E T Consultant

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The Agriculture and Food Global Practice (AGF GP) of the World Bank Group, supports a Global Vision for Agriculture and Food 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. The AGF GP works with and across multiple sectors, in recognition of the fact that the transformation of the food system often depends 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.

The Agriculture and Food team in the Southern and Eastern Africa (AFE) Region is organized under the umbrella of AFE Planet Development that also incorporates water, environment, and social teams. The AFE region is further split into two agriculture units. The unit’s work program covers three Country Management Units that are engaged in the following countries: Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia and is led by a Practice Manager. The team consists of 24 staff (14 of whom are based in Country Offices). The focus of the team’s work going forward is on the future of agri-food systems and food security, including inclusiveness, diversification of economies, jobs, agricultural competitiveness and linking farmers to markets, leveraging the private sector, climate-smart agriculture, digital agriculture, financial innovation, resilience, and fragility and conflict as well as the broader sustainable development agenda.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The World Bank Group is recruiting an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) Agriculture Economist based in Lusaka, Zambia. The ETC will report to the SAEA3 Practice Manager and support the delivery of the work program, assurance of quality, interaction with internal and external clients, including the private sector, and partnerships in Zambia. The primary responsibility of the ETC will be to provide operational and strategic support to the development and implementation of SAEA3’s work program and broader sustainable development/Planet program in Zambia, and engagement in the broader Bank’s country policy dialogue. In doing so, s/he will work closely with the Country Manager for Zambia, the Planet Program Leader and the agriculture team in Eastern and Southern Africa Region. Her/his responsibilities will include, but will not be limited, to the following:

As a core team member on cross-WBG teams working in the agriculture, the selected candidate will:

- Support the design and implementation of analytical, lending and advisory work on agriculture-related issues.

- Participate as team member and provide technical and operational support to projects under preparation and implementation in the portfolio. The work will involve a range of activities throughout the project cycle (identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision, and completion).

- Assist with the coordination of and follow-up with stakeholders as well as internal WBG efforts to ensure timely completion of ongoing activities under the projects/programs.

- Analyze, review and process operational documents related to lending preparation and coordinating across WBG teams to assure timely completion of quality project packages.

- Provide research and analytical support for drafting policy notes related to agriculture and associated policies. In addition, he/she is expected to independently review relevant documentation, assemble and analyze data, and contribute to the knowledge and communication agenda.

- Conduct technical review and analysis of client reports and sector reports.

- Support the discussions for developing and implementing sector strategies and assist in country-specific policy and advisory work.

- Coordinate and participate in discussions with the Government and project counterparts on agriculture relevant discussions.

- Respond to ad-hoc information requests from internal and external parties.

- Work closely with other members of the agriculture team and other task teams within multi-disciplinary missions and actively collaborate in the country dialogue as required.

- Provide inputs and support the broader engagement and dialogue of the country program as it relates to agriculture and as may be required.

- Work closely with client counterparts, development partners and the Country Management Unit towards development and effective delivery of the sector’s portfolio.