Career Opportunities at World Bank

Job Description

• The Western and Central Africa Region of the World Bank is looking for dedicated professionals with a passion for international development to join our innovative and diverse staff.
• A career with the World Bank Group offers a unique opportunity to contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.
• We are opening over 30 new positions in our country offices in the Western and Central Africa Region.
• We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, not discriminating based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
• We offer competitive salaries and benefit packages.
• This recruitment drive builds on a similar drive last year.
• In Western and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio over 390 projects totaling more than $51 billion. We work in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, trade, transport, energy, education, health, water, and many more. We also work on tackling some of the major global challenges of our time, including climate change and global pandemics

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Job Description

• The Transport Specialist will be based in the World Bank’s Accra, Ghana on a two-year appointment, renewable.
• She/He will report to the IAWT3 Practice Manager, Transport.

The Specialist will:

•  contribute to the World Bank support to the governments of Ghana and other neighboring countries in the implementation of the transport sector projects and initiatives in these countries , currently with a focus on road connectivity and urban mobility;
•  support the technical dialogue in the transport sector with the authorities of the Government of Ghana as well as in other neighboring clients in the sub-region;
•  contribute to the preparation of possible new projects in Ghana, such as those related to connectivity in rural areas, urban mobility, and those related to road transport/management, road safety, and regional trade; and
•  support the management of other possible projects and knowledge activities mapped to other Global Practices in Ghana.  

More specifically, the Transport Specialist will:

• Contribute, as team member and sector specialist, to the preparation and supervision of transport projects in Ghana, support the technical dimensions of project related to (but not limited to) design, procurement, contract management, and monitoring of the implementation, while paying close attention safeguards and other cross-cutting issues: climate change/resilience considerations, gender dimensions, and opportunities for expanding the incorporation of the private sector in the financing and/or provision of transport infrastructure and services.Contribute to selected analytical studies (ASA activities) or Trust Funds, particularly on issues related to the provision of transport infrastructure and services in the road sector or in urban mobility, financing options, asset management and operations, climate resilience, impact evaluation, and generally best practices in the investments’ design, management and delivery of infrastructure and services.
• Under the guidance of the Transport GP Practice Manager and the Infrastructure PG Program Leader, contribute to sector policy dialogue and institutional reforms and capacity building programs, seeking to develop capacity in the pertinent implementing entities, with attention to the opportunities and options to engage the private sector. In this effort, ensure consideration of cross-cutting issues such as, inter alia, social and environmental impacts, gender equality, health and safety, digitalization in transport services, and climate change.Contribute to cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of policy notes, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, and research and policy development activities on the relevant topics/sections pertaining to transport, logistics services and trade and competitiveness.
• Support the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in a selected number of thematic technical groups (Global Solutions Groups or Solution Areas) and in drafting selected technical notes in collaboration with other Global practices to enhance the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and expanding the existing knowledge base.
• Stay abreast of recent developments in the transport sector world-wide, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position.
• The Transport Specialist will be based in the Accra Country Office, on a two-year appointment, renewable.  
• She/He will report to the IAWT3 Practice Manager. Her/His activities will be defined with the Practice Manager and adjusted based on business needs.
• She/He will actively participate in the relevant Country Management Unit (CMU) discussions, particularly on the preparation, as applicable, of Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Comprehensive Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), County Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) as well as on portfolio reviews.
• She/He will also liaise and work from other global practices and cross-cutting solutions areas, as relevant, and ensure appropriate collaboration and partnership between the governments, the World Bank Group, and other international and bilateral organizations involved in the transport sector in Ghana and other neighboring countries.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree with 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of relevant graduate level education and experience on transport/highway/civil engineering or transport planning/economics.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in the transport sector, with demonstrated ability to work on at least three of the following areas: 
• development of transport policy and planning instruments;
•  policy, institutional and financing aspects of road transport or urban mobility and the strategies to encourage private sector participation in the delivery of transport infrastructure or services;
•  road/urban mobility investment prioritization;
• transport infrastructure and asset management; and
•  procurement and contract management
• .Experience in working with and/or leading cross-sectoral teams, including teams for safeguards and fiduciary aspects, and knowledge of key cross-cutting issues that impinge on the performance of the transport sector and on which the development of transport sector infrastructure and services needs to create positive effect, including environmental and social impacts, land acquisition and resettlement, gender equality, road safety, climate change, and the interplay with digital technologies for enhance transport sector performance.
• A reasonable track record of design and implementation of transport programs, and experience of working on programs financed by the World Bank or other development partners.
• High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision. Proven practical experience in project development and management would be a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with the challenges facing the transport sector in the country would be an advantage.Good oral and written communications skills in English.
• An additional language would be a plus.

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Job duties and responsibilities 
Include, but are not limited to, the following main tasks: 

• The Private Sector Specialist (ETC) will coordinate private sector development and economic growth activities, strengthen the relationship with counterparts in country and otherwise enable the implementation of activities in Ghana. These will include: 

1. Support the FCI dialogue in country with a focus on private sector development: support the policy dialogue with counterparts on issues relating to private sector development, particularly focusing on creating opportunities for investments supporting economic transformation and employment. 
2. Serve, when needed, as team member or act as co-TTL (Task Team Leader) for lending operations, advisory, and analytical work, and contribute to the delivery and quality of financing and knowledge engagements, provide inputs to other Global Practices (MTI, GOV, etc.) on private sector related issues. 
3. AAA & Advisory work: support the development and implementation of high-quality AAA and advisory work. Lead/support policy dissemination events with policy makers, stakeholders, and private sector.  
4. Support the dialogue with the CMU and with the region: prepare inputs for WPA discussions, strategic documents such as CPFs, SCDs and CPSDs. 
5. Relationship management: cultivate strategic relationships with government counterparts and other key stakeholders 
6. Collaboration within WBG: Coordinate and work with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) as needed on relevant diagnostics, advisory work and operational activities. 
7. Development Partner Collaboration: support the partnership with the development partner community and facilitate/participate in formal and informal meetings with key development partners, civil society, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders. 

Selection Criteria

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in private sector development since completing a relevant university degree (e.g., in Economics, Business, Public Policy), with solid knowledge in one or more topic areas covered by the FCI Global Practice, such as innovation and entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprise development, trade and export promotion, investment climate reforms, competition policy, productivity and other issues affecting competitiveness. 
• Proven ability to conceptualize, help design and implement projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies. 
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English. 
• Capacity to lead dialogue with senior counterparts and influence policy discussions at the national and subnational level on private sector development issues.  
• Prior experience with World Bank instruments will be a plus. 
• Demonstrated team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, motivate and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries. 
• Commitment to the WBG twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and improving shared prosperity.