Senior Agriculture Specialist Job #: req35207 Organization: World Bank Sector: Agriculture Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Luanda,Angola Required Language(s): English, Portuguese Preferred Language(s): French Closing Date: 1/4/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.ย For more information, visitย www.worldbank.org
Africa (AFE) Region
Home to almost 60% of Africaโs population, the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region is geographically, culturally, and economically diverse and comprises 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South.ย
AFE boasts some of the worldโs richest natural resources, including minerals that will be critical to low carbon development. ย Signs of economic transformation are also emerging in ICT, infrastructure and a vibrant private sector that is supported by a young and dynamic population. ย Despite the regionโs potential, economic growth remains low in many of the AFE countries. Key challenges include persistent inequality and limited access to productive employment, heavy debt burdens exacerbated by slow growth, low agricultural productivity, weak infrastructure, low human capital and limited resilience to climate change and conflict.ย ย This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future. ย
The World Bankโs Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,200 staff, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the five dimensions of People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure, and Digital to realize rapid economic transformation that unlocks the regionโs growth potential, addresses unemployment and underemployment, reduces poverty and inequality, manages debt and fiscal pressures, and builds resilience.
Eastern and Southern Africa Planet Department
The Africa East and South Planet Department (AFEPD) provides a wide range of financial, knowledge and convening services to help address Eastern and Southern Africa countriesโ most complex development issues. ย The AFE Planet Department is led by the Regional Practice Director and consists of four global practices (GPs); Agriculture and Food, Environment, Social Development, and Water, and leads on the Climate Change agenda. The Department has a robust engagement in the region, including, in the last fiscal year, $1.6B in new lending, a portfolio of $17 billion in financing in 96 projects, and annual disbursement of over 21% of that financing. ย Our knowledge program is extensive and provided through a mix of Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA), including Reimbursable Advisory Services. ย The AFE Planet Department also innovates in the use of financial instruments and partnerships, leveraging One World Bank Group working in close partnership with IFC and MIGA.
The Agriculture and Food Global Practice
Our AFE agriculture and food work contributes to and benefits from our efforts across the globe, and is brought together under the leadership of a Global Director, supported by ten regional Practice Managers and a Manager for Global Engagement. In addition, the Agriculture and Food GP Leadership team includes seven Global Leads: Data and Digital Agriculture; Agribusiness, Finance and Jobs; Public Policy and Expenditure; One Health; Climate and Nature; Food & Nutrition Security, and Science, Knowledge and Innovation.
Agriculture and Food in Angola
Agriculture plays a critical role in Angolaโs economy, employing over 40 percent of the population and contributing approximately 10 percent to GDP. However, despite vast natural endowments, including 57 million hectares of arable land and significant water resources, agricultural productivity remains low due to limited access to irrigation, low input use, weak infrastructure, and insufficient market integration. Angola remains a net food importer, exposing it to global food price volatility and trade disruptions.
Over the past decade, the World Bank has committed over US$1 billion support for agriculture, food systems, and rural development in Angola. This includes the recently closed Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Promotion Project, which focused on improving productivity, strengthening farmer organizations, and linking farmers to markets. Currently, there are two active projects. The Commercial Agriculture Development Project (US$98.46 million) supports mid-sized commercial farming and agro-industrial value chains to help mobilize private investment and improve access to rural infrastructure, extension, and agricultural services. The Smallholder Agricultural Transformation Project (US$260 million) is focused on transforming food systems by improving climate resilience, expanding irrigation and water management, supporting producer organizations, and upgrading key value chains such as maize, beans, horticulture, and poultry. The project also promotes nutrition-sensitive agriculture, women's economic empowerment, and social inclusion of youth.
Demand for high-value food commodities and products is increasing, primarily driven by growing population, urbanization, and shifting dietary preferences. The World Bankโs engagement aims to support Angola to shift from a subsistence model to an inclusive, resilient and competitive food system that can create jobs, enhance food security, and raise the incomes of farmers and other actors in the value chains. The policy dialogue, which has primarily involved agricultural investment policy and public-private partnerships could be deepened to include analytical and advisory services to support reforms in land governance, agro-logistics, and rural finance.ย ย ย
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Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Practice Manager for SAEA2 unit, the Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will lead the delivery of the units work program in Angola. Specifically, s/he will lead task teams to deliver impactful projects and strategic advisory and analytical tasks, while working closely with the Practice Manager, Country Manager, and the Angola Country Team. The specific responsibilities will include:
โข ย Lead the design, preparation, and supervision of operation projects as Task Team Leader (TTL) or core team member, while leveraging appropriate instruments (such as IPFs, P4Rs, and trust funds) and ensuring high-quality in all stages of the project cycle (identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision, and completion).
โข ย Provide technical guidance to position the agriculture food systems in country programs, including designing innovative solutions to create jobs in agriculture value chains in close collaboration with IFC and MIGA.
โข ย Lead or contribute as a core team member in the delivery of advisory and analytical activities while ensuring quality in all stages, including conceptualization, preparation of reports and knowledge products, dissemination, etc
โข ย Contribute to strategic agricultural policy reforms dialogue with clients and position key sector reforms in development policy lending programs.
โข ย Assume an active role in the Angola CMU to ensure adequate and appropriate integration of relevant aspects of the agriculture and rural development agenda in core Bank products, including country partnership frameworks, strategic country diagnostics, country economic memoranda, and CCDRs.
โข ย Support the integration of agriculture interventions in Planet programs, including on water, sustainable land management, and emission reductions, while working closely with the Planet leadership team and the clients.
โข ย Actively engage with the client, stakeholders, and development partners and represent the Agriculture and Food team at relevant events and speaking engagements.
โข ย Serve as focal point for Agriculture and Food in Angola through close collaboration with the Angola Country Team and liaison with the CMU.
โข ย Respond to ad-hoc information requests, including briefings to management and external parties on the agriculture sector in Angola and World Bank support.ย ย
โข ย Provide mentoring, advice and support to the task team supporting the Agriculture and Food program.
Selection Criteria
Candidates must demonstrate professional excellence, outstanding oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to convert strategic thinking into practical solutions. ย The following specific criteria will also apply:
โข ย A masterโs degree in agricultural and resource economics, agribusiness, agriculture or closely related discipline.
โข ย At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness, and other disciplines related to food systems.
โข ย Recognized by peers and/or managers for the ability to identify problems and translate knowledge into innovative and concrete solutions, while maintaining strong client focus.
โข ย Strong technical and analytical skills and the capacity to lead discussions on policy reforms at high levels.
โข In-depth knowledge of the issues faced by smallholders in agricultural value chains and the potential of agriculture value chains to address core development objectives in the AFE region, including jobs.
โข ย Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English and Portuguese, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality documents and analytical reports.
โข ย Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills with ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions.
โข ย High degree of ethics, tact, diplomacy, political judgement, negotiating skills and sensitivity in working in a multi-cultural setting.
โข ย Self-motivated with the ability to work under pressure and challenging conditions, and willingness to travel extensively.
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.
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 theย World Bankย andย IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.