Agriculture Specialist

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 WBG consists of five specialized institutions: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and fifteen Global Practices and five Global Themes to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, www.worldbank.org .

Western and Central Africa Region (AFW) In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 306 projects totaling more than $62.9 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water, and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved. Are you ready to make an impact?

We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa. The Africa West and Central Planet Department, The Africa West and Central Planet Department (SAWDR) provide a wide range of financial, knowledge and convening services to help address most complex development issues of the 22 countries it covers across the region. The AFW Planet Department is led by the Regional Practice Director and consists of three global practices (GPs); Agriculture and Food, Environment and Blue Economy, and Water, and lead on Climate as well as Environmental and Social safeguards. The Department has a robust commitment in the region, including in the last fiscal year an active portfolio of $13.27 billion in financing for 64 projects, with 19 additional operations under preparation for an indicative commitment of $2 billion.

Our knowledge program is extensive and provided through a mix of Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA), including Reimbursable Advisory Services. The AFW Planet Department also innovates in the use of World Bank financial instruments and partnerships, working in close collaboration with IFC and MIGA. Farming and Agribusiness (FAB) in Mali. Agriculture is central to Mali’s economy, accounting for 30–33% of GDP and providing livelihoods for 70–80% of the workforce, mostly through smallholder and family farms.

The government’s agricultural strategy is guided by the National Agricultural Development Policy (PDA), the “Vision Mali Kura 2063,” and the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD 2024–2033), aiming to drive economic transformation, secure food sovereignty, reduce poverty, and build resilience to climate and security shocks. Key priorities include ensuring food security, achieving self-sufficiency in staple crops, expanding and modernizing irrigation, boosting productivity and competitiveness of value chains, strengthening farmer organizations, and enhancing research, extension, and digital advisory services. Due to Mali’s vulnerability to climate variability, policies increasingly focus on climate information services, drought-tolerant crop varieties, water harvesting, and sustainable land management. Over the past five years, the World Bank has supported Mali’s agriculture sector with several major projects: PRAPS II-Mali ($60MN), which strengthens pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods by improving animal health, rangeland and water management, livestock mobility, and market access; the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP-Mali, $60MN), addressing systemic food security risks through climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, risk management, and support for cereal and rice value chains; the Livestock Development Support Project (PADDEL, $60MN), targeting sedentary livestock systems to increase productivity and commercialization of meat, milk, poultry, aquaculture, and related value chains, while fostering private investment and job