Economist - International Finance Corporation

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. 

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). We aim 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 Unit is seeking to recruit a senior level economist (GG) to make significant contributions to the analytical and strategy outputs in shaping the operation of the unit, which ranges from the production of macroeconomics reports and various diagnostics, such as country private sector diagnostics (CPSDs) and country climate development reports (CCDRs), to the delivery of reform advisory projects. 

We seek a motivated and dynamic professional with strong analytical skills, private sector development-related policy experience, and team spirit. The position is based in Accra, Ghana.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Economist will work under the general supervision of the manager of Country Advisory and Economics in North, West, and Central Africa to ensure high-quality diagnostics and advisory delivery.  Specifically, he/she will

• Lead the macroeconomic analysis to support IFC investment operations, including due diligence, to feed into relevant project documents for IFC Ghana cluster.
• Lead the monitoring of economic and policy conditions and trends for countries in the Ghana cluster, identifying the potential risks to IFC investments, and advising the IFC Regional Director, Country Managers, and operational teams on the strategies to mitigate them.
• Provide intellectual and technical inputs on topics of economic or strategic relevance to IFC and produce or support the production of policy and technical notes, briefs, presentations, and country reports as requested by the senior management. 
• Lead and/or contribute to Country Private Sector Diagnostics, Country Climate Development Reports, and provide IFC input to WBG Country Engagement products, including Country Partnership Frameworks, Progress and Learning Reviews, and other joint initiatives.
• Lead and/or contribute to the design of reform dialogue and reform advisory projects.
• Lead and/or contribute to knowledge management by facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge with the broader IFC Economics VPU and Industries Departments. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in economics/international development/ public policy or business/finance, with strong grounding in economics both from academic and practical experience perspective with a minimum of 7+ years
• Commitment to the WBG and IFC’s mission and values. 
• Strong analytical skills in macroeconomics as well as sector analysis
• Track record in translating the analyses into policy dialogue and programs to support private sector development.
• Understanding of IFC project cycles, approval/decision processes, and critical drivers of IFC business decision-making is a plus
• Knowledge and understanding of key IFC/IDA/IBRD/MIGA products and instruments and how they are deployed to pursue private sector development and country engagements.
• Ability to cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization and to represent IFC publicly as needed.
• Experience in and strong knowledge of the economic context and challenges of Central Africa is a plus.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, initiative, and results orientation, with effective teamwork and mentoring skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with high-level stakeholders in English
• Ability to work in French is a plus.

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