Description
Background & General 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region
We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.
Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.
In Western and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 349 projects totaling more than $60 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries build back better after COVID.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
UNIT CONTEXT
The World Bank Group (WBG) supports the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and is committed to working towards accomplishing the initiative's three goals by 2030: i) universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels; ii) doubling the share of the world's energy supplied by renewable sources from 18 percent to 36 percent, and iii) doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. As part of the Infrastructure Practice Group, the Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies, ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries, strengthen policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractives sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.
The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four units across two regions of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) and Western and Central Africa (AFW), each managed by a Practice Manager. The units together total over 120 staff of which 58% (over 70) are based outside the US, and more than half of the operational and advisory activities are managed /led by field-based staff. The Bank is engaged in all aspects of the electricity sector – generation, transmission, distribution, rural electrification, and off-grid.
The Africa Energy Program in Western and Central Africa currently comprises about 41 projects with a value of over US$9 billion, covering reforms (sector and corporate governance, energy security and the environment, regional energy trade, public-private partnerships, energy efficiency, etc.) and investment support in power generation, power and gas transmission and distribution, regional connectivity, rural energy services, renewable energy development, low-carbon and climate friendly initiatives. The Program uses a variety of instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, and development policy lending. In addition, the Bank manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector.
The AFW Energy Program is now at a turning point since the Bank has embraced the objective to provide electricity access to additional 250 million people by 2030. As a result, all Units are gearing up efforts and new lending is expected to reach approximately US$2 billion per annum.
The IAWE2 (Western and Central Africa Region) unit seeks an Energy Specialist based in Niamey, Niger to provide support to the Unit’s strategic, advisory, and operational work on the energy program.
In Niger, the World Bank energy program aims to accelerate electricity access, develop regional power trade, and make the power sector financially sustainable. The program now comprises five national and four regional investment projects representing more than US$1 billion and technical assistance (TA). Eventually it may be complemented by development policy operations.
The Energy Specialist will provide support to i) policy dialogue on energy sector issues with the Government; ii) implementation support of ongoing investment projects; iii) technical assistance program, supported by technical experts; iv) preparation of new projects, including development policy financing; and v) coordination with other Global Practices of the Bank and with other donors.
Duties & Accountabilities
The selected candidate will report to the Practice Manager and will work closely with the Task Team Leader for the projects in the country. These are the specific responsibilities:
• As part of project teams, contribute to prepare, appraise, negotiate and supervise investment operations in the energy sector;
• Support the coordination with development partners to enhance synergies and development outcomes;
• Supporting teams in developing knowledge products and operational instruments to support Bank clients and advise relevant task teams in sector reforms and energy access;
• Contribute to business development in selected countries;
• Actively participate in overseeing World Bank-supported energy country programs in the region with the aim to enhance quality and pro-poor focus and accelerate implementation;
• Contribute to develop and maintain close relationships with local public and private stakeholders, support policy dialogue and keep abreast of developments in the energy sector;
• Contribute to analytical work related to: the shift towards clean energy, development of strategies for achieving financial viability and increasing energy access in Sub Saharan Africa in a sustainable manner;
This requisition is open to WBG staff as well as External candidates.
Selection Criteria
• Master's degree in energy engineering/planning/economics or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;
• At least 5 years of combined experience in international institutions/companies including the World Bank, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with demonstrated track record of successful engagement with complex projects;
• Demonstrates solid understanding of energy/extractives policies, technologies or strategies, Private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work;
• An excellent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities would be advantageous;
• Experience of analysis and advice on regulatory reform, economic analysis of sector reform impacts (subsidies etc.) and cost of service;
• Experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and stakeholders;
• Experience working on World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending and non-lending operations is desirable;
• Demonstrates active listening skills and the ability to influence the audience (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers);
• Experience working with large global teams, with an ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision is required;
• Highly motivated, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients;
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Power Systems & Technologies; and
• Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Power Systems & Technologies.
COMPETENCIES
Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level;
Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners;
Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations;
Energy Sector Technologies - Deep experience applying knowledge (hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, and energy efficiency) to policy-related decisions and advice;
Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations;
Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions with others.
Deliver Results for Clients - Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for clients;
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront;
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions; and
Make Smart Decisions - Recommends and takes decisive action.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All others will be offered a 3-year term appointment. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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.
This vacancy is archived.