Economist
Washington DC, United States
JOB DETAIL
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. 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 Development Impact Measurement Department (CDI) within the Economics and Private Sector Vice Presidency (CEDVP) analyzes economic sectors to identify opportunities and solutions for private sector development and works closely with IFC Operations. It provides technical support to operations related to structuring, appraising, and monitoring investment and advisory projects and is responsible for reporting on IFC’s impact. The department is in charge of implementing the ex-ante project assessment framework (Anticipated Impact Measurement and Monitoring, AIMM), monitoring and evaluating the impact of both investments and advisory projects, helping to ensure high-quality economic support for IFC investment teams on strategies and projects, and developing sector economic analyses with a focus on solutions for private sector development. In short, the department offers “end-to-end” support and impact assessments for IFC investments and advisory services, engaging upstream and downstream throughout the project cycle.
CDI staff comprises sector economists and results measurement specialists assigned to units organized along IFC industry groupings. These include units for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services (CDIMA), Financial Institutions (CDIFI), Infrastructure (CDIIN), and Funds and Disruptive Technology (CDIDF). The department also includes staff working on economic modeling, results measurement, corporate reporting, and sustainability that support all industry groups (CDIIM). The CDIMA team implements CDI mandates and deliverables described above about investment and advisory projects across Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services comprising health, education, tourism, retail, and properties (collectively, MAS).
CDIMA is seeking an economist to perform development impact work across MAS sectors. The economist will provide, on an ongoing basis, operational support to assess the impact of MAS investments while ensuring consistent application of standard impact measurement and monitoring frameworks, help generate relevant lessons learned and support staff incorporate such lessons into project design, and contribute to evaluative work beyond the project lifecycle. The staff will work closely with the Investment and Advisory/Upstream staff responsible for designing and structuring IFC’s MAS operations under the supervision of the CDIMA Manager.
Duties and Accountabilities
• Undertake ex-ante development impact assessments of investment projects in MAS sectors and generate economic input into investment approval reports. This includes implementing AIMM to analyze, rate, and articulate project impacts.
• Contribute to shaping continuous improvement of results by monitoring project impact ex-post and providing feedback and lessons learned to MAS operations teams.
• Support the ongoing AIMM sector updates to reflect changing corporate priorities and new types of investments responding to emerging global challenges in existing sector frameworks.
• Monitor global trends affecting firms operating in MAS sectors in emerging markets and advance the ongoing refinement of impact measurement methodologies to account for these issues entirely.
• Support ongoing analytical work analyzing trends and developments in MAS sectors on the global and country levels and producing reports focusing on challenges, priorities, and opportunities for market creation and private sector development in these sectors.
• Contribute to ongoing impact evaluations to enhance the feedback loop in IFC’s MAS operations and influence project designs to strengthen development impact.
• Prepare briefs, reports, and presentations for IFC senior management, the Board, and external stakeholders.
• Perform other tasks as requested by CDI management.
Selection Criteria
• A master’s degree in economics or a related field, with at least six years of experience in economic analysis of MAS sectors (sector dynamics, emerging trends, development impacts). Must demonstrate strong analytical and research skills, including experience in preparing economic papers and sector strategies.
• Alternatively, a Ph.D. in Economics or a related field, with at least four years of similar experience in economic analysis of MAS sectors. Must also demonstrate strong analytical and research skills, including experience in preparing economic papers and sector strategies.
• Solid quantitative and qualitative research methods training is required.
• Strong understanding of one or more MAS sectors, the determinants of sector competitiveness, and the impacts and implications of different economic policy frameworks.
• Experience in development impact measurement of private sector investment projects in DFIs. This includes the design of development impact assessment frameworks, understanding of private sector development in emerging markets, and assessing the development impact of private sector investments. Knowledge of IFC and its processes is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with academic and business literature, databases, and other sources of information on one or more MAS sectors, demonstrated through the preparation of reports and economic papers, and an ability to identify research gaps and prepare research programs.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills and ability to write robust research papers. Proven capability to produce analytical work to a high professional standard, with minimum supervision. Publication record is a plus.
• Ability to innovate, develop innovative solutions with others, and deliver results by proactively addressing clients’ stated and unstated needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and ability to communicate effectively with different stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in teams, communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues, and recommend solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with key stakeholders to conceptualize and implement solutions.
• Proven ability to work in multi-cultural environments.
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.
location
JOBS YOU WILL LOVE
