Senior Economist

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, please visit www.ifc.org.

The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). Our goal is to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop impactful investment projects. This strategy is, in part, premised on improved country/sector diagnostic, strategic, and public sector engagement capabilities, which seek to: 1) resolve obstacles to private sector growth via diagnostic and strategic work that informs both IFC operations and relevant IBRD/IDA policy operations; and 2) overcome the shortage of investable projects in priority markets by proactively improving the private sector ecosystem at the country and regional level.

The IFC's Country Advisory and Economics unit for Europe (CEUAE) is seeking to recruit a Senior Economist to be based in Paris (or Vienna) and reporting to its manager - based in Paris.

The CEUAE team is responsible for:
1) Producing both regional and country-level economic assessments to support IFC's strategy and operations;
2) Leading/Collaborating with World Bank Group (WBG) colleagues to produce analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and IFC Country Strategies;
3) Significantly contributing to WBG country engagement, including analytical and strategic products such as Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), as well as IBRD/IDA lending operations; and
4) Putting IFC's country strategy and diagnostic recommendations into practice through Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, civil society, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector development.

Duties and accountabilities :

The Senior economist is expected to contribute to all three primary functions of CEUAE, namely: strategic and economic analysis, operational delivery, and operational support. She/he will be responsible for:
• Contributing to regional work on formulating country and regional strategies to maximize IFC's impact and address development challenges.
• Leading/Contributing to select WBG analytical work, including CCDRs and CPSDs, and other analytical products, with a particular focus on financial sector topics.
• Leading/contributing to IFC's engagement with the World Bank and IFC advisory and investment teams to help advance select private sector reform priorities. with a focus on financial sector reforms, capital and insurance market development, financial inclusion, and intermediation through the World Bank operations (including policy-based lending and investment lending) and IFC's upstream and advisory work.
• Leading/contributing to design and economic appraisal/analysis of CAE operational projects that support reforms in financial sector, capital and insurance markets and its direct/indirect impact on economic benefits, financial stability, inclusion, intermediation, and private capital mobilization.
• Leading/contributing to the operationalization of key strategic and diagnostic recommendations through the design and implementation of client-facing Advisory Services projects that support reform implementation and investment facilitation in line with IFC's strategic priorities.
• Facilitate consultations with various stakeholders including other development finance institutions, financial sector entities, civil society and enterprise sector.
• Mentoring and providing quality control of strategic and analytical work, as well as operational projects delivered by junior members of the team.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree in Economics. Finance. or related fields with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience; PhD in economics is desirable but not required.
• A track record of relevant analytical work, especially country private sector diagnostics at macro-, sector-, and micro- level. Good understanding of the interdependence between various sectors of an economy. financial market dynamics, including risk and stability assessment and capacity to integrate micro and sectoral issues with the overall macroeconomic framework.
• Min of 5-8 years of working on financial sector development issues preferably in a developing country, in the public sector (e.g. central bank or other financial sector regulatory bodies), private sector, and/or international organizations, with a strong track record of results.
• Ability to translate economic and policy analysis into country and sector strategies / programs/ reforms.
• Experience with policy dialogue, lending operations (including policy-based and investment lending) and delivering programs and solutions to the clients.
• Experience in evaluating impact of the legal/infrastructure environment related to financial sector and capital market operations in its connection to other economic sectors is desirable.
• Experience with a broad range of financial sector policy and technical issues, with a focus on financial stability and regulation/supervision, inclusion, MSME financing, and capital market development. Familiarity with international regulatory/supervisory standards and practices is desirable.
• Knowledge of the WBG country engagement process and experience of leading the WBG analytical work such as Country Economic Memorandum (CEM), SCD, Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), CPSDs, CCDRs, and Investment Climate Assessments (ICA) is desirable.
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner.
• Strong communication skills, including ability to interact with internal stakeholders within the WBG, policy makers in IFC's client countries, and participate in policy development initiatives in collaboration with the WB / MIGA / external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, proven ability to work effectively as a team leader and team member, build and maintain relationships with colleagues, manage junior staff and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• A proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Experience in the climate change agenda and it impact on financial sector operations is a plus.

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.

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