Job Description

Senior Country Economist Job #: req33120
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Economics
Grade: GG
Term Duration: 4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Pretoria,South Africa
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 5/25/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Description:
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
The Global Practice for Economic Policy (EP):
The Economic Policy Global Practice leads the World Bank Group's dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, economic growth, fiscal policy, and trade. EP links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development and job creation. In our day-to-day engagement with countries, we support Ministries of Finance, Central Banks, as well as Ministers of Economy, Planning, Trade, and Production in their pursuit of reform agendas conducive to faster, more inclusive, and resilient growth.
Economic Policy in Southern Africa:
The EP unit for Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa (EAEM2) is looking for a Senior Country Economist to be based in Pretoria, South Africa. The Senior Country Economist will cover countries in the Southern Africa Country Management Unit (AECS1). We are looking for a skilled and energetic Senior Country Economist who is passionate about tackling complex development challenges, comfortable working in a fluid operating environment, has technical breadth and depth, with strong results and integrative orientation, and effective policy dialogue skills.
The selected candidate will report to the EP Practice Manager for the EAEM2 unit (also based in South Africa). The EAEM2 unit covers 14 countries over three Country Management Units: AECS1 (South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia), AECS2 (Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros), and AECE3 (Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan).
The AECS1 countries-Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa-are part of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The interconnectedness of these countries underscores the importance of their collective development to the broader Southern African region. Since 2019, SACU governments have embarked on socio-economic transformation programs aimed at promoting faster and more inclusive growth.
SACU countries have recently seen a significant increase in the work program, including through Development Policy Operations (DPOs) and advisory services in countries that had previously not been borrowing.
The EP team plays a key role in supporting governments identify policy solutions to break away from current low-level equilibriums of modest growth, high unemployment, and high income inequality. Each SACU country has its unique features and challenges, requiring tailored approaches to boost their economic potential and deliver inclusive growth. Achieving impact requires robust policy dialogue at both the national and regional levels.
As Senior Country Economist, you will lead the policy dialogue on macro-fiscal, growth, trade, and structural reforms. The EP team based in South Africa comprises a Lead Economist, a Senior Economist, and a Country Economist. The EP program in Southern Africa includes DPOs, technical assistance, and highly visible analytics and economic surveillance work, including regional flagships.
Duties include:

• Lead the macro-fiscal, growth, and structural reform dialogue, in close coordination with government counterparts, the IMF, development partners, and country stakeholders;
• Contribute to EP core deliverables including Development Policy Operations (DPOs) and other lending operations, core advisory services and analytics (ASAs), including Country Growth and Jobs Reports (CGJRs), Public Finance Reviews (PFRs), Economic Updates, Regional Flagships, and policy notes on a wide range of issues such as fiscal efficiency and sustainability, productivity, revenue mobilization, public spending quality, and economic transformation for jobs.
• Provide analytical inputs to advise the Country Management Unit (CMU) on country strategic engagement and economic policy issues, including through active participation in key review meetings;
• Contribute to developing state-of-the-art approaches in applied economic analysis relevant to operations and analytical work.
• Supports the Practice Manager and the Prosperity Management Team on strategic engagements through corporate briefs, presentations, and policy notes.

Selection Criteria

• A Ph.D. in Economics or a Masters degree in Economics and 8 years of relevant experience.
• Previous experience leading impactful operations and analytical work in the areas described above.
• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses Cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to link the macro, institutional, and micro-level behaviors; able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Macroeconomic Skills and Country Economics Experience - Able to translate technical analyses of macroeconomic, debt, trade, fiscal policy, and growth linkages into policy recommendations and cross-country lessons.
• Written and Verbal Communication - Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).

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.
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