Country Advisory and Economics Manager, Middle East and Central Asia

Country Advisory and Economics Manager, Middle East and Central Asia

Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.

IFC’s strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and in Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations (FCS). Its goal is to create new investment opportunities through pre-investment activities to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop potential investment projects. This strategy is, in part, premised on improved diagnostic, strategic, and public sector engagement capabilities, which seek to: 1) resolve obstacles to private sector growth via diagnostic and strategic work that informs both IFC operations and relevant World Bank policy operations; and 2) overcome the shortage of investable projects in priority markets by proactively improving the private sector ecosystem at the country and regional level.

IFC’s Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Pakistan & Afghanistan (MCT) region covers 21 countries with an active investment portfolio of around US$9.0 billion, by end of fiscal year 2024. In addition, the region is implementing dozens of advisory and analytical activities.
IFC MCT region is seeking a Country Advisory and Economics Manager. The Manager will lead a team of operational officers and economists responsible for:
1.  Collaborating with regional and industry colleagues as well as with World Bank counterparts to produce analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs);
2.  Significantly contributing to WBG country engagement products such as the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), and occasionally World Bank lending operations; and
3.  Originate Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, industries, and other relevant stakeholders to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector growth, with the purpose of yielding concrete investable opportunities for the private sector, including IFC.

The Manager will be a motivated and dynamic professional, with excellent analytical skills and relevant policy and industry experience. S/he will have expertise in private sector investments in at least one core sector of IFC business, and in leading operations and analytical products, with an extensive history of hands-on interaction with government clients and public/private sector stakeholders.

The Manager will be based in Amman or Istanbul, reporting to the Regional Director, and will be a member of the MCT Regional Management Team. The role will entail close collaboration with units across the MCT region and with relevant counterparts across the World Bank Group, to develop a work program of producing business-relevant strategy and diagnostic products and conducting government-facing, reform-oriented Advisory Services to further specific sectoral private sector development and investment opportunities that can be eligible to IFC funding. 

Duties and Accountabilities 

Beyond standard Managerial responsibilities, the role entails three primary functions: sectoral strategic and economic analysis, pre-investment projects delivery, and investment projects support. 

Strategic and Economic Analysis
•  Support Regional Directors and Country Managers in WBG country engagement products processes such as Country Partnership Frameworks and Country Climate and Development Reports, in close cooperation with the relevant industry and World Bank teams.
•  Liaise with the World Bank and IMF to leverage its knowledge and support in delivering IFC’s work program.
•  Lead the team of regional economists as they produce analytical reports and policy notes, particularly the Country Private Sector Diagnostics, jointly with counterparts across WBG.

Pre-investment advisory project Delivery
•  Leads their team to design and implement government-facing Advisory projects that support sectoral reform implementation, with a clear line of sight for investable opportunities for the private sector and IFC. 
•  Ensure a high quality of the unit’s advisory projects through a focus on project design and throughout an individual project cycle and across the unit’s portfolio of operations, with a focus on achieving high level of uptake by private sector and IFC of concrete investment opportunities.
•  Manage, oversee, and optimize IFC’s internal and external funding mix and budget to efficiently deliver operations in their region, within agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies.
•  Attention must be given to strict adherence with WBG procurement policies and procedures as well as fiduciary requirements.
•  Ensure proactive monitoring of their operational portfolio’s funding performance and needs, which includes engagement with IFC partnership team, support quality donor reporting that meetings donor expectations.

Investment Projects Support
•  Guide the team to engage throughout the project cycle to support industry investment teams in developing their projects by providing WBG’s latest analyses on macro-economic trends, country and regional context and risks.
•  Work closely with the Economics and Private Sector VPU management as well as the World Bank to coordinate advice to teams on development impact, creating markets and One World Bank Group approach aiming to maximize private capital mobilization. 
•  Ensure the team works closely with World Bank country economists and contribute as needed to the design of lending operations across the World Bank Group.

Managerial Responsibilities
•  Lead and manage their unit and ensure the team is high-performing, well-motivated and committed to the advancement of IFC’s strategic goals.
•  Mentor and develop staff and promote opportunities for rotation and continued learning. 
•  Be part of and actively contribute to Regional Management Team. 
•  Work with regional leadership to ensure that exposure and contribution to varied operations are included in staff objectives at all levels across the department.
•  Staff projects with the appropriate resources to deploy the most appropriate technical expertise and provide exceptional client service, while keeping in mind career and training development needs of staff.
•  Manage, oversee, and optimize IFC’s internal and external funding mix and budget to efficiently deliver operations in their region and industry, including through engagement in budgetary discussions and processes with region, global, and partnership teams

Selection Criteria

•  At least, Masters in engineering, in economics, or finance. And at least 12 years of experience in investments related to at least one core sector of IFC, e.g. financial sector, energy, or manufacturing.
•  Deep familiarity/experience in IFC, MIGA, WB or other financial institutions focused on the private sector, especially in developing countries.
•  Extensive hands-on experience of working with government clients and public/private sector stakeholders, including regulators.
•  Demonstrated ability to influence the policy dialogue and lead the development agenda at the country or regional level.
•  Familiarity with the WBG or similar operational products and instruments.  
•  Ability to engage and collaborate closely with the World Bank and IMF on policy and economic issues pertaining to the sectoral issues in countries of the region.
•  Strong analytical, strategy formulation, and conceptual abilities.
•  Demonstrated ability to think strategically, develop innovative solutions, challenge the status quo and make sound decisions to build IFC business.
•  Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, as well as cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization and to represent IFC publicly as needed.
•  Demonstrated interpersonal skills, proven ability to work effectively as a team leader, build high performing teams and manage and recruit talent.
•  Ability to manage competing and sometimes unanticipated priorities, and tight deadlines.
•  Meet Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria including courage of your convictions, leading the team for impact, influencing across boundaries, fostering openness to new ideas, building talent for the future. 

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.