CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Economist, Debt Sustainability & Fiscal Policy

OBJECTIVE

The Economist, Debt Sustainability & Fiscal Policy will advance the V20 debt-growth agenda by supporting reforms to Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSAs), strengthening fiscal rules, and coordinating a Debt Management Office (DMO) fellowship to enable countries to share experiences, advice, and develop solutions together. The Economist will provide analytical support on debt sustainability, debt-for-climate swaps, fiscal rules, and work closely with DMOs and finance ministries more broadly to help expand fiscal space.

SCOPE OF WORK

This position requires a proactive and analytically strong individual with experience in sovereign debt, fiscal policy, and international financial institutions. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSAs), debt restructuring mechanisms, debt-for-climate swaps, fiscal rules, and macro-fiscal policy frameworks, as well as demonstrated experience engaging with finance ministries, debt management offices (DMOs), and multilateral institutions. Key responsibilities include:

  1. Support the development and implementation of the V20 debt-growth agenda, including reforms to DSAs, modernized fiscal rules, and strategies to expand fiscal space for climate-resilient development;
  2. Coordinate the Debt Management Office (DMO) Fellowship, facilitating peer exchange, joint learning, advisory support, and collaborative problem-solving among participating countries;
  3. Serve as a technical advisor for V20 fellowships on macroeconomic topics, with a focus on sovereign debt, including the Climate Prosperity Fellowship
  4. Provide analytical support on DSAs, fiscal rules, debt-for-climate swaps, liability management strategies, and macro-fiscal reforms, including preparing assessments, policy briefs, and technical inputs;
  5. Work closely with DMOs and finance ministries to gather data, understand country-specific constraints, and support the development of country-tailored debt strategies and refinancing pathways;
  6. Support government engagement and policy dialogue with ministries, central banks, IFIs (IMF, World Bank), and other partners to advance V20 positions on debt sustainability and fiscal policy;
  7. Contribute to the design of innovative debt solutions, including climate-resilient debt clauses, countercyclical instruments, guarantee-backed refinancing, and debt-for-climate/nature swaps;
  8. Monitor developments in global debt architecture reform, including IMF and World Bank DSA review processes, G20 debt discussions, and MDB reforms, translating insights into strategic recommendations for V20 members;
  9. Proactively identify opportunities for the leadership team’s engagement with key international financial institutions, governments and other key stakeholders to advance V20 priorities on debt, support the planning and execution with high impact
  10. Prepare high-quality briefing materials, technical notes, talking points, and presentations for leadership engagement at global forums (IMF/WB Spring and Annual Meetings, G20, COP, UNGA, etc.), including working with partners on V20 Debt Reviews;
  11. Support capacity-building efforts for DMOs and finance ministries, including workshops, knowledge products, toolkits, and peer-to-peer learning initiatives;
  12. Contribute to south-south knowledge exchange, documenting and disseminating good practices in debt management, fiscal rule design, and resilience-focused macroeconomic planning;
  13. Track and report on program delivery, ensuring alignment with the CVF-V20 Debt Agenda, Climate Prosperity Plans, and institutional objectives;
  14. Perform other analytical, programmatic, or communications tasks as requested by the Managing Director, Senior Leadership, or CVF-V20 management team; and
  15. Perform other research, programmatic, organizational, or communications tasks as requested by the Managing Director and/or CVF management.

 

Reports to: Managing Director 

QUALIFICATIONS

The Economist shall possess the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Master’s in Economics, Finance, Public Finance, Climate Policy, or a related discipline.
  2. A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in sovereign debt, fiscal policy, macro-fiscal analysis, debt management, or related areas, including experience at a finance ministry, debt management office, central bank, multilateral institution, or sovereign advisory firm.
  3. Deep technical expertise in Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), including the IMF–World Bank LIC Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC DSF) and the Sovereign Risk and Debt Sustainability Framework (SRDSF), debt restructuring mechanisms, fiscal rules, and macro-fiscal policy frameworks.
  4. Demonstrated, credible experience working with debt management offices (DMOs) and finance ministries, with a strong understanding of the full debt management cycle — from issuance strategy and liability management to refinancing and restructuring.
  5. Proven ability to engage senior government decision-makers on debt sustainability, fiscal policy, sovereign financing strategy, and global debt architecture reform, including G20 debt discussions and IMF/World Bank DSA review processes.
  6. Track record in designing, managing, and coordinating complex multi-stakeholder programs involving government, private sector, multilateral partners, and civil society organizations.
  7. In-depth understanding of innovative debt and climate finance instruments, including debt-for-climate and debt-for-nature swaps, climate-resilient debt clauses, countercyclical and state-contingent instruments, guarantee-backed refinancing, green bonds, and blended finance.
  8. Self-starter with an entrepreneurial, adaptive, and collaborative approach to problem-solving and driving results in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
  9. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical topics into clear, compelling messages for senior policymakers and diverse stakeholders.
  10. Experience working in or with climate-vulnerable regions, with cultural sensitivity and the ability to adapt strategies to local contexts.
  11. Fluency in English with strong writing skills required; proficiency in French or Spanish is an added advantage.
  12. Commitment to advancing measurable outcomes that support climate resilience, just transition, and inclusive growth.
  13. Ability and willingness to travel internationally as needed.