Short term consultant
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY18, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $23 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
The Economics and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency (CEDVP) is responsible for identifying and delivering on private sector diagnostic needs, drawing on resources across the WBG, to grow IFC's capacity to deliver Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs), and present private sector perspectives in Systematic Country Diagnostics or Country Partnership Frameworks (SCD/CPF) and country strategies; developing rigorous sector economic analyses and an ex-ante project assessment framework to help guide project selection, complementing our expertise in supporting and monitoring project implementation; as well as identifying and strategically driving policy engagements that create and grow new markets for the private sector. The CEDVP also encompasses teams working on global macroeconomic analyses and prospects as well as the team in charge of gender mainstreaming in IFC. The Vice Presidency is also home to two additional operational teams and content providers focusing on Blended Finance and Climate Businesses.
The Sector Economics and Development Impact Department (CSE), part of the Economics & Private Sector Development Vice Presidency, analyzes economic sectors with a view to identifying opportunities and solutions for private sector development, and works closely with IFC Operations in formulating sector priorities and strategies. It is expected to provide technical support to operations related to structuring, appraising, and monitoring investment and advisory projects and is responsible for reporting on IFC’s impact. The department is in charge of fully developing and implementing the ex-ante project assessment framework (Anticipated Impact Measurement and Monitoring- AIMM) for investment and advisory projects throughout the project cycle, help ensure high-quality economic support for IFC operations teams on strategies and projects; and develop sector economic analyses with a focus on solutions for private sector development.
CSE is the largest department in the Economics and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency, with approximately 80 staff, comprised of mainly sector economists and results measurement specialists assigned currently to fully integrated units organized along IFC industry groupings. These include: CSE unit for Financial Institutions Group (CSEFI); CSE unit for Infrastructure and Natural Resources (CSEIN); and CSE unit for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services (CSEMA); and CSE unit for Disruptive Technology and Funds (CSEDF). For each unit, the sector economists are embedded in the respective industry groups to ensure they play a connective tissue role. Still, they are an integral part of CSE and report to CSE managers. The department also includes two additional teams in charge of economic modeling, research and analytics (CSEIM) composed of economists and analysts, and the CSE unit for Results Measurement and Corporate Reporting (CSECR) that supports all industry groups. In short, the department offers an “end-to-end” support and impact assessments for IFC investments and advisory services, engaging upstream and downstream throughout the project cycle.
This position will be in the Economic Modeling, Research and Analytics unit (CSEIM). The selected consultant will contribute to IFC’s work program in the ‘Supporting Effective Jobs Lending at Scale Program (SEJLS)’. The work program consists of three parts:
i) Formal peer review and refinement of the existing economic modeling suite and job estimation toolbox, including developing documentation for different audiences
ii) Expansion of the toolbox to WBG policy related operations
iii) Identification of alternative governance structures and operationalization schemes that can serve different institutions
The successful candidate will contribute to workstreams across all three components, with a main focus on documentation, implementation of improvements, and expansion of the toolbox. The first phase of the work program is fully funded, will start in 2021, and is planned to be concluded in summer 2023. An extension of the employment depends on the successful delivery of the program’s milestones and secured funding for phase II.
Note: A Short Term Consultant (STC) appointment includes work for up to 150 calendar days during a fiscal year that goes from June 30 to July 1. ST Consultant position does not offer any financial compensation for relocation and does not cover any of the core benefits such as pension, health insurance and maternity leave. The starting date will be as soon as possible.
Role and Responsibilities
− Responsible for timely delivery of the milestones across the work program
− Draft relevant documentation and other dissemination materials
− Assistance in the review process of the models
− Lead desk research on job estimation methodologies and terminology across the WBG and beyond
− Implement improvements to the toolbox and expansion of the toolbox to applications across the WBG
Selection Criteria
− Master’s degree in economics, public policy, business or a closely related field with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
− Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
− Experience with data/evidence collection, economic research and/or economic modeling.
− Good command of economic and programming software such as R, GAMS, Python, Stata, etc.
− Proven strong analytical and evaluation skills as well as ability to translate ideas into actions and timely delivery.
− Good understanding of private sector development in Emerging Markets. Ability to analyze and compare the functioning of specific economic sectors across countries is a plus.
− Familiarity with the World Bank’s JET agenda, economic modeling of jobs, and/or other relevant job creation or measurement policies and agendas is a plus.
− Strong team player, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
− Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential.
Interested candidates are encouraged to send a CV and a Cover Letter to Jan Imhof – jimhof@ifc.org Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.