Short-Term Consultant – Data Analyst

Application Closing Date: February 28 2025

Description

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 and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, in-vesting in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most ur-gent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Office of the Senior Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships:

The Senior Managing Director’s (SMD) key mandate includes overseeing the Bank’s knowledge and partnership programs and ensuring that the Bank’s analytical work continues to address the pressing development challenges facing client countries and global partners. The office is responsible for the Evolution Roadmap, G20 and G7 engagements', the implementation of the Knowledge Compact, as well as the replenishment of IDA, the Bank’s con-cessional lending arm for the poorest countries. It provides strategic guidance on the WB’s global knowledge and IDA corporate commitments; oversees key partnerships with shareholders, development agencies, other multilateral development banks (MDBs) and academia; helps shape and drive the Bank’s strategic directions; and through the Trust Fund portfolio in Global Practices, mobilizes support and financial resources across the international community to bring concessionally to our work.

Building on the progress of past efforts, the WBG Knowledge Compact for Action aims to empower clients, public and private, by systematically making the latest knowledge available to respond more effectively to increasingly complex development challenges. This includes knowledge embedded in policy advice, expertise and know-how, including from financing operations, as well as the latest research, data and tools to formulate robust development policies and programs. The Compact will deliver this knowledge to clients under the four pillars of enhanced products, partnerships, learning and systems. To advance the knowledge agenda, the practice groups will be organized into five vertical vice presidencies aligned with the new mission (People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure and Digital). In addition, three new departments have been created to enhance coordination, integration, and out-come orientation across the WBG. The three departments report to the Office of the SMD, and include roles such as:

• The Outcomes team generates metrics, aggregate results, and monitor in real-time how and where the Bank is driving development outcomes, and identifying cross-cutting thematic areas that require additional efforts and resources.

• The Innovation team drives forward-thinking innovative approaches and engage in new frontiers to address the most complex development challenges.

• The Knowledge and Learning team fosters systematic and consistent curation and use of knowledge and development know-how to develop client and staff capacity and deliver tailored, world class development solutions to clients.

Position Context:

This assignment is with the Department for Outcomes, whose mandate includes providing the strategic vision and direction for an effective outcome orientation across the WBG, including thought leadership on approaches to development impact measurement, proposing revisions and updates to outcome indicators and methodologies as needed, coordinating the development of outcome targets and their implications in our knowledge, operations, and financing. It will also oversee the development and implementation of metrics and systems to evaluate outcomes on cross-cutting themes such as climate, jobs, private sector capital mobilization, women and youth and the monitoring of these areas in the WBG Scorecard, in collaboration with MDO, IFC and MIGA. In addition, the Department for Outcomes convenes both external and internal parties and other MDBs regarding outcome metrics, building external and internal capacity, and acting as the secretariat for external advisory groups like the Job Council. Furthermore, the Department for Outcomes is responsible for generating metrics, aggregating results, and monitoring in real-time how and where we are driving development outcomes, and where we need to place greater focus and additional resources.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Department for Outcomes is looking for a talented development young professional with strong data analytics and research skills combined with knowledge on development operations and a passion for evidence-based data and analytical activities. Prior experience in management consulting or portfolio management work with direct exposure to top executive positions is preferred. S/he will report to a Senior Outcomes Officer of the Department for

Outcomes.

The Short-Term Consultant (STC) must have both writing and analytical skills to work on variable tasks ranging from outlining and reviewing strategies to preparing visually appealing, clear, and impactful presentations based on evidence drawn from complex outcomes data analytics. A mix of in-depth quantitative data analytics and top-notch consulting-level presentation skills are preferred. Young professionals with a ‘can-do’ and collaborative attitude, who can bring new ideas and creativity to this increasingly critical agenda of spearheading improvements on development outcomes at the WBG several practice groups are encouraged to apply. While the environment will be fast paced with tight deadlines and changing needs, the position offers the opportunity to be part of a team that will work towards providing the strategic vision and direction for an effective outcome orientation across the WBG – the largest source of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Also, this position offers the chance to the selected candidate to be exposed to working with teams across the WBG on cross-cutting themes such as climate, jobs, private sector capital mobilization, women, and youth, which covers the core of what the WBG does. This role would also be an opportunity for the selected candidate to hone a range of skills from strategy and quantitative analysis and project management.

Areas of responsibility will be determined based on the evolving needs of the team and the specific skills set of the selected candidate, but s/he will play a role in the team’s main deliverables.

References to key tasks are detailed below:

• Support the team in analytical, research, and knowledge work related to outcomes metrics reported from WBG operations (lending and non-lending), aggregating results, and monitoring in real-time how and where our institutions is driving development outcomes. Capacity to distill insights from data analytics is a key skill required.

• Research and exploration of new and current outcome indicators to be used to inform strategic decision making by Bank’s senior leadership, including crafting new or proposing updates to outcome indicator methodologies.

• Provide support to coordinating the development and tracking of outcome targets to inform evidence-based decisions on strategies and portfolios, as well as their implications in Bank’s knowledge, operations, and financing. This includes strategies and project document review, literature review, and production of write-ups of findings.

Selection Criteria

Education

• Master’s degree in international development, political science, public administration, public policy, management, economics, information systems/computer science, or related

field.

Experience

• At least five years of relevant professional experience. Work experience with development organizations in portfolio management and/or management consulting firms is preferred.

Technical skills

• Strong quantitative and data visualization techniques. High proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint is required.

• Proven ability to gather, analyze, and interpret complex data to identify insights.

Client-oriented & project management skills

•Outside-in approach with the ability to understand and anticipate client needs.

•Highly organized and detail-oriented with a focus on producing high-quality deliverables.

•Ability to navigate through complexity, multitask, and work with short deadlines.

Interpersonal &communication skills

•Ability to work in multi-cultural environments and teams.

•Good command of written and spoken English.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stage of this recruitment process consisting of an exam. The format of the pre-screening assessment includes the use of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. The assessment evaluates the candidate analytical and presentation skills. The pre-screening is conducted via an online test.

Duration, Location, and Reporting

This assignment will be for 150 days beginning March 10, 2025, with possibility of extension depending on performance. The STC will be based in Washington, D.C. and will report to the Senior Outcomes Specialist.

Interested applicants are invited to send a CV and statement of interest to Beshka Asanbaev at basanbaev1@worldbank.org by February 28, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the pre-screening assessment stage.