Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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, please visit www.worldbank.org
Junior Professional Associates – Program Description
The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet.
We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/careers/jpa
The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:
• Be 32 years of age or younger
• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Be fluent in English
The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank's Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.
Positions may be in any of the World Bank's offices worldwide.
Specific Unit Description – Benin country office, AWMBJ
Benin’s geographical position at the juncture of two major regional corridors—the Abidjan-Lagos and Cotonou-Niamey corridors—makes this West African country an important commercial and tourism hub. Benin has a 121-kilometer-long coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo. Benin’s economy still relies on agriculture and formal and informal re-export and transit trade with Nigeria. The year 2022 was marked by a slight slowdown in growth to 6%, after a strong rebound in 2021 to 7.2%. Agricultural production, particularly cotton and the services sector boosted the growth rate. Inflation accelerated to 2.5% but remains moderate compared to the regional average, thanks in particular to targeted and temporary fiscal measures and good food crop production.
The World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework with Benin, which is aligned with the government’s development plan (PAG), covers the 2018-2023 period and is structured around three areas:
* Structural transformation of the economy to promote competitiveness and productivity.
* Investing in human capital
* Enhancing resilience and reducing climate-related vulnerabilities.
A new CPF covering FY24 to FY30 is under preparation to be delivered in FY25Q3. On July 10, 2024, the World Bank financed 25 operations in Benin: 17 national projects and 8 regional projects valued at $2.8 billion (grants and loans included) funded by IDA. In May 2024, Benin became eligible to access the Prevention and Resilience Allocation of IDA to support the implementation of its Prevention and Resilience Program (PREP) against the growing risks and impacts of fragility, violence and conflicts in its Northern regions stemming from the spillover of the Sahel crisis. There is a growing shift in the country towards result-based/PforR operations. More on the Benin country: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/benin
Duties and Responsibilities
As part of the CMU Benin team, the JPA will work under the guidance of the Country Manager and the supervision of the FCV Coordinator to discharge the following specific responsibilities:
* Work across IDA investment projects recalibrated to support the prevention and resilience and advisory teams to ensure collaboration, coordination, and synergy between project teams engaged for the Northern regions plagued by fragility.
* Maintain an updated PREP implementation plan and monitor the PRA matrix milestones against specific targets to ensure smooth PRA annual reviews to confirm Benin’s eligibility to access PRA over time.
* Serve as the World Bank Country Office Focal Point to engage with the in-country development partners, the PRA/PREP Technical Secretariat and Committee and actively participate in the thematic Working Group dedicated to discussing the coordination of the “Prevention and Resilience” programs across the country.
* Coordinate with the government counterparts and development partners to generate regular reporting documents and ensure the dissemination as appropriate in coordination with the communication team.
* Build on global experiences and lessons of the PRA implementation to inform and calibrate the prevention and resilience storyline into the new CPF and monitor its subsequent implementation.
* Support the Country Manager as need arises on the WB country portfolio management.
Selection Criteria
• Be 32 years of age or younger
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in social, political science, political economy, economics,
• Be fluent in English and French as a plus
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably with at least 3 years in international development consulting, or advisory/technical assistance with clients. Overall experience of at least 5 years is required.
• Significant project management skills with proven track record of successfully managing a project life cycle from end to end
• Knowledge and technical expertise in monitoring and coordinating development programs with a specific focus on the fragility, violence and conflict.
• Ability to communicate and engage at senior levels
• Demonstrated experience in office software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint.)
• Understanding on Africa’s FCV challenges notably the spillover of the Sahel crisis on the countries of the Gulf of Guinea
• General knowledge of FCV development topics and a good understanding of World Bank Group activities and IDA FCV Envelop policies requirement is a plus
• Bi-lingual: English/French
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively and proactively across internal and external partners in a multicultural context
• Strong team player with a collaborative, results-oriented mindset
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders across seniority levels with varying needs
• Strong networking skills
• Positive attitude and dedication to excellence and professionalism
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and consistent with delivery
• Excellent communications skills including writing and public speaking skills
Diversity and Inclusion
The World Bank continually searches for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. 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, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Individuals with different abilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.
Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.
This vacancy is archived.