Lead Agriculture Specialist/Economist

Lead Agriculture Specialist/Economist Job #: req34042 Organization: World Bank Sector: Agriculture Grade: GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Nairobi,Kenya Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French, Portuguese Closing Date: 8/29/2025 (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

Africa (AFE) Region

Home to almost 60% of Africa’s population, the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region is geographically, culturally, and economically diverse and comprises 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. 

AFE boasts some of the world’s richest natural resources, including minerals that will be critical to low carbon development.  Signs of economic transformation are also emerging in ICT, infrastructure and a vibrant private sector that is supported by a young and dynamic population.  Despite the region’s potential, economic growth remains low in many of the AFE countries. Key challenges include persistent inequality and limited access to productive employment, heavy debt burdens exacerbated by slow growth, low agricultural productivity, weak infrastructure, low human capital and limited resilience to climate change and conflict.   This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.  

The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,200 staff, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the five dimensions of People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure, and Digital to realize rapid economic transformation that unlocks the region’s growth potential, addresses unemployment and underemployment, reduces poverty and inequality, manages debt and fiscal pressures, and builds resilience.

Eastern and Southern Africa Planet Department

The Africa East and South Planet Department (AFEPD) provides a wide range of financial, knowledge and convening services to help address Eastern and Southern Africa countries’ most complex development issues.  The AFE Planet Department is led by the Regional Practice Director and consists of four global practices (GPs); Agriculture and Food, Environment, Social Development, and Water, and leads on the Climate Change agenda. The Department has a robust engagement in the region, including, in the last fiscal year, $1.6B in new lending, a portfolio of $17 billion in financing in 96 projects, and annual disbursement of over 21% of that financing.  Our knowledge program is extensive and provided through a mix of Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA), including Reimbursable Advisory Services.  The AFE Planet Department also innovates in the use of financial instruments and partnerships, leveraging One World Bank Group working in close partnership with IFC and MIGA.

The Agriculture and Food Global Practice

Our AFE agriculture and food work contributes to and benefits from our efforts across the globe, and is brought together under the leadership of a Global Director, supported by ten regional Practice Managers and a Manager for Global Engagement. In addition, the Agriculture and Food GP Leadership team includes seven Global Leads: Data and Digital Agriculture; Agribusiness, Finance and Jobs; Public Policy and Expenditure; One Health; Climate and Nature; Food & Nutrition Security, and Science, Knowledge and Innovation.

Agriculture and Food in the Kenya CMU

The WBG has active agriculture and food programs in all countries in the CMU – Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda – with a total engagement of nearly $1.2 billion and a growing pipeline. These programs largely aim to increase agricultural productivity, enhance market participation, improve the resilience of farmers and food systems to climate and economics shocks, and expand access to agricultural financial services for producers and agribusinesses. The Agriculture and Food teams also contribute to projects and strategic ASAs led by other GPs.

Kenya

The World Bank has committed about $1.4 billion of investments in the sector over the past decade, including the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (closed November 2023) and the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (closed March 2024). These projects delivered important results in all 45 rural counties, reaching over 1.4 million farmers and increasing productivity and profitability in key agricultural value chains. The two projects also supported foundational investments such as climate smart agriculture, big data architecture, and establishing agro-meteorological stations.

The active portfolio includes two projects with total commitment of US$400 million and one programmatic advisory service and analytics (ASA) activity. The National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project supports productivity, value addition, market linkages, data-driven value chain services, farmer led irrigation development, and access to credit and financial services. The Food Systems Resilience Project, part of the regional AFE MPA, aims to increase the resilience of food systems and preparedness for food insecurity in selected counties. In addition to the ASA which is focused on a learning program on digital agriculture and jobs, several technical assistance activities are being provided in the areas of public expenditure, energy-efficient cold storage, methane reduction in livestock production, sustainable aquaculture, and women economic empowerment and financial inclusion.

With urbanization projected to reach 46.28 percent by 2050 and a growing middle class demanding diverse and high-quality food, there are growing opportunities for value addition and job creation in agricultural value chains. The priority solutions include leveraging agriculture technology and whole-of-value chain financing to connect organized farmers to markets, increase on-farm labor productivity (better jobs), and create more jobs in the downstream segments. Policy reforms will be needed to increase the effectiveness of both public and private sector financing.

Uganda

Agriculture productivity growth is critical for accelerating economic growth, poverty reduction and reducing vulnerability in Uganda. Farm level yields of most commodities are less than 50 percent of their potential, primarily due to smallholder farmers’ reliance on rain-fed agriculture, low use of modern farming techniques, limited access to agricultural finance, weak extension services, and limited value addition.

The active World Bank agriculture portfolio consists of the Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (US$350 million) and the GAFSP funded Strengthening Productive Capacity and Resilience of Smallholder Sweet Potato Producer Organizations (US$ 2.33 million). Analytical work is focused on demonstrating how AI can strengthen agricultural extension services and Payment for Environmental Services in Uganda.

The government of Uganda has initiated an agro-industrialization agenda that aims to transform and create jobs in the agricultural sector through strategic investments to increase productivity, promote value addition, and develop infrastructure and skills. It opens opportunities for productive partnerships between the public and private sector to facilitate technology adoption, de-risk value chains, expand service delivery, and ultimately create more jobs in agriculture and rural economy.  

