Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #:
req37371
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Education
Grade:
EC2
Term Duration: 0 years 10 months
Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
French
Closing Date:
7/23/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Human Development Unit for West and Central Africa (HAWE2) manages a large portfolio of analytical and operational activities aimed at improving education, skills, labor market outcomes, and human capital development across the region. Increasingly, the unit’s engagement requires rigorous economic analysis, advanced quantitative methods, and the generation of high-quality evidence to inform country policy dialogue, project design, implementation, and impact evaluation.

To support this agenda, HAWE2 seeks to recruit an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) with advanced expertise in economics, quantitative analysis, and applied microeconomic research. The selected candidate will have demonstrated capacity to undertake independent, policy-relevant research, including publications in leading peer-reviewed journals.

The ETC will provide high-level analytical support to HAWE2’s priority programs, with an initial focus on supporting the analytical work program across the unit and may provide cross-support to other units within the World Bank as needs arise. The assignment aims to strengthen the analytical rigor of operations and advisory services through advanced economic analysis, empirical research, data analytics, and evidence generation.

Duties and Accountabilities

The consultant will be expected to undertake complex analytical tasks requiring a high degree of technical independence and judgment. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Advanced Economic and Quantitative Analysis
• Design and undertake rigorous empirical analyses using household surveys, administrative datasets, labor market information systems, and other large-scale datasets.
• Apply advanced econometric and statistical techniques to analyze issues related to education, skills development, labor markets, demographic change, human capital, and economic mobility.
• Develop analytical frameworks to identify policy constraints, estimate impacts of interventions, and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of public investments.

2. Support to Analytical and Operational Programs
• Provide analytical inputs to lending operations, advisory services and analytics (ASA), policy dialogue, and strategic reports.
• Support the development of economic analyses, including cost-effectiveness analysis, labor market diagnostics, skills demand assessments, beneficiary analysis, and evaluation strategies.
• Prepare high-quality technical notes, policy briefs, presentations, and background papers for internal and external audiences.
• Support operational teams and their clients to in estimating the direct, indirect, and induced employment impacts of proposed investments and policy reforms.

3. Research and Knowledge Generation
• Lead or contribute to the preparation of research papers suitable for publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Translate frontier academic research into operationally relevant recommendations for World Bank teams and client governments.
• Support the development of innovative analytical approaches and methodological tools relevant to HAWE2’s work program.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously update regional education, skills, and labor market data repository covering countries in West and Central Africa.

4. Cross-Unit Collaboration
• Provide analytical support to multiple TTLs within HAWE2 and contribute to cross-sectoral analytical activities across the World Bank, particularly where advanced economic analysis is required.
• Collaborate with economists, sector specialists, data scientists, and external researchers to strengthen the evidence base for World Bank operations.

Deliverables

• Expected deliverables will include, but not be limited to:
• Econometric analyses and technical reports.
• Background papers and analytical notes.
• Inputs into project design documents, implementation support missions, and policy dialogue.
• Research papers and dissemination materials.
• Presentations for management, clients, and technical audiences.

Selection Criteria

• A Masters/PhD in Economics, Development Economics, Applied Economics, Demography, or a related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated record of independent research, including publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals
• Strong expertise in applied microeconomics, econometrics, impact evaluation, and analysis of large datasets.
• Advanced proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, Python, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to translate rigorous analytical work into practical policy recommendations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; French language skills are an advantage.

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

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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.