Lead Agriculture Economist
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Job #: |
req39272 |
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Organization: |
World Bank |
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Sector: |
Agriculture |
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Grade: |
GH |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff(OPEN-OP) |
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Recruitment Type: |
International Recruitment |
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Location: |
Maputo,Mozambique |
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Required Language(s): |
English, French |
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Preferred Language(s): |
Portuguese |
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Closing Date: |
11/26/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd
VPU Context: The Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) is home to almost 60% of Africa’s population and comprises 26 countries that are geographically, culturally, and economically diverse, 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, and rivers and forests that provide critical ecosystem services and provide the foundations for socio-economic development. While signs of economic transformation are emerging in several AFE countries, driven by a vibrant private sector that is supported by a young and dynamic population, the economic growth remains low in many countries – despite the huge potential. 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. These factors create a huge development challenge, affect the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinder regional integration and trade. But they 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.
Unit Context: as applicable: The Agriculture and Food Practice (AGF) takes a leading role in helping client countries to leverage the agriculture and food system to address some of the most important development objectives in client countries, including food security, creating more and better jobs, expanding exports and building a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food system. The AGF support in AFE includes a rich portfolio of lending operations using diverse instruments, analytical and advisory services (ASA), robust policy reforms support through lending operations and ASAs, etc. The portfolio is complemented by lending, ASAs, Development Policy Operations (DPOs) managed by other Global Practices of the WB and support to the private sector through instruments managed by IFC and MIGA. The AGF practice in AFE is organized into two units – SAEA2 and SAEA3 – each covering about half of AFE countries. The SAEA2 unit covers three Country Management Unit (CMU) clusters: (i) Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Burundi, São Tomé and Príncipe; (ii) Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia; and (iii) Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Lead Agriculture Economist/Specialist will be a key member of the Planet and Agriculture and Food Leadership Team in AFE and will report directly to the Practice Manager for SAEA2. S/he will lead a team to deliver impactful projects and strategic advisory and analytical tasks in: (i) the Mozambique CMU countries – Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles; and (ii) Democratic Republic of Congo. S/he will do so while working closely with the Practice Manager SAEA2, Regional Program Director, Division Directors and Country Managers responsible for these countries. The specific responsibilities include:
• Providing 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.
• Leading 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.
• Leading strategic and high-priority policy reforms dialogue with authorities in client countries, stakeholders, and colleagues in the WBG; managing strategic knowledge products; and positioning key sector reforms in development policy lending programs.
• Assuming 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.
• Serving as an active member of the AFE Planet team and contributing 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.
• Actively engaging with stakeholders and development partners and representing the Agriculture and Food team at relevant events and speaking engagements to identify opportunities for partnerships to improve program delivery.
• Serving as focal point for Agriculture and Food in relevant CMU countries through close client engagement, liaison with the CMUs, and providing quality assurance of the lending and ASA portfolio,
• Providing mentoring, advice and support to Agriculture and Food staff in the relevant CMUs, including TTLs of demanding operations.
Selection Criteria
• 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, 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 in challenging conditions while retaining perspective and poise, and willingness to travel extensively.
Note: This requisition is open
to WBG and IMF staff (including short-term and extended term consultants/
temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an
external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.
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As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
- Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
- Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.
