Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #: req38579 Organization: World Bank Sector: Urban Grade: EC3 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): English Closing Date: 10/7/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

1. Background

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Urban Unit (IEAU2) operates a broad portfolio of lending, analytical, and advisory work spanning urban development, disaster risk management, and land administration across the region. To strengthen its analytical capacity, IEAU2 is recruiting an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) to provide high-level technical and research expertise in support of two priority analytical deliverables: (1) an EAP regional urban flagship report on productive and resilient cities for jobs, and (2) the Mongolia Country Growth and Jobs Report, specifically the chapter on Agglomeration and Connectivity. In addition to these primary deliverables, the ETC will contribute to other just-in-time analytical and advisory services (ASAs) and operational tasks across the EAP urban portfolio.

1. Objectives

The primary objectives of this role are to:

• Deliver rigorous, policy-relevant quantitative and spatial analysis in support of the EAP regional urban flagship report and the Mongolia Country Growth and Jobs Report.
• Produce high-quality analytical content—including technical chapters, data visualizations, and policy briefs—that can inform urban development strategies and investment decisions by national governments, city authorities, and development partners.
• Provide timely technical support to IEAU2 operational and advisory engagements as needed.

1. Scope of Work and Deliverables

The ETC will be responsible for the following tasks and deliverables:

3.1 EAP Regional Urban Flagship Report on Productive and Resilient Cities for Jobs

• Design and execute quantitative and spatial analyses of urban productivity, employment, agglomeration, and resilience across East Asia and Pacific (EAP) cities, including sourcing, cleaning, and preparing the underlying data.
• Draft and revise technical and policy chapters, translating analytical findings into actionable recommendations for national and city-level planners and policymakers.
• Contribute to peer review, internal quality enhancement (QE) processes, and revision cycles as required.
• Support the preparation of presentation materials, policy notes, and dissemination products derived from the flagship.

Key Deliverables:

• Quantitative/spatial analysis datasets and annotated do-files or scripts (Stata, R, or Python)
• Draft chapter(s) for the flagship report
• Revised chapter(s) incorporating peer review and QE comments
• Summary policy brief(s) and presentation materials

3.2 Mongolia Country Growth and Jobs Report — "Agglomeration and Connectivity" Chapter

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review and analytical framework development for the chapter on Agglomeration and Connectivity within the Mongolia context.
• Collect, clean, and analyze subnational data on population distribution, economic activity, infrastructure connectivity, and labor market outcomes.
• Draft the full chapter, incorporating quantitative evidence and policy-relevant conclusions.
• Revise the chapter in response to internal review and government consultation feedback.

Key Deliverables:

• Annotated literature review and analytical framework note
• Cleaned datasets and analysis scripts
• Full draft chapter for the Mongolia Country Growth and Jobs Report
• Revised final chapter

1. Timeline and Schedule

The assignment is expected to begin no later than November 1, 2026, and continue until June 30, 2027. The ETC will be expected to be available on a full-time basis throughout the assignment.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (Master's required; PhD preferred) in urban and regional studies, economics, urban planning, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in urban economics, spatial economics, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working in developing country contexts, with specific experience in the East Asia and Pacific region required.

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of urban economic theory and practice, including agglomeration economies, urban productivity, resilience, and regional and territorial development.
• Proven ability to design and implement rigorous quantitative and spatial analysis, including proficiency in econometric modeling and GIS platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in one or more analytical software packages, including Stata, R, or Python.
• Experience working with satellite imagery, gridded geospatial datasets, or subnational administrative data is highly desirable.

Research and Writing

• Demonstrated track record of leading or making major contributions to flagship reports, policy publications, or comparable high-quality analytical products.
• Experience authoring chapters for World Bank flagship reports or similar institutional publications is a strong advantage.
• Excellent written communication skills in English, evidenced by peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, or other high-quality analytical outputs.

Work Management

• Strong ability to work independently, manage multiple concurrent assignments, and adapt to evolving work program demands while maintaining high analytical standards.

Administrative Arrangement

• The position is based in Washington, D.C., at World Bank Headquarters.
• Remuneration will be determined in accordance with World Bank Group ETC compensation guidelines and commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

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.

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