Economist

Description

Note:

This is a batch recruitment with 4 positions as below,

1.DECEA - Hiring Manager: Jorge Rodriguez Meza
2 DECWL - Hiring Manager: Tea Trumbic

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) seeks to increase understanding of development policies and programs by providing intellectual leadership and analytical services to the World Bank Group and the development community. DEC is the research and data arm of the World Bank Group.

The Development Economics Global Indicators Group (DECIG) produces quantitative indicators of business regulation through primary data collected by the department on laws, regulations, and the experiences of firms operating in the private sector.

Within DECIG, the Enterprise Analysis Unit (DECEA), has developed the Enterprise Surveys (ES) which is a survey instrument that links investment climate conditions to firm outcomes such as performance, firm growth, productivity, and employment in client countries. Up to now the Enterprise Analysis Unit has developed a critical mass of firm data using the ES on almost 175,000 firms covering all the World Bank regions. The ES has now acquired an additional important function of provider of factual data from the experience of firms for the new Business Enabling Environment project the World Bank is developing to substitute the discontinued Doing Business Report. The Unit has also developed other products to meet internal client demands in the areas of data collection, indicator generation, and data analysis. Examples of other products are an informal sector survey, innovation modules, and follow-up to the ES surveys to measure impacts of shocks (for ex. COVID).

Also, within DECIG, the Women, Business and the Law Unit (DECWL) is responsible for producing indicators and analysis of laws and regulations that influence women’s entrepreneurship and employment in 190 economies. Eight indicators are structured around women’s interactions with the law as they begin, progress through and end their careers and affect economic decisions women make at different stages of their working lives. Results are presented in a series of annual Women, Business and the Law (WBL) reports, a website database of legal indicators, and policy notes that feed into WBG operational and analytical work, as well as regional, national, and local dissemination events (http://wbl.worldbank.org).

The DECEA and DECWL Units are looking to hire up to four individuals to help on developing quantitative analysis, data collection, analysis of the data and research and disseminating of the results as it has become necessary due to the growing demand for its services. The selected individual will join a group of Economists in the DECIG department and will contribute to advance the development of new products in coordination with other Units in the Bank. The selected candidate will report to the DECEA manager or the DECWL manager.

Responsibilities

Duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Lead the implementation of Enterprise Surveys/WBL Surveys based on DECEA/DECWL established procedures, including dealing with procurement; providing material and directions for fieldwork preparation; training of interviewers and consultants; overseeing implementing contractor; supervising fieldwork implementation, sample management and data quality control; analysis of final data.
• Lead the implementation of DECEA/DECWL Surveys of informal firms, experts’ opinion and other new products that the Units may develop as follow-up surveys or other forms of surveys or data collection, as needed.
• Mentor short term consultants in their learning process to get acquainted with the structure of the Enterprise Survey or WBL data sets and the protocols in place at DECEA/DECWL to oversee quality control.
• Contribute to the management and development of website statistics and indicators based on Enterprise Surveys and Women, Business and the Law data.
• Conduct analytical research as required by the DECEA/DECWL work program and by the DECIG agenda. In particular, contribute to DECEA’s/DECWL’s existing knowledge products and help design new knowledge products for the Units and DECIG Department.
• Produce his/her own research as agreed with the Manager of the Unit.
• Represent the Unit in seminars, conferences and other fora, internal and external, as needed for the dissemination of the products of the Unit.
  

Selection Criteria

• Completed Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics or related discipline, completed PhD or near completion preferred.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience; if master’s degree, 5 years of experience will be required.
• Experience on survey implementation and on managing projects; Experience with expert surveys and firm-level survey design, data collection and analysis is an advantage.
• Experience leading teams and being the task team leader of projects with strong preference on collecting primary data, particularly from firms.
• Demonstrated pertinent analytical skills and experience; including the use of survey data in policy analysis; evidence of publications in peer reviewed journals ideally using Enterprise Survey data.
• Demonstrated research and analytical skills and experience pertaining to business environment issues; understanding of substantive issues in comparative institutional and regulatory analysis; experience in cross country analysis desirable.
• For DECWL: Demonstrated research and analytical skills and experience pertaining to gender/women’s economic opportunities.
• For DECWL:Knowledge of international standards and best practices related to improving women’s economic opportunities.
• Experience working with large data sets, particularly with the firm-level data, as well as panel data.
• Experience presenting and dissemination results with academics or policy makers.
• Well-developed interpersonal and team working skills; ability to operate effectively both as a program leader and unit team member; initiative, persistence and positive attitude.
• Excellent working knowledge of STATA, and strong skills in Excel; knowledge of R or python or other programing software a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; French, Arabic or Spanish a plus.

Core competencies

Deliver Results for Clients: Sets challenging goals that align with the WBG mission and is always looking to improve. Understands clients’ most pressing challenges and contributes to solutions. Takes personal responsibility for producing high quality work, identifying and informing of risks, and delivering results for clients

Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: Keeps others fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency and displays a sense of mutuality and respect. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Seeks and listens to input from others to inform own decision making and openly shares information. Frames thinking/actions with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.

Lead and Innovate: Applies critical thinking to current approaches, identifies areas for improvement, and tries new solutions that drive results. Considers own behavior in context of WBG’s values and mission and recognizes impact one has on others. Operates in ambiguity and changing needs and supports others to do the same.

Create, Apply and Share Knowledge: Contributes to the department’s and WBG’s body of knowledge by applying lessons learned and expertise. Actively invests in own knowledge and seeks feedback. Builds personal and professional networks within and beyond the work group.

Make Smart Decisions: Seeks and analyzes facts, data and lessons of past experience to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work. Applies cost/benefit analysis to meet work program objectives. Contributes to decision making by providing relevant risk-analysis. Shows initiative when necessary and makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of responsibility.

Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe. 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.

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.