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Senior Agriculture Specialist
People & HR
Maputo, Mozambique
Posted on Jun 10, 2026
Senior Agriculture Specialist
| Job #: | req37017 |
| Organization: | World Bank Group |
| Sector: | Agriculture |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 4 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
| Location: | Maputo,Mozambique |
| Required Language(s): | English/Portuguese |
| Preferred Language(s): | English/Portuguese |
| Closing Date: | 6/28/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and 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 thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients. Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, visit www.worldbank.org
Africa (AFE) Region
Home to almost 60% of Africa’s 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.
AFE boasts some of the world’s richest natural resources, including minerals that will be critical to low carbon development. Signs of economic transformation are also emerging in ICT, infrastructure and a vibrant private sector that is supported by a young and dynamic population. Despite the region’s 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. 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.
The World Bank’s 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 region’s 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 countries’ most complex development issues. 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. Our knowledge program is extensive and provided through a mix of Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA), including Reimbursable Advisory Services. 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 Mozambique
Agriculture plays a critical role in Mozambique’s economy, employing over 70 percent of the labor force and contributing approximately 26 percent to GDP. The country is endowed with rich natural resources, including 36 million hectares of arable land, 34 million hectares of natural forests, and 2,700km coastline, offering potential for fisheries, blue economy and tourism. However, agricultural productivity and competitiveness remain low, with limited use of improved inputs, poor infrastructure, and insufficient market integration. Mozambique remains a net food importer, exposing it to global food price volatility and trade disruptions. The country ranks the third most vulnerable country in Africa to climatic shocks, according to the climate fragility index.
Over the past decade, the World Bank has committed over US$1 billion support for agriculture, food systems, and rural development in Mozambique. This includes closed projects like Mozambique Agriculture and Natural Resource Landscape Management Project (P149620) and Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture and Market Access Project (P164431), which focused on improving productivity, market linkages, irrigation and commercialization. Currently, there are two active projects. The Sustainable Rural Economy Program (US$204 million) aims to improve performance of agricultural producers, agricultural micro small and medium enterprises (Agri-MSMEs) and natural resource management. An additional financing of US$100 million was recently approved to support emergency response activities responding to tropical cyclone Gezani that affected the country early in 2026. The Northern Region Rural Resilient Project (US$ 150 million), co-led by Environment/Natural Resources Unit and Agriculture/Food Global Practices, aims to improve access to livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities and management on natural resources in selected areas of Northern Mozambique. Under preparation is a 10-year Multi-Phase Approach (MPA) – the Mozambique Agribusiness Value Chains Development Program (US$500 million) – which aims to strengthen agribusiness value chains in the strategic economic corridors. This Program for Results (PforR) MPA will operationalize the AgriConnect Initiative in Mozambique, which was launched on March 2, 2026.
Demand for high-value food commodities and products is increasing, primarily driven by growing population, urbanization, and shifting dietary preferences. The World Bank’s engagement aims to support Mozambique 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 policy reforms and access to finance.
Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Practice Manager for SAEA2 unit, the Senior Agriculture Specialist/Economist will support the delivery of the units work program in Mozambique. Specifically, s/he will support task teams to deliver impactful projects and strategic advisory and analytical tasks, while working closely with the Mozambique CMU, Practice Manager, and the Mozambique Country Team. The specific responsibilities will include:
• Co-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).
• Provide technical guidance in designing innovative solutions to create jobs in agriculture value chains in close collaboration with IFC and MIGA, consistent with the AgriConnect initiative.
• Lead or contribute as a core team member in the resource mobilization (through trust funds) and delivery of advisory and analytical activities while ensuring quality in all stages, including conceptualization, preparation of reports and knowledge products, dissemination, etc.
• Co-lead in the Agri-Connect Initiative, including development of the compact, and consultations with various stakeholders.
• Assume an active role in the Mozambique 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.
• Support the integration of agriculture interventions with other programs, e.g. water, sustainable land management, transport, urban, social protection, digital and energy.
• Actively engage with the client, stakeholders, and development partners and represent the Agriculture and Food team at relevant events and speaking engagements.
• Respond to ad-hoc information requests, including briefings to management and external parties on the agriculture sector in Mozambique and World Bank support.
• 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. The following specific criteria will also apply:
• A master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics, agribusiness, agriculture or closely related discipline.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness, and other disciplines related to food systems.
• 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.
• Strong technical and analytical skills and the capacity to lead discussions on policy reforms at high levels.
• 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.
• Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English and Portuguese, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality documents and analytical reports.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills with ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions.
• High degree of ethics, tact, diplomacy, political judgement, negotiating skills and sensitivity in working in a multi-cultural setting.
• 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 the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.