Economist

Economist Job #: req32908 Organization: World Bank Sector: Economics Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Harare,Zimbabwe Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/8/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

 Description

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.
GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR ECONOMIC POLICY
The Economic Policy (EP) Global Practice leads the World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, trade, competition and investment. EP links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development. In our day-to-day engagement with countries, we support Ministries of Finance, Trade, Economy and Planning in their pursuit of reform agendas conducive to strengthening inclusive growth led by the private sector. https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/mti-gp
The EP Team in Zimbabwe is responsible for macro-economic analysis, policy dialogue, technical advice and capacity building support in the areas of macro-economic and fiscal reforms and growth policies. In addition to its regular economic monitoring mandate, the team manages a rich work program consisting of a wide variety of programmatic analytic work programs. These tasks are cross-sectoral in nature and integral to the policy dialogue of the country program. In addition there is work on supporting IDA’s sustainable development finance policy and debt sustainability and debt management. 
DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES
• We are looking for a local Economist to work on Zimbabwe, based in Harare. You will be a core team member of the EP East Africa team and will report to the Practice Manager (EAEM1). In the day to day work you will contribute mostly to the Zimbabwe EP work program.• Responsibilities include monitoring and assessment of macroeconomic developments in Zimbabwe and assisting in the preparation and supervision of EP’s work program in Zimbabwe. You will work closely with the Senior Economist and Lead Economist for Zimbabwe to perform the following activities:• Lead and/or contribute to the macroeconomic monitoring and the analysis on the country's economic, financial and sector issues. Prepare briefs and just-in-time analytical notes.• Use/run economic/financial models and toolkits using existing software packages, or Bank's own models, to assess economic development and inform policy advice.• If needed contribute to the design, preparation and implementation of lending operations in Zimbabwe.• Maintain the macroeconomic and financial database and regularly prepare updated medium-term macroeconomic projections for Zimbabwe.• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation and dissemination of analytical economic work and reporting on Zimbabwe, including Zimbabwe Economic Update, Country Climate and Development Report, Country Economic Memorandum, Public Finance Reviews, and the Macro Poverty Outlook (MPO); and participate in the preparation of the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA).• Contribute to the monitoring of the Performance and Policy Actions in Zimbabwe under IDA’s Sustainable Development Finance Policy and overall debt development.• Support the Country Management Unit (CMU) in the implementation of the World Bank's Zimbabwe program.• Engage in policy dialogue with government of Zimbabwe, develop and maintain active engagement with other development partners, private sector, local think tanks and researchers, in coordination with a range of World Bank sectoral teams.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of a master's degree (PhD preferred) in Economics with at least 5 years of relevant work experience.• Strong technical and operational skills to lead or contribute to EP tasks. Previous experience on debt and fiscal policy issues is a plus.• First-hand knowledge of the Zimbabwean economy and strong understanding of key economic policy, especially fiscal and monetary policy issues, in Zimbabwe.• Familiarity with functioning of Zimbabwean government and knowledge of key stakeholders and local networks that influence economic policy making.• Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills.• Strong communication skills in English, including ability to speak and write persuasively positions to colleagues, management and senior public officials, and to present ideas clearly and concisely.• High level of personal and professional integrity.• Strong ability to function well in a multi-cultural environment and working in teams.
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
• A thorough understanding of macroeconomics and interlinkages between the various macroeconomic accounts.• Skills and experience in working on economic policy issues and data analysis.• Skills to conceptualize and conduct economic analyses and derive policy relevant findings.• Ability to translate technical analyses of macroeconomics, debt, trade, fiscal policy, and growth into policy recommendations and cross-country lessons;• Proficiency in basic econometric and statistical analysis and relevant software packages (STATA, E-views, or other statistical packages and MS Office programs, including Excel) is essential;

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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