Senior Economist

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The Country Advisory and Economics Unit of the East Asia and Pacific Region (CEAAE) contributes to IFC’s mission by providing diagnostics and advisory services to help deliver the reforms and the policies needed to remove market barriers and mobilize private investments. CEAAE has a peculiar dual role (advisory and analytics). In its advisory role, CEAAE works with governments, public agencies, sector regulators and industry/business associations to help improve the business environment through reforms, policy actions and by completing the legal and institutional framework. The analytical role of CAE encompasses several tasks, including: (i) producing regional and country-level economic and market assessments to support IFC’s strategy and operations; (ii) leading analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and the associated sector ‘deep dives’; (iii) leading on behalf of IFC the preparation of WBG country engagement products such as Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF) and Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), in coordination with regional and industry colleagues; and (iv) working closely with IBRD/IDA operations teams to help identify reform priorities with a specific private sector focus to be steered through DPLs, PfoR and IPFs.

CEAAE also has a specific mandate to enable a one WBG approach to unlocking markets by: (i) facilitating coordination across the WBG and connecting public and private sector thinking; (ii) helping IFC teams better understand market risks and devise well-tailored solutions for private capital mobilization (PCM); (iii) connecting governments with IFC and providing interface with external stakeholders (SOEs, regulators, development partners). Because of its dual role CAE has a workforce with diverse skills, including economics, strategy, and operational staff. CAE is seeking to recruit a Sr. Economist to be based in Hong Kong, to lead analytical work covering China and other selected countries in East Asia.

The Sr. Economist shall be a committed and dynamic professional with strong analytical skills; policy-relevant experience; expertise in market and sectoral analysis and applied research; a track record of publications; and proven skills as team player and aggregator. A track record of experience across the WBG, including leading and/or taking part in the preparation of country engagement products, as well as a deep understanding of East Asian economies and China’s in particular, will constitute a plus. Duties and Accountabilities • Contribute to business development by providing investment and upstream/advisory teams with customized, up-to-date research, such as country economic and market updates; assessments of regional-global trends and/or analysis of real-time issues; market assessments and sectoral analysis. • Identify and develop real-time analytics to help identify market opportunities and help shape business strategies in the region. • Provide timely and quality input to IFC investment projects on country/regional context, macro/market analysis, policy issues, strategic fit, key risks, and other analysis during the full project life cycle, especially on high-risk projects. • Provide analytical support and advice to CEAAE project teams to identify and deliver actionable reforms that can open private sector opportunities and support IFC industries. • Focal point for WBG coordination/collaboration.

This includes: (i) on behalf of IFC, co-leading the preparation of country engagement products (CPFs, CCDRs, etc.); (ii) coordinating analytical tasks and contributing to policy dialogue and IBRD lending programs (DPOs, IPFs, and P4Rs) to ensure that key private sector reforms are considered; and (iii)