About this role
Lead Economist
| Job #: | req39391 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Economics |
| Grade: | GH |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff(OPEN-OP) |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Accra,Ghana |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 11/30/2026 (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:
In Western and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
Unit Context:
The World Bank's Fiscal Policy and Growth (FPG) Global Practice supports client countries in achieving sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through macroeconomic and fiscal policy advice, analytical work, and lending operations.
The AFW Fiscal Policy and Growth unit EAWM2 is seeking a Lead Economist for the AWCW1 CMU, comprising Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, to provide intellectual leadership and strategic oversight of its economic and policy engagement across these three countries.
Across the countries in the CMU there is a need to sustain and deepen progress towards macro-fiscal stabilization and to generate inclusive growth and quality job creation, contributing to the WBG mission of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet. Key issues include managing fiscal pressures and debt vulnerabilities while supporting investment in foundational physical and human infrastructure, and putting in place the enabling environment for productive, private sector-led job creation.
The Lead Economist will serve as the primary economic interlocutor for Ghana and support FPG teams in Liberia and Sierra Leone, leading the Bank's analytical and advisory work on macroeconomic policy, growth, and fiscal and structural reforms.
The Lead Economist will report to the Practice Manager for Fiscal Policy and Growth in the AFW region.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Policy Dialogue and Client Engagement
• Lead high-level policy dialogue on fiscal reforms, growth, and job creation, translating analytical findings into actionable policy recommendations.
• Serve as the Bank's primary trusted economic advisor to senior government counterparts.
• Represent the Bank in senior-level forums, including meetings with policy makers and technical counterparts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government, the private sector, academia, civil society, and development partners, including the IMF.
Operational and Program Development
• Provide leadership and quality assurance for high profile and complex financing operations, including Development Policy Financing, Investment Project Financing, and Program-for-Results operations, ensuring that operations are grounded in robust macroeconomic and fiscal analysis.
• Actively develop new business that contributes to priorities of the CMU and broader region.
• Contribute to Country Partnership Frameworks and Systematic Country Diagnostics by providing high-quality economic inputs and strategic direction.
• Support the design and implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building programs in fiscal policy, growth and jobs analytics, and contribute to WBG corporate priorities in the CMU.
Intellectual Leadership and Economic Analysis
• Lead and oversee the preparation of flagship analytical products, along with core macro-fiscal monitoring and policy dialogue.
• Engage proactively with media, think tanks, and broader stakeholders in disseminating the Bank's analytical work.
• Synthesize cross-country lessons and global knowledge to inform country-level policy recommendations.
• Contribute to regional and global knowledge products, as well as to WB knowledge-sharing platforms and communities of practice.
Team Leadership and Mentoring
• Lead and manage a team of economists, providing strategic direction, quality oversight, and professional mentoring.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance team culture.
• Contribute to the recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of junior staff.
• Support the Practice Manager and the Global Practice with corporate demands, quality control of deliverables, and acting assignments as needed.
Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in Economics, with a strong specialization in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, or development economics.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in economic research, policy advisory work, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of impact, along with experience at least in two regions, or a combination of regional and corporate assignment.
• Deep expertise in at least two of the following areas: fiscal policy and management, macroeconomic analysis, growth and jobs, structural transformation, trade policy.
• Demonstrated experience managing high-level policy dialogue with senior government officials.
• Experience in leading complex, high impact Development Policy Financing operations and strong familiarity with Investment Project Financing and Program-for-Results instruments; sound knowledge of the WBG’s other financing instruments.
• Track record of producing high-quality, policy-relevant research and analytical products.
• Ability to enhance the quality of Bank products through early guidance, constructive feedback, encouraging innovation and risk taking, and establishing links with other networks and relevant partners.
• Proven ability to lead teams, to mentor staff and to inspire staff commitment to technical excellence and teamwork, and resolve conflicts constructively.
• Ability to juggle numerous competing demands and priorities, respond quickly to country and management requests, and set priorities for self and others.
• Demonstrated maturity and ability to mentor and incentivize teams, inspire trust with counterparts, and work in culturally diverse environments.
• Entrepreneurial capabilities that can be deployed in identifying and securing new business opportunities.
• Previous experience in delivering high impact work in a country under economic transformation would be a plus.
Required Competencies
• Intellectual Leadership — Recognized authority in economics with the ability to shape policy discourse and generate new analytical insights.
• Client Orientation — Demonstrated ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with senior government counterparts and to deliver advice that is responsive to client needs.
• Policy Dialogue Skills — Ability to lead effective policy dialogue with country counterparts; communicates and defends difficult issues and positions to senior bank management and government officials.
• Communication — Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex economic concepts clearly to non-specialist audiences.
• Deliver Results for Clients — Acts as a trusted, strategic advisor, partnering with clients to deliver results.
• Lead and Innovate — Inspires and influences others to drive innovation.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries — Leads collaboration across WBG and with partners drawing on robust professional networks.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge — Establishes an environment where knowledge is created, applied and shared.
• Make Smart Decisions — Makes timely decisions that have a broad impact.
Note: This internal requisition is
open to WBG and IMF staff only (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.
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.
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