Application Guide

How to Apply for Economics Principal Specialist

at Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

🏢 About Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is unique as the leading development institution for Latin America and the Caribbean, with a renewed institutional strategy focused on eradicating extreme poverty. Working here offers the opportunity to join a diverse, passionate community directly impacting lives through evidence-based policy and operational engagement across the region.

About This Role

As Economics Principal Specialist, you'll play a central role in bridging high-quality analytical work on poverty with IDB's operational engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean. This involves proactively identifying priority policy questions from country dialogue and operations, then steering the Poverty Group's research agenda to generate rigorous, timely, and actionable evidence that directly informs poverty reduction strategies.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing country team briefings to identify emerging poverty policy questions, coordinating with research partners on collaborative studies, and presenting evidence-based recommendations to operational teams designing poverty reduction programs. You'd balance analytical work with strategic discussions about how to translate research findings into actionable guidance for IDB's country engagements.

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🎯 Who Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Is Looking For

  • Principal-level economist with deep expertise in poverty and vulnerability measurement, analysis, and policy design specific to Latin American and Caribbean contexts
  • Proven track record of leading applied research agendas that generate evidence directly informing policy design and operational work in development institutions
  • Demonstrated ability to identify priority policy questions from ongoing country dialogue and operations, translating them into actionable research priorities
  • Established network and strong partnership-building skills with organizations and researchers focused on poverty issues in the region

📝 Tips for Applying to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

1

Quantify your impact in previous roles using metrics like research publications, policy briefs developed, or operational programs influenced by your poverty analysis

2

Demonstrate specific knowledge of IDB's current poverty reduction initiatives by referencing projects like the Social Protection and Health Division's work or country-specific programs

3

Highlight experience working with Latin American and Caribbean governments or institutions, showing understanding of regional poverty dynamics and policy contexts

4

Showcase your ability to bridge research and operations by providing examples where your analytical work directly informed program design or implementation

5

Emphasize partnership-building experience with organizations like World Bank, UNDP, or regional research institutions working on poverty in LAC

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience leading applied research agendas on poverty and vulnerability in Latin American/Caribbean contexts', "Examples of how you've identified priority policy questions from country dialogue and translated them into actionable research", 'Demonstrated ability to build strategic partnerships with organizations and researchers in the poverty field', "Alignment with IDB's renewed institutional strategy focusing on eradicating extreme poverty and reducing overall poverty"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → IDB's Institutional Strategy 2023-2030 and its specific poverty reduction targets and approaches
  • → Recent IDB poverty-related publications and research from the Social Protection and Health Division
  • → IDB's country engagement strategies in key LAC countries facing significant poverty challenges
  • → The Poverty Group's current research portfolio and recent collaborations with external partners

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you identified a priority policy question from country dialogue and how you developed research to address it
2 How would you approach building strategic partnerships with organizations working on poverty in the region?
3 What are the most pressing poverty and vulnerability challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean today?
4 How do you ensure research remains both rigorous and actionable for operational teams?
5 Describe your experience working at the intersection of research and operations in a development institution
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Presenting generic poverty research experience without specific examples from Latin American or Caribbean contexts
  • Focusing only on academic research without demonstrating how it informs operational work or policy design
  • Failing to show understanding of IDB's specific role as a development bank rather than a purely research institution

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)!

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