Economist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

3d•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 changes around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org VPU Context: The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the World Bank’s central reservoir of fresh insights into the most pressing challenges of development. It is led by the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, who advises the President and senior managers, serves as the community leader for the WBG’s economists, and helps to keep the institution in the forefront of thinking about development policy. DEC constitutes one of the world’s largest teams of economists focused on policy solutions for developing economies. Unit Context: The Development Data Group (DECDG) provides global public goods, including methodologies, standards, statistical systems, and development indicators, while supporting countries in strengthening statistical capacity and improving development data systems. DECDG works closely with World Bank Global Practices, country teams, international organizations, and national statistical authorities. DECDG is seeking to recruit an Economist to support the work program of the Indicators and Statistics Unit. The selected candidate will contribute to the modernization, compilation, validation, dissemination, and analytical use of macroeconomic and debt statistics, with a strong focus on debt transparency, global debt monitoring, and international statistical standards. The position requires strong expertise in macroeconomic statistics, including external sector statistics, public sector debt statistics, and global development indicators. Familiarity with international statistical methodologies and the role of development indicators in evidence-based policymaking is essential.

Requirements

Master’s degree in economics, finance, statistics, mathematics, public policy, or related field. A PhD would be an advantage.
Minimum of five years of relevant post-graduate professional experience, preferably within an international organization, central bank, ministry of finance, national statistical office, or related institution.
Proven expertise in the compilation, validation, and analysis of External Debt Statistics, Public Sector Debt Statistics, and other external sector statistics.
Strong knowledge of international statistical methodologies, debt sustainability concepts, and debt reporting frameworks.
Demonstrated experience in methodological development, statistical systems modernization, and large-scale data compilation and validation processes.
Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with demonstrated ability to interpret and communicate complex statistical information clearly and rigorously.
Strong technical proficiency in statistical and data management software, including Python, R, Stata, SAS, SQL, and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to manage complex work programs, deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines, and coordinate across multiple stakeholders.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate technical material to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to high-quality analytical work.

Nice To Haves

French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, or Russian

Responsibilities

Compile the external debt statistics of World Bank Debtor Reporting System (DRS) reporting countries by ensuring that debt data are collected, validated, compiled, and disseminated through the International Debt Statistics Database (IDS) in accordance with established international methodologies and the DRS reporting framework.
Contribute to the methodological development and implementation of revised Debtor Reporting System (DRS) reporting requirements, including expanded instrument coverage, enhanced borrower and creditor classifications, improved validation rules, and harmonization with international statistical frameworks.
Participate in the design, development, and testing of the World Bank DRSpcoming Data Collection Platform (DCP), including User Acceptance Testing (UAT), in collaboration with ITS and business teams to ensure successful operationalization of the revised reporting framework.
Work on development of the domestic debt reporting architecture, helping address a major institutional gap in global debt transparency and supporting the integration of domestic and external public debt reporting frameworks.
Develop methodologies and analytical approaches to improve debt data coverage, address reporting gaps, and strengthen the quality, consistency, and comparability of debt statistics.
Compile, validate, and disseminate data for major global debt databases, including International Debt Statistics (IDS), Quarterly External Debt Statistics (QEDS), and Quarterly Public Sector Debt Statistics (QPSD).
Supporting large-scale debt sustainability analysis and analytical consistency across debt datasets. Conduct reconciliation exercises between DRS and Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) datasets, collaborating closely with country economists, debt offices, and national authorities to identify and resolve discrepancies.
Contribute to the International Debt Statistics and the International Debt Report (IDR), contributing analytical content on global financial flows, debt vulnerabilities, and macroeconomic risks for one of the World Bank’s flagship publications.
Contribute to blogs, analytical notes, visualizations, and dissemination products supporting the International Debt Report and the International Debt Statistics database.
Participate in improving the dissemination, accessibility, transparency, and analytical usability of debt statistics and global development indicators.
Manage and maintain debt statistics web content and contribute to the translation of complex statistical and econometric developments into user-oriented communication products and visualizations.
Liaise with internal and external partners, including global practices, international organizations, and country authorities, to improve debt transparency, strengthen data quality, and support operational and policy work.
Support data users, respond to technical queries, and provide guidance on data methodologies, metadata, coverage, and statistical quality issues.