Lead Specialist, FCV

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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, 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.

The Mid-term Review for the World Bank Group Strategy on Fragility, Conflict and Violence highlighted the increasingly challenging global context in which the WBG operates, demanding a sharpened focus on fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). Chronic instability in some of the world’s poorest countries, civil and interstate wars in several middle-income countries (MICs), the unprecedented global shock of the pandemic, and a rapidly metastasizing climate crisis have created a complex landscape of compounding risks. Countries experiencing FCV overall demonstrate a different development trajectory than the rest of the world, with persistent poverty and declining human capital, and will constitute 60% of the world’s extreme poor by 2030. These same countries tend to be the most vulnerable to other compounding crises, including climate change, food insecurity, and pandemics. Continuing to pursue the WBG’s mission in FCV-affected situations has required the WBG to embrace a broader operational focus that encompasses the drivers, impacts, and spillover effects of FCV.

The WBG recognizes that addressing these global challenges is a global public good that demands coordinated action, particularly as these interconnected risks are undermining the development gains of recent decades.

The FCV Group is shaping the WBG’s work on the global challenge of FCV, but also on the multi-dimensional and compounding nature of these challenges. Its work builds on the Global Crisis Risk Platform (GCRP), launched in 2018 after the endorsement of the WBG’s Board of Executive Directors. Since then, the GCRP has undertaken work on compound risks with a particular focus on the interaction of food insecurity and climate with FCV risks, monitoring and forecasting conflict and crisis risk, and supporting cross-sectoral approaches to crisis preparedness.

The priorities around this multi-disciplinary agenda are continuing to evolve with an increasing emphasis on improving our understanding, tools and data on FCV and compound risk monitoring, anticipatory action, crisis preparedness, and prevention. So this vacancy is responding to the need to invest in data, monitoring, analysis, and research to inform risk monitoring systems, planning and anticipatory action in crises, designing and implementing preventive approaches for FCV, remaining engaged effectively in active conflict and crisis settings, understanding how FCV interact with other global challenges, and building evidence on effective development engagement in FCV contexts.

The FCV group is seeking a thought leader on FCV to lead this scope of work on better understanding, identifying, monitoring, and addressing FCV and compounding risks as well as their impacts on poverty, development and growth. The Lead Specialist will have a strong technical background in the analysis of FCV and cross-sectoral risks, and the ability to lead operationally relevant research. The Lead Specialist will be a member of the GTFS1 unit within the FCV Group, working closely with other members of the FCV Group, GPs, CMUs, and relevant corporate units, and will report to the GTFS1 Practice Manager.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The World Bank is looking for a highly competent professional to be the Lead Specialist on Fragility, Conflict, and Violence in the FCV Group leading a dynamic work program and team with the following main tasks.

• Provide intellectual guidance and thought leadership in shaping the FCV Group’s program of research, data analysis, and risk monitoring on key topics shaping the current global policy debate on FCV and the role of the WBG on this agenda.

• Lead the work on FCV and compound risk monitoring, including maintaining and enhancing forecasting models, maintaining and enhancing real-time data monitoring platforms for FCV and other compounding risks, assessing suitable use of machine learning, language learning models, and other AI tools, and ensuring high quality qualitative analysis of risks, and strengthening mechanisms and tools for the use of risk monitoring tools to inform institutional decision making.

• Lead strategic engagement on FCV aspects of sectoral engagement, including on the Global Challenge Programs (GCPs), and approaches for FCV sensitivity and content in Country Economic Memorandum (CEM), Political Economy Analysis (PEA), the Service Delivery in Crisis Situations research program (joint with Governance and other GPs), and other FCV related operational and analytical work led by or in partnership with the GPs, DEC, or other WBG departments.

• Provide advice and collaborate with the FCV Group’s staff and teams leading established analytical programs (such as Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs), Crisis Preparedness Gap Analyses (CPGAs), and analytical work on topics such as climate and FCV, gender and FCV, forced displacement, or others), including on use of mixed methods and approaches for complementing qualitative analytics approaches with econometric and other quantitative methods.

• Lead conceptualization and drafting of publications (including flagship reports, periodic updates, and other knowledge products) on FCV drivers, trends, and risks, contributing to shaping the WBG’s agenda in this space and the WBG Knowledge Compact.

• Lead development and application of analytical approaches, data platforms and systems related to FCV based on strong analytical content, using state-of-the-art econometric, qualitative, experimental and other analytical methods, use of advanced data visualizations and tools, understanding of client needs, knowledge of the latest research, and deep familiarity with current global policy debate.

• Lead high-level strategic engagement on the FCV and compound risk agenda with WBG management, Regions, GPs, and external stakeholders including United Nations, EU, bilateral donors, think tanks and others.

• Build and mentor a research team working on FCV drivers, trends, and risk to ensure high quality and effective delivery of the FCV Group research and analytics program.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree with 12 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Ph.D. in Economics, Political Science, Conflict Studies, or related field preferred.

• Demonstrated leadership and knowledge of global debates, current research, and challenges around FCV drivers, development outcomes in FCV contexts, FCV and compound risk forecasting and monitoring.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with quantitative analysis, modelling techniques, and econometric skills as well as qualitative analysis and mixed methods.

• Experience in two or more regions required, with operational experience working on development projects and in FCV affected contexts strongly preferred.

• Strong record of contributions to flagship publications and policy-oriented publications.

• Proven record of project and team management with a track record as a strategic planner, drive for results, consensus building, and ability to guide the analytical work of a team from concept to delivery, preferably on an early warning/ risk monitoring and decision-making system or similar initiative.

• Demonstrated ability to shape and formulate research programs and conduct research with an eye for policy implications and operational relevance.

• Demonstrated experience in mobilizing external resources and technical partnerships for strategic initiatives.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues in cross-sectoral and multi-cultural teams across organizational boundaries.

• A strong, persuasive, and clear communicator, with outstanding writing and oral skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Record of encouraging a culture of innovation, shared learning, risk taking, and accountability.