Senior Agribusiness Specialist

Senior Agribusiness Specialist

Job #:

req34341

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Agribusiness

Grade:

GG

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Arabic, French

Closing Date:

12/3/2025 (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 solve the world's greatest development and sustainability challenges. Established in 1944, the World Bank Group (WBG) 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, promoting transformative policies, and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit .

Agribusiness is an essential pathway to create jobs and achieve the World Bank Group's target of doubling agri-finance and agribusiness investments to $9 billion annually by 2030, while pursuing the twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. Food production must increase by at least 35 percent to meet the needs of the rising global population. Thus, ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity cannot be achieved without more and better investment in agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Meeting today's challenges on the food and agriculture agenda will require major strides in agricultural innovation and climate smart agriculture, efficiency in food production and distribution systems, promoting environmentally and socially sustainable production practices, strengthening agricultural policy and institutions, supporting agribusiness value chains, and joint private- and public- sector action.

In Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) Region, the agriculture and food (AGF) sector remains a large provider of jobs, an important contributor to the economy and to food security, and a substantial contributor to exports. The sector faces important immediate challenges though, ranging from the combination of climate change, population growth and scarce natural resources, to competitiveness and job creation including for youth and women. The World Bank's program in MENAAP supports the transformation of the agriculture and food sector through key policy reforms, private sector-led agricultural commercialization and modernization, improving the quality of jobs in the agri-food sector, and fostering the adoption of climate smart and digital agriculture development. The AGF team in MENAAP (SMAPA) is organized under the umbrella of MENAAP Planet Vertical that also incorporates the water, environment, and social teams. The SMAPA Unit seeks to engage a dynamic Senior Agribusiness Specialist to support on-going efforts in promoting agribusiness development and jobs in food systems across MENAAP AGF investments, analytical work and policy dialogue. 
Duties & Accountabilities
The World Bank Group is recruiting a Senior Agribusiness Specialist based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia or other field location. The Senior Agribusiness Specialist will report to the SMAPA Practice Manager who is based at the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C, and support the delivery of the work program, assurance of quality, interaction with internal and external clients and partners, including the government, private sector, civil society, and development partners.
The primary responsibility of the Senior Agribusiness Specialist will be to provide technical, operational, and strategic leadership for the development and implementation of the Agriculture and Food GP's work program in the region. In doing so, s/he will work closely within the SMAPA team and with the respective Country Management Teams. Though the position is based in one field location, it is expected that the Senior Agribusiness Specialist may be involved in other countries in the MNAAP region based on business needs and agreed work plan. Specific responsibilities include, but not limited to, the following:
• Lead/co-lead the preparation and supervision of operations managed by SMAPA and projects supporting agriculture and food systems led by other GPs, or agribusiness engagements led by IFC. Ensure that projects and contributions are delivered at high levels of quality and in a timely manner. This will require a detailed understanding of World Bank Group project instruments, delivery mechanisms within the MENAAP region and across regions as well as innovations being developed by others within the broader development community.
• Lead or contribute as a core team member to analytical products and initiate and maintain productive engagement with clients and stakeholders (including multilateral and bilateral donors) on strategic program development and policy reform issues relevant to agribusiness development in the MENAAP region. This will require technical expertise in agribusiness development, agri-finance, value chain analysis, and market systems.
• Work with staff of the AGF GP, other GPs, IFC and MIGA to identify opportunities for addressing agribusiness issues in the MENAAP region as part of broader World Bank Group core diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, country policy dialogues, CCDRs, CPSDs, investment operations, budget support operations, and other multi-sectoral products.
• Provide thought leadership on relevant developments for the MENAAP's agri-food sector and effectively communicate them to internal and external audiences. Represent the World Bank in fora involving the community of development partners.
• Lead or contribute to policy dialogue on agribusiness and interactions with the client, development and other partners, 
• Remain current with relevant major pieces of analytical work in the profession. Participate in strategic analytical work in the region, and work with teams engaged in analytical work relevant to SMAPA's work program.
• Develop strong client relations and stakeholder partnerships, including with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), on operational matters and policy dialogue. 
• Co-lead efforts in the rollout of the AgriConnect initiative in the MENAAP Region. AgriConnect seeks to create an interconnected ecosystem that unlocks agri and food systems transformation and supports the shift of agriculture to agribusiness along selected priority value chains.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

The Senior Agribusiness Specialist is expected to have advanced knowledge in the agriculture sector and its investments/policies. In addition to meeting the Bank-wide requirements for Grade GG Level position, it is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria:

• Master's or PhD in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, MBA, or related discipline. 
• At least eight years of combined work experience in both agribusiness and agriculture supply chain issues (input markets, on-farm production, etc.) 
• Demonstrated experience with: (1) knowledge generation and/or knowledge management; (2) policy dialogue; and (3) advising or working directly with the private sector in agribusiness;
• Broad knowledge of both private sector-led agribusiness development and agriculture supply chain issues. S/He should be regarded as a core thinker and implementer in the agribusiness space.
• Understanding of agriculture policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations and experience in and ability to support findings/policy recommendations with relevant technical evidence.
• Demonstrated experience with cross sector collaboration in both operations and knowledge management.
• Ability to maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and to provide evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills, the ability to work well with clients, donors, staff and colleagues from other units. Ability to express issues clearly and diplomatically, with a view to achieving a shared solution in cases of dispute.
• Strong operational knowledge of the Bank's project cycle, from preparation to completion, in investment operations, financial intermediary loans, policy based lending or analytical and advisory services; knowledge of IFC advisory services would be a plus;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; strong spoken and reading language skills in French and/or Arabic would be a plus;
• Ability to frequently travel domestically and regionally.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense
of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal
and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful
Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous
decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment
and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable
manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.

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