the Levant region
• Explore sectoral opportunities and constraints in the Levant countries, including by procuring and analyzing relevant sources of quantitative data and ascertaining information from key stakeholders in the private and public sector
• Contribute economics sections of the annual and spring meeting briefing materials, project briefing notes, and other inputs required for the Levant in collaboration with IFC industry and country colleagues and IBRD colleagues
• Assist with fostering dialogue with key stakeholders in government, academia, non-governmental organizations and think-tanks, private sector firms, and development partners on sectoral opportunities, prevailing constraints, emerging trends, and future challenges.

Selection Criteria

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.