World Bank - The Africa Region (AFR) of the World Bank Group serves 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries range from low income countries among them fragile and conflict states to a small but growing number of middle income countries (MICs) but with weak human development indicators. Average annual per capita income varies widely and inequalities persist in most AFR countries, with most of the Region's people living in poverty. The Bank's strategy in AFR is focused on two pillars - competitiveness and employment, and vulnerability and resilience - and a foundation - governance and public-sector capacity.
We are recruiting to fill the below position:
Job Title: Lead Education Economist/ Specialist
Job #: 132295
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Background / General description:
The Human Development Department in the Africa Region is comprised of three sectors: Health, Education and Social Protection. The education sector is divided into two units: West and Central Africa; and East and Southern Africa. The Africa Education Sector Unit for West and Central Africa (AFTEW) is responsible for policy, analytical and operational work in the education sector in the sub-region. The unit currently has a portfolio of IDA projects, Trust Funds, analytical work and technical assistance products in fragile, low and middle-income countries. The portfolio spans the full spectrum of the education sector from early childhood education to higher education as well as skills development. Many countries have achieved considerable progress in access to basic education but particular attention is now needed on issues of improving the quality and relevance of education at all levels, expanding access to post-basic education and training, and improving skills development so as to produce a quality workforce to sustain and expand on the current growth in the region in an inclusive manner.
AFTEW works with client countries – at the regional, sub-regional, national and sub-national levels – to address these challenges. The aim is to contribute to breaking the equilibrium of low-level quality at all levels of education, increasing the efficiency and accountability of education services, modernizing the higher end of the formal education continuum, more effectively integrating science and technology, and better aligning skills formation with the needs of fast-growing Region, including MICs. In doing this, AFTEW aims to not only deliver high quality products but also to support efforts towards inclusive growth, and build capacity in client countries through collaborative interactions with country counterparts and other development partners. It seeks to bring the best possible knowledge to bear on the practical challenges facing client countries and at the same time puts a high priority on knowledge generation, including through benchmarking and rigorous impact evaluations of education interventions. The lending portfolio is increasingly using new instruments to shift emphasis from financing inputs to delivering results; and to support holistic and systemic reforms. Increasingly, the unit is witnessing demand for knowledge products and innovative AAA work (including through fee based services). Specifically, AFTEW (i) assists countries in developing and implementing strategies for ensuring quality teaching and learning at all levels of education (pre-school, basic education, secondary education, tertiary education and science & technology), and in addressing the issues that face these countries' disadvantaged population groups; (ii) ensures that education systems respond to the needs of labor markets; (iii) continues to stress the focus on results; builds capacity for monitoring and impact evaluation of reforms; fosters knowledge sharing; (iv) promotes innovative approaches, cross-sectoral linkages, and partnerships with the private sector and other development partners whenever relevant; (v) develops and scales up successful strategies for regional collaboration to leverage economies of scale; and (vi) works to strengthen governance, accountability, and transparency in the education sector.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Operations:
- Lead and/or participate in teams and missions to develop, appraise and supervise Bank-supported human development and education sector operations. This will require a wide variety of skills, including technical analysis; design of project components and technical assistance activities; monitoring and impact evaluation studies and sector-related project documentation; interaction with clients at policy level; supervision of consultants; and lead role in the development of proposals and loan negotiations.
- Contribute effectively to policy dialogue with counterparts with a view to assisting government translate broad policy objectives into concrete development proposals.
- Provide technical contributions to or selectively lead “cutting edge” knowledge
- Participate in multi-sector lending and non-lending tasks (Health, Nutrition, Social Protection, Poverty Reduction, Sustainable Development, Private Sector Development and Economic Management).
- Contribute to the development of new ideas to enrich the ongoing partnership with the country.
- Non-Lending Services:
- Strengthen the AAA work on education and skills in the country to help in forging a strategic framework for development of the sector.
- Contribute to/generate “think pieces” and “good practice” papers and policy notes.
- Lead and produce major (flagship) reports as may be requested by the government.
- In collaboration with other sectors, play a key role in improving public expenditure analysis and monitoring and evaluation of sectoral activities.
- Partnerships: Participate in partnership activities and contribute to forging new ones
- Mentor other staff in the Unit and provide technical support to their work as may be required.
Selection Criteria:
- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) and demonstrated ability to translate analytical/technical skills into operational innovations and results.
- Sustained record of achieving high-quality substantive results over an extended period (typically at least 10 years) preferably in the education sector with experience in addressing complex issues in a holistic manner, and in designing, organizing and helping implement programs. Experience in differentiated education systems (e.g. centralized, decentralized) is an advantage.
- Experience in reform of education systems (particularly secondary & higher education), skills development, science education, education financing and public expenditure analysis. In addition, knowledge of recent developments in the sector such as ICTs, online learning and early childhood development will be an advantage.
- Experience in working multisectorally, particularly with respect to (but not limited to), public finance and education, governance and accountability, skills development and job creation and poverty reduction.
- Demonstrated skills in analytical tools required for economic, social and institutional research.
- Proven ability to interact effectively with clients, including ability to assist clients at all levels in their analysis, policy formulation, and education planning with a focus on results.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with both Bank staff and client country counterparts, and ability to liaise tactfully as a member of a multicultural team.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and competence to coach and mentor junior staff.
- Excellent presentational and writing skills are essential.
Application Closing Date
5th November, 2013
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should
Click here to apply online