E T Consultant

World Bank Group • Washington, DC

4d • Onsite

About The Position

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 Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves twenty two countries across different income groups, of which fourteen are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers, with a total of 251 projects and over $51 bn in total commitment. Eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis. The mission of the region is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. The region attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. The region also places high value on diversity. With an expanded regional strategy, the World Bank aims to help the region weather the current crises, move from stabilization to transformation, unlock its vast economic potential of youth and women, develop its human capital to adapt to global megatrends, and foster innovation (https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena).

The MENAAP Finance, Competitiveness and Investment (FCI) Global Practice , under Prosperity Vice Presidency, combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector led growth and help create markets in client countries. FCI’s core lines of business are: (a) Financial Stability & Integrity; (b) Financial Inclusion, Infrastructure & Access; (c) Long-Term Finance; (d) Crisis & and Disaster Risk Finance; (e) Markets, Competition and Technology; and (g) Investment Climate, SME and Enterprise Development. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci

The MENAAP EMAF2 portfolio comprises 17 lending operations with a total net commitment of $1,3 billion. In addition, the unit manages diverse Advisory Services and Analytics engagements, including an extensive multi-million-dollar Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) program that supports technical assistance and analytical work, all underpinned by a strong multifaceted policy dialogue. Within this program, it has established broad range of partnerships in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and UAE. These engagements aim to support the countries in implementing reforms to improve and enhance their investment climate. FCI supported reforms cover such areas as investment policy and promotion, business regulation reforms, support for entrepreneurship and SME development, competition, and financial sector development.
The EMAF2 unit is seeking to hire a Private Sector Development (PSD) Specialist for its work on RAS program, primarily in Saudi Arabia and UAE, as Extended Term Consultant (ETC), for at least 1 year. In Saudi Arabia, the FCI team implements a robust work program, covering both private and financial sector development aspects, under technical assistance activities. The core FCI team for Saudi Arabia is comprised of the Practice Manager (PM) and Lead and Senior Economists, Senior Specialists, supported by regional and global colleagues. The Senior Economist is based in Riyadh, while the PM and Lead Economist are based in Washington with regular missions to Saudi Arabia.

Working under the direct day-to-day supervision of the Senior Economist (as Task Team Leader or TTL), and with guidance from the PM and Lead Economist, the ETC will primarily focus on the private sector component of the FCI program in Saudi Arabia and, potentially, UAE, and will also provide support to the team on financial sector issues with the focus on SME access to finance.

The ETC’s specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following main tasks:

• Support the Team/Senior Economist (TTL) in maintaining and deepening policy dialogue with private sector and government counterparts—national and subnational—on private sector development, including investment climate, investment policy and facilitation, productivity and competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME support; leverage established relationships with the Ministry of Investment, National Competitiveness Center, and Saudi Investment Promotion Authority to advance reforms and implementation.
• Prepare high quality analytical outputs (notes, briefs, proposals, and reports) on competitiveness and private sector development, translating evidence into actionable policy and program recommendations tailored to Saudi priorities.
• Help design, organize, and facilitate policy consultations and dissemination events with public and private stakeholders, ensuring inclusive participation and clear follow through on agreed actions.
• Organize and participate in missions, meetings, workshops, and focus groups as requested by the TTL, including logistics, materials preparation, and stakeholder engagement; coordinate with institutions, experts, and participants to ensure timely delivery and documentation of results.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, international development, trade, business, public policy, or related discipline, with minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience across economic development and investment management.
• Solid knowledge of and demonstrated practical experience in, one or more topic areas covered by the program particularly, trade/investment policy, facilitation and promotion, investment clime and business environment reforms, entrepreneurship and SME support.
• Experience in the design and implementation of major projects, programs and in the production of analytical reports and studies.
• Advanced skills in project and workflow management as well as task organization; able to coordinate all aspects of the workflow of assigned responsibilities.
• Good team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, motivate and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries.
• Demonstrated understanding of institutional and individual investor priorities, grounded in prior roles across investment sourcing, private capital mobilization, and fundraising.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Arabic with ability to draft concise reports and correspondence and present technical advice to diverse audiences.
• Advanced project and workflow management capabilities; able to coordinate end to end delivery across multiple tasks and deadlines, with strong attention to detail and follow through.

Responsibilities

• Support the Team/Senior Economist (TTL) in maintaining and deepening policy dialogue with private sector and government counterparts—national and subnational—on private sector development, including investment climate, investment policy and facilitation, productivity and competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME support; leverage established relationships with the Ministry of Investment, National Competitiveness Center, and Saudi Investment Promotion Authority to advance reforms and implementation.
• Prepare high quality analytical outputs (notes, briefs, proposals, and reports) on competitiveness and private sector development, translating evidence into actionable policy and program recommendations tailored to Saudi priorities.
• Help design, organize, and facilitate policy consultations and dissemination events with public and private stakeholders, ensuring inclusive participation and clear follow through on agreed actions.
• Organize and participate in missions, meetings, workshops, and focus groups as requested by the TTL, including logistics, materials preparation, and stakeholder engagement; coordinate with institutions, experts, and participants to ensure timely delivery and documentation of results.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level