Somalia

Somalia possesses considerable agricultural potential, with two perennial rivers, extensive rangelands, and well-established livestock export markets to the Middle East. However, the sector is facing severe productivity constraints, primarily due to the conflict situation. Cereal production has collapsed by 90 percent since the 1980s, irrigation operates at only 9 percent of pre-war capacity, and the US$ 2 billion annual food import bill exposes the economy to global price shocks. Climate projections indicate that rainfed yields could decline about 7 percent by 2050s under dry scenarios. However, amidst these worrying trends there are some emerging opportunities. Water productivity increased by 16 percent between 2000 and 2019, sesame exports reached US$108 million in 2023, and the livestock sector has immense potential for growth.

The World Bank is investing US$180 million in the agriculture sector through the Food Systems Resilience Project, which is part of a regional MPA. The support is focused on building resilience, enhancing food security, and promoting inclusive rural economic growth in a fragile context. In addition to lending, the World Bank is providing analytics and advisory services to support value chain diagnostics, adoption of digital agriculture, strengthening veterinary systems, and support for the Somalia Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan.

Rwanda

Agriculture has been a key driver of consumption growth and poverty reduction. Between 2001 and 2011, increased agricultural productivity and commercialization accounted for one-third of household consumption growth, reducing poverty by 2.4 percentage points annually. However, poverty reduction slowed to 1.3 percentage points annually between 2011 and 2017, despite steady agricultural GDP growth averaging 4.8 percent per year. Irrigation coverage remains limited as only 6 percent of cropped land was irrigated in 2024. The sector accounts for 33 percent of new jobs created. With food demand expected to double and the population projected to increase by 47 percent by 2040, the opportunities are massive for agriculture value chains to create jobs, especially in high-value crops and animal products with strong market potential and comparative advantage.

The active World Bank portfolio in agriculture totals US$244 million, including the Commercialization and De-risking for Agriculture Transformation Project and Second Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project. The support aims to strengthen farmers’ organizations, increase agricultural productivity, develop competitive value chains, enhance commercialization, and improve the enabling environment for private sector investments. Key interventions include community irrigation systems and Farmer-Led Irrigation Development, expanding access to finance through credit line to value chain actors – including farmers and cooperatives, scaling up the national agriculture insurance scheme, and sustainable land management to enhance resilience to landslides and boost agricultural productivity.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Lead Agriculture Specialist/Economist will be a key member of the Agriculture and Food Leadership Team in AFE, reporting to the Practice Manager (SAEA2). Specifically, s/he will lead a team to deliver impactful projects and strategic advisory and analytical tasks in Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda, while working closely with the Practice Manager, Regional Program Director, Division Director and Country Managers. The specific responsibilities will include:

(a) Provide technical and thought leadership with clear vision, coherent strategy, and current knowledge to position the agriculture food systems in country programs, including designing innovative solutions to create jobs in agriculture value chains in close collaboration with IFC and MIGA.

(b) Lead the design, preparation and supervision of complex operation projects as Task Team Leader (TTL), ensuring high-quality outputs, and leveraging instruments such as DPLs, IPFs, P4Rs, and trust funds.

(c) Lead strategic and high-priority policy reforms dialogue with clients, manage strategic knowledge products, and position key sector reforms in development policy lending programs.

(d) Assume an active role in the CMU to ensure adequate and appropriate integration of relevant aspects of the agriculture and rural development agenda in core Bank products, including country partnership frameworks, strategic country diagnostics, country economic memoranda, and CCDRs.

(e) Serve as an active member of the AFE Planet team and contribute to the integration of Planet solutions into coherent programs, including on water, sustainable land management, and emission reductions, while working closely with the Planet leadership team, CMUs, and the clients.

(f) Actively engage with stakeholders and development partners and represent the Agriculture and Food team at relevant events and speaking engagements to identify opportunities for partnerships to improve program delivery.

(g) Serve as focal point for Agriculture and Food in Kenya CMU countries through close client engagement, liaison with the CMU, and provide quality assurance of the portfolio,

(h) Provide mentoring, advice and support to Agriculture and Food staff in the Kenya CMU, including TTLs of demanding operations.

Selection Criteria

Candidates must demonstrate proven professional excellence, outstanding oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to convert strategic thinking into practical solutions.  The following specific criteria will also apply:

· A master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics, agribusiness, agriculture or closely related discipline.

· At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness, and other disciplines related to food systems, including experience in two regions, or one region and corporate assignment.

· Recognized by peers and/or managers for cutting edge knowledge, the ability to identify problems and translate knowledge into innovative and concrete solutions, while maintaining strong client focus.

· Demonstrated intellectual leadership in the sector, based on strong technical capabilities and analytical credentials, and the capacity to lead discussions on policy reforms at high levels.

· In-depth knowledge of the issues faced by smallholders in agricultural value chains and the potential of agriculture value chains to address core development objectives in the AFE region, including jobs.

· Ability to take principled and balanced positions on complex issues and to communicate and defend them orally and in writing to senior Bank management and senior government officials.

· Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality documents and analytical reports.

· Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills with ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions.

· High degree of ethics, tact, diplomacy, political judgement, negotiating skills and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.

· Self-motivated with ability to work under pressure and challenging conditions while retaining perspective and poise, and willingness to travel extensively.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.