WBG Pioneer - Macroeconomic Work Intern

World Bank Group • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

WBG Pioneers, the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high impact learning experience at the heart of global development. Participants gain hands on experience in a diverse and dynamic environment, contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and connect with international professionals working to end poverty on a livable planet.
The intern will be part of the Namibia and Botswana country teams and will be involved in standard country macroeconomic work and will also be a team member of the Botswana Public Finance Review (PFR) and the Namibia (PFR) teams.

Standard macroeconomic work: The team produces two pagers on the macroeconomic conditions of the country every 6 months for the Spring Meeting and the Annual Meeting producing two pagers, it updates macroeconomic databases, produces policy briefs for the government to address a sudden request for advice, and presents recent work to government counterparts through videoconferences.

Botswana PFR: The objective of the Botswana Public Finance Review is to examine and analyze options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure and revenue mobilization, with the aim of restoring fiscal sustainability and increasing efficiency in the context of a decline in diamond revenues. The support will include the development of the BOOST database that will facilitate easy analysis of the fiscal and revenue data and the audit of the public sector's wage bill.

Namibia PFR: Given the ongoing downward revisions in economic growth forecasts, heightened demands for priority funding under the 6th National Development Plan, and fiscal constraints arising from revenue shortfalls and increasing debt servicing obligations, the Minister of Finance of Namibia has formally requested assistance from the World Bank to conduct PFRs. The Minister would like the PFR assistance to result in a series of notes rather than a lengthy report to increase impact, as well as familiarize selected officials with the PFR process and its insights. The purpose of the Namibia PFR is therefore to inform government officials’ fiscal consolidation efforts and help officials become familiar with conducting a PFR. In order to provide timely notes, the support will consist of two phases. The 1st phase will focus on the priority areas initially identified by the Minister of Finance: spending on education, health (pharmaceutical procurement), social protection, agriculture, and general procurement, and increasing revenues (mining and fisheries). The 2nd phase will focus on priority topics to be identified by the Minister at a later date.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in, or in the final year of a postgraduate (master’s/PhD) program.
• 0–6 years of relevant professional experience.
• Academic background in Economics or in Development Economics.
• Demonstrated interest in development work and the World Bank Group’s mission.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, team-based environments.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in English.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the production of notes and regular macroeconomic reports for Namibia and Botswana.
• Assist in the production of two Public Finance Reviews (PFRs) for Botswana and Namibia.
• Update macroeconomic databases.
• Prepare presentations for government counterparts and team meetings.
• Review inputs provided by other team members for PFRs.
• Support the Senior Country Economist in finalizing PFR reports.
• Produce inputs for PFRs.
• Develop presentations based on the PFR reports.
• Participate in team meetings.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level