Senior Agriculture Economist/Specialist

Senior Agriculture Economist/Specialist

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Description



Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.



The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.



Agriculture is an essential pathway to meeting the World Bank Group’s (WBG) twin goals—eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and promoting shared prosperity. Food production must increase by at least 35 percent to meet the needs of the rising global population. Thus, ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity cannot be achieved without more and better investment in agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Meeting today’s challenges on the food and agriculture agenda will require major strides in agricultural innovation and climate smart agriculture, efficiency in food production and distribution systems, promoting environmentally and socially sustainable production practices, strengthening agricultural policy and institutions, supporting agribusiness value chains, and joint private- and public- sector action. The Agriculture and Food Global Practice (GP) of the WBG, working closely with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), supports a Global Vision for Food and Agriculture with agriculture able to feed every person, every day, in every country with a safe, nutritious and affordable diet, and where jobs and income gains in the food system are sufficient to meet poverty reduction targets.



To help the achievement of the twin goals, the strategic focus of the Agriculture GP, as reflected in the Agriculture Action Plan, is to help client countries on the issues mentioned above. Our current work program (150+ operations) consists of engagement in policy dialogue, investment, and forging partnerships across the globe seeking to (i) raise agricultural productivity, (ii) link farmers to markets and strengthen value chains, (iii) support rural non-farm income, (iv) reduce risk, vulnerability, and gender inequality, and (v) enhance environmental services and sustainability.



The Agriculture GP works with and across multiple sectors, in recognition of the fact that Agriculture outcomes often depend on actions that lie outside the Practice, and the GP actively contributes to work managed by other Global Practices. Accordingly, a capacity to work across GP boundaries, forge coalitions and influence multi-practice solutions is essential for achieving the major objectives of improving agriculture outcomes.



Cameroon is the largest economy of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), holding 44 percent of the community’s GDP, and 39 percent of its exports. It is also a gateway to the economy of landlocked Central Africa and a trade route between West and Central African economies. Cameroon’s economy is largely driven by its tertiary sector, agriculture and mineral resources. Cameroon’s agriculture contributes about 20 percent to GDP and employs about 60 percent of the active population. Agriculture also accounts for 40 per cent of total non-oil exports. The Bank’s program supports private sector-led agricultural commercialization and irrigation systems rehabilitation and modernization, livestock development, digital agriculture development and key policy reforms. Cameroon is also part of the Lake Chad regional project.



Duties & Accountabilities:



The primary responsibility of the Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will be to provide technical and strategic leadership for the development and implementation of the Agriculture GP’s work program in Cameroon (and other countries in the Country Management Unit).



The Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will report to the Practice Manager in charge of West & Central Africa, who is based at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, and assist him/her in the delivery of the work program, assurance of quality, interaction with internal and external clients, including the government and private sector, and partnerships across the countries in the Country Management Unit.



In addition, the Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will work under the day to day oversight of the Country Director and the relevant Sector Leader, who are based in Yaounde, Cameroon.



In particular, the Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will:


• Lead activities as Task Team Leader or as core team member, both in agriculture and multi-sectoral operations, assuring quality in all stages of the project cycle;


• Serve as an advisor to colleagues who are themselves Task Team Leaders of demanding operations, providing them with advice and support;


• Work with the Sector Leader and staff of the Agriculture GP and other GPs to identify opportunities for addressing agricultural issues in Cameroon as part of the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, country policy dialogue, sector investment operations, budget support operations, and other multi-sectoral projects;


• Identify innovative opportunities or ways to address existing needs in the agricultural sector, including bringing in experience from other countries within Africa or elsewhere;


• Remain current with relevant major pieces of analytical work in the profession. Lead or participate in strategic analytical work in Cameroon and/or on a sub-regional level, and work with teams engaged in analytical work relevant to the Agriculture GP’s work program Cameroon;


• Represent the World Bank in fora involving the community of development partners. Provide support, either explicit or implicit, to the work of the development partners in the sector;


• As necessary, represent the World Bank and the Agriculture GP’s management at events with sectoral focus that take place in the field;


• Develop strong client relations and partnership, including with the International Finance Corporation, on operational matters and policy dialogue;


• Work with other Global Practices in representing Cameroon specific issues in regional and corporate strategies;


• Initiate and maintain a high level and quality of engagement and dialogue with key stakeholders, including government, civil society, private sector and research/academic community on strategic and policy issues concerning agriculture and food security in Cameroon;


• Support the delivery of the Agriculture GP’s work program in other countries in the CMU, assuring quality in all stages of the project cycle;


• Mentor and coach other Agriculture GP staff in the country offices in the CMU.



Selection Criteria



• Masters, MBA or PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or in a relevant discipline;


• At least eight years of experience on agricultural development issues;


• Strong technical and analytical skills in the range of issue of relevance to agriculture;


• Recognized substantive leadership in one or more of the strategic/ technical areas noted above;


• Demonstrated experience with Bank operations;


• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills with ability to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions also in a multi-disciplinary context;


• High level of energy, ability to work under pressure, and willingness to travel;


• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and in French, including the ability to present complex issues to World Bank management and senior Government representatives, as well as to non-specialist audiences.



WBG Competencies:


• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.


• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs.


• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.


• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.


• Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.



Poverty


has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences


and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds


from around the globe.