Job Vacancies at World Bank Group

Job #: 091453
Job Title: Senior Agriculture Economist
Job Family: Agriculture & Rural Development
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Background / General description
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.

The World Bank’s efforts to facilitate faster growth in African agricultural productivity and inclusive rural development in the Region require enhanced presence in our country offices; to interact with clients and partners on a regular basis, to support design and implementation of comprehensive programs, and to facilitate improved monitoring and evaluation of developments in the sector. Areas of engagement broadly include agricultural technology, marketing and value chains, vulnerability and risk management, rural infrastructure (including irrigation), decentralization and provision of services in rural areas, and policy and regulatory reforms.

The Africa Region’s unit responsible for agriculture and rural development (AFTAR) is seeking a seasoned professional to be resident in Abuja, Nigeria to lead our work in Nigeria and contribute regionally. Nigeria faces several challenges, including need for increased domestic production of food for urban consumption in light of higher global prices of imports, need to increase competitiveness in commercial production, to enhance delivery of key public goods and services, and to manage a fragile and degrading natural resource base. The Government places a high priority on agriculture, and particularly on achieving higher productivity and increased commercialization.

To support a growing line of analytical and operational work in Nigeria, an experienced professional is sought for a term position of three years with potential for extension. The staff member will be based in the World Bank Office in Abuja, and will work closely with colleagues in AFTAR already in place. Open-ended staff who apply will retain their open-ended status. The staff member will undertake the following roles and responsibilities:


Duties and Accountabilities

The selected staff member will assure the effectiveness and coherence of our agricultural work in Nigeria and in neighboring countries, together with colleagues from other units in the Sustainable Development department and the country team as a whole. Accountabilities include the following:

In partnership with AFTAR colleagues, coordinate policy dialogue on agricultural and rural issues and interactions with the client and partners, and alert management (both country and sector) to issues requiring attention;

• Lead/initiate/participate in analytical and strategic work pertaining to agricultural growth and productivity in Nigeria, including work managed by AFTAR and that managed by other units, but requiring input from our staff, such as public expenditure analysis. Participate as a team member in comparable work regionally;
• Lead/ contribute to key operations important to the agricultural sector, both within the portfolios in Sustainable Development, and more generally; e.g., budget support operations. Assure timely delivery of these operations with high levels of quality;
• Support colleagues in the country office in assuring quality of their own work and successful delivery of their programs;
• Identify and act on synergies within the Sustainable Development portfolio in Nigeria and regionally and in the country programs more generally, through intellectual leadership and teamwork;
• Serve as an active member of the AFTAR technical and operational unit, contributing to the Region’s strategic scale up of support for agricultural productivity, in Nigeria and more generally.

Selection Criteria

• Masters or PhD in Agricultural Economics or related discipline
• At least eight years of experience on agricultural development issues;
• Recognized substantive leadership in one or more of the strategic/ technical areas noted above;
• Proven operational experience, preferably in a country office in Africa, with high quality;
• Experience in West Africa desirable
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Ability to lead and work with multi-disciplinary teams
• Evidence of effective team work and client relations
• Fluency in English required; fluency in French desired

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.


The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Click here to apply for this position