Senior Agriculture Economist Job #: req35418 Organization: World Bank Sector: Agriculture Grade: GG Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Vienna,Austria Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Russian Closing Date: 2/13/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
Regional Context
The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse, predominantly middle-income countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. ECA countries face structural and legacy issues, including an incomplete transition to a market economy and declining productivity, weak institutional capacity, dependence on fossil fuels, limited physical and digital connectivity and, in many instances, aging populations. Recent shocks (COVID-19, conflicts, weather shocks and natural disaster) have further exacerbated these challenges, with significant impacts on the level, inclusiveness and sustainability of growth and overall living standards. The World Bank Group is working closely with client countries in the region to address these issues, with increasing focus on productivity growth and job creation, energy security and water management, human capital and economic inclusion, and physical and digital connectivity. The region has a strong lending pipeline and a large portfolio of projects spanning a number of sectors. In addition, knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region.
The Agriculture and Food (AGF) unit (SCAAG) in the ECA Region is organized under the umbrella of the ECA Planet department that also incorporates the water and environment teams. The unit’s work program covers seven ECA Country Management Units and is led by a Practice Manager. The focus of the team’s work going forward is on the future of agri-food systems, 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 & Accountabilities:
The World Bank Group is recruiting a Senior Agriculture Economist based in Vienna, Austria. The Senior Agriculture Economist will report to the SCAAG Practice Manager based in Vienna, Austria and support the delivery of the work program, assurance of quality, interaction with internal and external clients and partners, including the government, private sector, civil society, and development partners. The primary responsibility of the Senior Agriculture Economist will be to provide technical, operational, and strategic leadership on food safety for the development and implementation of the unit’s work program in the ECA region. In doing so, s/he will work closely within the SCAAG team and with the respective Country Management Unit (CMU) Teams. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Provide thought leadership on food safety and food trade-related aspects in the ECA region and effectively communicate them to country teams, including the SCAAG team, CMUs, and broader WBG country teams.
• Lead or contribute to policy dialogue on food safety and food trade and interactions with clients, development and other partners, and alert management (both country and sector) to issues requiring attention.
• Lead and co-lead preparation and supervision of operations as Task Team Leader of operations managed by SCAAG and projects supporting agriculture, agribusiness, agri-food systems, and rural development led by other Global Practices, or agribusiness engagements led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Ensure that projects and contributions are delivered at high levels of quality and in a timely manner.
• Lead or contribute as core team member to analytical products and initiate and maintain productive engagement with the client and stakeholders (including multilateral and bilateral donors) on strategic program development and policy reforms relevant for the transformation of agriculture, agribusiness, agri-food systems, and rural economies in the ECA region.
• Work with staff of the Global Practice, other Global Practices, IFC, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to identify opportunities for addressing agri-food development issues in the ECA region as part of the broader World Bank core diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, country policy dialogues, CCDRs, investment operations, budget support operations, and other multi-sectoral projects.
• Remain current with relevant major pieces of analytical work in the profession. Participate in strategic analytical work in the region and work with teams engaged in analytical work relevant to SCAAG’s work program in the ECA region.
• Represent the World Bank in fora involving the community of development partners. Provide support, either explicit or implicit, to the work of the development partners in food safety.
• Develop strong client relations and stakeholder partnerships, including with other Global Practices, IFC, and MIGA, on operational matters and policy dialogue.
• Contribute to the rollout of the AgriConnect initiative in the ECA region from a food safety perspective. AgriConnect is a WBG initiative to transform smallholder farming, create jobs, and strengthen global food security.
Selection Criteria
The Senior Agriculture Economist will have advanced knowledge in food safety, as well as in agriculture, agri-food systems, and rural development, and in their investments and policies. It is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria:
• Master's or PhD in Food Safety, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economics, MBA, or in a related relevant discipline.
• At least eight years of relevant working experience in areas related to food safety and agri-food systems transformation.
• Demonstrated solid experience in managing complex projects, with high-impact results.
• Strong analytical skills and solid experience in leading policy dialogue on critical issues of relevance for the transformation of agri-food systems.
• Understanding of food safety and food trade policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations and experience in and ability to support findings/policy recommendations with relevant technical evidence.
• Proven team skills with the ability to function in a demanding, fast-paced, multi-sectoral and multi-cultural environment.
• Commitment to teamwork and ability to interact effectively and collegially with peers at all levels and from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills with ability to find balanced, pragmatic, and implementable solutions.
• Ability to work across various subject areas and multi-disciplinary teams, while being diplomatic and sensitive to cultural, political and gender issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including the ability to present complex issues to World Bank management and senior Government representatives, as well as to non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to frequently travel regionally and internationally.
• Operational familiarity with the World Bank’s project cycle - from preparation to completion - for investment operations, financial intermediary loans, policy-based lending or analytical and advisory services, as well as knowledge of IFC investments and advisory services would be a plus.
• Knowledge of any ECA languages, especially Russian, other than English would be an additional plus.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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