Senior Economist

Job #: req35502 Organization: World Bank Sector: Economics Grade: GG Term Duration: 5 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Astana,Kazakhstan Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 2/14/2026 (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. Visit The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region 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, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 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.Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, has made significant progress in reducing poverty and achieving upper middle-income status, largely driven by its abundant natural resources. However, the country faces persistent challenges related to its heavy reliance on oil and gas, limited economic diversification, and spatial inequalities, particularly between urban and rural areas. The government is committed to transitioning toward a greener, more inclusive, and competitive economy, as outlined in its National Development Plan 2025-29 and Low Emissions Development Strategy. Key reforms are underway to strengthen productivity, diversify the economy, and create better jobs, including through measures to attract private capital, promote renewable energy, enhance digitalization, and improve social protection systems. These efforts are complemented by initiatives to address climate vulnerability and water scarcity, which are critical given Kazakhstan’s exposure to extreme climatic events.Despite external shocks such as fluctuating oil prices and global uncertainties, the economy has demonstrated resilience, with real GDP growth projected at 6 percent in 2025, underpinned by a recovery in oil production and robust domestic demand. Inflationary pressures have resurfaced, prompting tighter monetary policy, while the banking sector remains sound. The government has advanced institutional and structural reforms, including new tax, budget and procurement laws, tariff reforms to improve cost recovery in energy and heating sectors, and enhanced digital and financial market regulations. The reform agenda enjoys substantial support, grounded in the country’s ambitions to double the size of the economy by 2029, though implementation risks persist due to institutional capacity and stakeholder interests. The WBG has an active policy dialogue in Kazakhstan underpinned by Development Policy Operations which support reforms to leverage Kazakhstan’s development progress and address key challenges to sustainable and inclusive growth. In addition, the WBG has a wide range of knowledge products and technical assistance engagements, being Bank’s primary instruments for broadening engagement with stakeholders in Kazakhstan.The Fiscal Policy and Growth (FPG) Global Practice The Fiscal Policy and Growth (FPG) Global Practice leads the World Bank Group’s dialogue and engagement with clients in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, trade, competition and investment. FPG links the macroeconomic dialogue with programs focused on expanding the role of the private sector in economic development. For more information: The FPG unit has an exciting program in the region. The FPG team has led most of the Development Policy Operations and has led Public Finance Reviews, Country Growth and Jobs Reports, and other key flagship report. It has provided technical assistance on a range of issues including on carbon taxation, debt management, and fiscal risk monitoring, among other topics. The team has a strong technical engagement with key agencies of economic management across government and other stakeholders in the private sector, academia and the civil society in the three countries. Duties and AccountabilitiesAs part of the ECA Fiscal Policy and Growth unit, the Senior Economist will:• Lead the economic policy dialogue with the government counterparts in Kazakhstan.• Provide thought leadership and advice to the CMU on core economic policy issues, working closely with the Lead Economist working on Kazakhstan. • Lead coordination on macroeconomic policy dialogue with the IMF and other development partners.• Lead and/or advise teams working on Development Policy Operations or other types of lending operations focused on broader economic policy and institutional reforms.• Lead and/or advise teams working on core diagnostics and other economic reports.• Serve as the focal point or spokesperson on economic issues to clients and other external constituencies and expert economic groups.• Support the analytical work program of the CMU, including the preparation of CPFs and other key strategic pieces, and their quality control, and provide advice to the CMU on country strategic engagement.• Work closely with other GPs on the preparation of key strategic pieces and/or engagements.• Mentor and coach FPG colleagues working on the delivery of the practice’s work program.

Selection Criteria

This position requires technical breadth and depth to devise development solutions and carry out client dialogue, a combination of integrative skills, strong operational experience, sensitivity to the political economy of the client countries, in-depth knowledge of WBG services and products, and strong communication/language skills. Specifically, the candidates should have:• . or Master’s in economics with at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience, including a track record of delivery of high quality analytical and advisory products.• Strong analytical skills in macroeconomics, fiscal management, microeconomics, finance and development economics and proven ability to conduct policy-relevant research.• In-depth knowledge of WBG financing operations as well as analytical and advisory services, including work programming, budgeting, task management, and strong familiarity with WBG instruments.• Demonstrated client orientation through identifying and evaluating emerging opportunities aligned with WBG strategy, and challenging others to remove barriers and to deliver beyond client expectations.• Proven experience in leading high impact development policy operations; sound knowledge of Bank lending tools and procedures.• Demonstrated leadership in teamwork, in working across boundaries and in ensuring that diverse talent and capabilities are mobilized across Prosperity and in support of other PGs. Proven ability to work across practices and disciplinary boundaries.• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex analyses to non-specialist audiences.• Strong client-orientation and diplomatic skills combined with candor and courage of opinion.• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines.• Entrepreneurial capabilities that can be deployed in identifying and securing new business opportunities.• High energy and demonstrated interest in achieving impact through analytical work and technical assistance for demanding and sophisticated clients. Previous experience in delivering high impact work in a country under economic transformation would be a 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.

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.