Agriculture Economist

Description

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The vision of the World Bank Group is to eradicate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable plant. Delivery of this vision relies on a three-pronged strategy that includes maximizing development impact by engaging country clients in identifying and tackling the most difficult development challenges; promoting scaled-up partnerships that are strategically aligned with the goals; and crowding in public and private resources, expertise and ideas. The architecture underpinning the strategy is the establishment of 14 Global Practices or GPs (organized into four Practice Groups) and five cross-cutting Solution Areas that, in concert with WBG Regions, design and deliver solutions that address clients’ most pressing developmental challenges, and ultimately, enable the World Bank Group to accomplish its mission to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable planet.

The Agriculture and Food Global Practice (AGF GP) of the World Bank Group, supports a Global Vision for Agriculture and Food with agriculture able to feed every person, every day, in every country with a safe, nutritious and affordable diet, and where jobs and income gains in the food system are sufficient to meet poverty reduction targets.

The Agriculture and Food team in the Africa West and Central (AFW) Region (SAWA1) is organized under the umbrella of AFW Planet Department that also incorporates water, environment, and social teams. SAWA1’s work program covers Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon and is led by a Practice Manager.  The focus of the team’s work going forward is on how agrifood systems can be strengthened to deliver jobs and food security.

The selected candidate will report to our SAWA1 Practice Manager, based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of the Agriculture Economist will be to provide support in the development and implementation of the AGF GP’s work program in Republic of Congo. This would include contributing to the delivery of the agriculture and food program and interaction with internal and external clients, as well as other development partners, while working closely with the AGF team, and Country Management Unit (CMU) in Cameroon. 

The Economist will: 

 •  Contribute to the preparation and supervision of operations led by SAWA1 in Republic of Congo and those projects supporting agriculture and food system-related activities led by other GPs in the country. Assure timely delivery of these operations with high levels of quality.

•  Contribute to analytical products and initiate and maintain a high-level engagement and dialogue with key government counterparts on the strategic program and policy issues in areas including sustainable and climate resilient agriculture, linking smallholders to markets and agriculture value chain development to accelerate competitive agriculture development.

 •  Lead or contribute to policy dialogue on agricultural and rural development issues and interactions with the client, development and other partners, and alert management (both country and sector) to issues requiring attention.

•  Represent the World Bank in fora involving the community of development partners and private sector. Provide support, either explicit or implicit, to the work of the development partners in the sector. As necessary, represent the World Bank and the Agriculture GP’s management at events with sectoral focus.

•  Provide technical assistance to the Government as needed in specific thematic areas related to agriculture and food systems.  

•  Participate in country team meetings and stay abreast of agriculture sector development in the country and identify all emerging issues.

•  Work across sectors with staff of other Global Practices and IFC to ensure coherence and integration of the agriculture portfolio in Congo.

•  Support the management of the Agriculture and Food GP by contributing to corporate, regional and unit level initiatives when requested and represent the Bank and the Agriculture and Food GP at public events with agriculture sector focus as needed at the request of the Practice Manager or the Country Manager.

Selection Criteria

•   A minimum of a Masters in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agriculture or related fields. A minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in areas related to agriculture, agriculture economics, agribusiness, and other fields related to food systems.

•   At least six years of experience on agricultural development issues.

•   Experience of managing or supporting implementation of development assistance projects. Experience with World Bank or any other donor-funded projects would be considered a plus.

•   Demonstrated experience in conducting policy dialogue with clients;

•   Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills with ability to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solution;

•   Ability to work across various subject areas and multi-disciplinary teams; while being diplomatic and sensitive to cultural, political and gender issues;

•   Proven written and oral communication skills in English, including the ability to present complex issues to specialists as well as to non-specialist audiences. French communication skills are a plus.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.