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. Visit www.worldbank.org.
THE WATER GLOBAL PRACTICE
Water resources are under unprecedented and increasing pressures, driven by greater climate variability, population and economic growth, land-use changes, and declining quantities and qualities of both ground and surface waters. With cross-cutting impacts on agriculture, education, energy, health, gender equity, and livelihood, water is an essential resource for all life on the planet and is at the center of economic and social development. Climate change expresses itself through water and sound water management lies at the heart of the resilience agenda. Successful water management requires accurate knowledge of the resource available and an assessment of competing demands for its usage. Making best use of available supplies requires complex and sensitive economic, environmental and socio-political trade-offs. Planning for a more uncertain and more constrained water environment in the future only makes the situation more complex. The world will not be able to meet the great development challenges of the 21st century - human development, livable cities, climate change, food security, energy security, and universal access to services – unless we ensure a water-secure world for all.
The WBG is in a unique position to help governments take such an integrated and strategic approach to solve water supply, sanitation, water resource, hydropower, and irrigation problems through partnership, finance, and knowledge. The Water Global Practice is poised to deliver on a Water Secure World through an approach that focuses on Sustaining Water Resources, Delivering Services and Building Resilience. The WTR GP also has strong external partnerships and houses the Global Water Security and Sanitation Program (GWSP), the 2030 Water Resources Group and several regional transboundary programs. The GP has a close-knit leadership structure, with a Global Director, 11 Practice Managers, 2 Global Program Managers, and Global Leads for
(1) WSS Service Delivery,
(2) Water in Agriculture,
(3) Water Resources Management,
(4) Economics and Climate, and
(5) Finance.
The LT also works closely with other GPs and the SD Regional Directors. Increasingly, while staff may specialize in one sub-sector, they are encouraged and supported to address the full water agenda in terms of analytical, policy, and operational work. The GP, through its fully integrated GWSP Trust Fund, places highest priority on global knowledge into local implementation, as well as in deploying and providing opportunities for staff to work in operational regions and global products.
THE WATER GLOBAL PRACTICE FRONT OFFICE
Led by the Global Director, the Front Office (FO) drives the policy direction of the Water GP. Nine staff support the Global Director in the FO to deliver on both external and internal priorities: the five Global Leads, a Lead Water Resources Management Specialist, a Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, a Program Analyst, and a Senior Executive Assistant. Externally, the FO leads the GP’s strategic engagement with high-level partners to set the global water agenda. Internally, the FO is focused on improving the quality of operations, advocating for the water agenda and managing corporate knowledge flows and reporting. On operations, the FO oversees portfolio monitoring and ensures close coordination between the Global Unit, Global Leads, GWSP, 2030 WRG and the regional Water Practice Managers and task teams to bring global knowledge into country operations and analytical work. Technical peer review is a key component of operational delivery and the FO coordinates with the Global Leads on this quality assurance function. At the corporate level, the FO liaises with the Sustainable Development Vice Presidential Unit, responds to requests from the Managing Directors, manages corporate priorities and reporting, and works with the Global Unit to adhere to Bank corporate mandates (on gender, inclusion, climate change, dam safety, maximizing finance for development and fragility, conflict and violence).
DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Work closely with the Water GP Leadership Team (Global Director, Program Managers, Practice Managers, and Global Leads) and the Water GP Front Office staff
• Assist with review of project information and technical documentation
• Support implementation, oversight, and communication of the Water GP overall strategic plan and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Sustainable Development Vice Presidential Unit
• Support in preparation of presentations, briefs, and Talking Points for missions and events
• Prepare presentations, updates, and briefs on water-related topics for various audiences—including internal World Bank staff, government clients, donors, the international development community, the private sector, and academia—with inputs from technical staff across the GP.
• Coordinate inputs into key materials and maintain databases on key agendas and events
• Support requests for data collection and analytical inputs as needed by the Water GP Front Office linked to the pillars of the strategic plan and elements of the program
• Support the Global Director on the global function and provide input on strategic positioning with internal and external partners
• Coordinate Water GP participation in various water related events including, but not limited to, Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week and the World Bank’s Water Week
• Support planning and execution of retreats and other events for the Water GP Leadership Team and Water GP staff.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree with 2 years of experience, preferably in the water sector and/or operations
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• High organizational capacity and ability to deliver and multitask under tight timelines with very strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to organize events within tight timeframes.
• Basic understanding of water security and ability to articulate the role of the water sector in climate mitigation and adaptation and in green growth
• Ability to conduct research and analysis on difficult, but well-defined tasks; articulate issues and recommend solutions
• Ability to draft components of major reports, working papers, etc.
• Ability to effectively provide professional support to senior staff
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in French is desirable.
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.