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

The Social Protection & Jobs (SPJ) Global Practice delivers operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help individuals and families manage risk, cope with chronic/transitional poverty, and access better livelihoods and jobs.  These include:

• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of programs delivering social safety nets/social assistance in the form of cash transfers, public works programs, and fee waivers. 
• Advisory and analytical services on design and delivery of contributory transfers (including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability and survivor benefits), and their fiscal sustainability (including budget support for transitions).
• Analysis, design and delivery of labor market and youth employment programs (with a focus on supply side interventions and intermediation policies), as well as policy advice on labor market regulations and interventions.
• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of integrated social protection delivery systems (e.g., payments, identification, registries, systems assessments) as underpinnings of effective social programs that can help cope with climatic shocks or underpin fiscal reforms.

The SPJ Global Practice has a large and growing portfolio in West and Central Africa, which includes long-standing engagements supporting Governments to strengthen their safety net programs as well as promoting innovations around jobs for youth and, increasingly, human capital investments. The program spans from middle-income to low-income countries, and post-conflict fragile states. 

The successful candidate would lead/co-lead the social protection engagement primarily in Republic of Congo (RoC) and Central African Republic (CAR), focusing specifically on the ongoing SPJ operations, issues of refugees and IDPs, jobs for vulnerable groups and youth employment, and policy-related work across the sector with a view to building strong institutions that can support social protection and jobs programming in the country. S/he will be responsible for the successful day-to-day delivery of the overall SPJ programming efforts, as well as leading the dialogue with counterparts as well as with the Bank country management unit colleagues as appropriate. Based in the Brazzaville WB Country Office, s/he will also be an extended member of the SPJ team covering all the other countries in Cameroon Country Management Unit which include Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.

S/he will be a member of the West and Central Africa unit of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice and report to the Practice Manager for the unit. The position will involve frequent interaction with government counterparts, other donor agencies, and counterparts within SPJ and Human Development (HD), as well as across other units of the World Bank. 

Duties and Accountabilities

Key responsibilities under this position would include:

• Lead or make substantial contributions to the policy dialogue in SPJ with the authorities 
• Lead or make substantial contributions to the preparation and supervision of operations
• Identify key areas and lead or make substantial contributions to the preparation and conduct of advisory services and analytics
• Support the professional enrichment and advancement of peers
• Support the mobilization and effective implementation of Bank Budget and Trust Fund resources 
• Discuss with relevant authorities the core SPJ priorities in the short- and long-term, and provide sound advice in the areas of, among others, social assistance/social safety nets, social services, labor market policies and programs, delivery systems, and integrated social protection systems
• Lead or make substantial contributions to the engagement with development partners and other external stakeholders, both local and international 
• Contribute to various tasks of the SPJ global practice, including peer reviewing, supporting task teams, and representing the World Bank at conferences and events
• Coordinate and partner as necessary with other global practices in taking forward the SPJ agenda and meeting core Country Partnership Framework (CPF) priorities
• Contribute to Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCDs), Performance and Learning Reviews (PLRs), Development Policy Operations (DPOs), Country Economic Memorandums (CEMs), and Public Expenditure Reviews (PERs)     
• Contribute to the human development engagement

Selection Criteria

Experience

• Graduate degree and minimum of masters level qualification in economics, social policy or related sector
• Minimum of eight years of directly relevant experience in social protection and/or safety nets. Experience and substantive skills in social protection policy
• Experience in implementing operations as demonstrated through team leadership or being core team member for operations. 
• Experience with large scale, multi-sectoral social protection programming 
• Demonstrated international experience, including within low-capacity environments
• Experience working with clients to build capacity and engage in dialogue on social protection and service delivery 
• Experience working with multiple development partners to harmonize support for government-led programming

Technical Ability 

• Experience in leading analytical and technical assistance activities designed to support the development and strengthening of social protection and labor market programs
• Proven ability to carry-out independent policy-relevant research, translate theory into practical applications, and adapt professional knowledge and technical skills to analyse, diagnose and propose solutions to policy issues and challenges
• Knowledge of social inclusion issues
• Knowledge of World Bank financing instruments and operational procedures is desirable

Client Orientation 

• Strong engagement and policy dialogue skills with high-level counterparts and other stakeholders; client focused with an ability to provide prompt and high-quality responses 
• Ability to maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge
• Ability to advise, influence and promote consensus among different stakeholders
• Experience in managing diverse and sometimes competing interests and perspectives to arrive at consensus 

Team Leadership, Collaboration, and Inclusion

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams. Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision 
• Proven track record of multi-tasking, managing competing demands and effectively time-manage tasks
• Proven ability to identify and develop new and creative partnerships with a wide variety of agencies and organisations 
• Ability to work in a collaborative way, delivering cross-support and building relationships around a common goal

Communication

• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills and judgement
• Evidence of sharing and conveying complex technical issues, in accessible format: written, spoken
• Native or near-native proficiency in spoken and written French 
• High-level proficiency in spoken and written English

In addition to the above, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

General knowledge and analytical skills:  Stays current on trends and literature pertaining one's area of expertise. Possesses cross-country knowledge and demonstrates ability to address issues at a broader level, as well as in depth. Demonstrates ability to link the macro, the institutional, and the micro-level behaviors and can identify the relevant sectoral analysis. Able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools. Proven ability to conceptualize, design, and implement major tasks, including through leading and participating in task teams of lending and non-lending operations.
Knowledge and experience in development arena: Has ability to translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies. Interacts with clients at the policy level, and organizes and manages policy development initiatives in collaboration with other development agencies and donors. 
Policy dialogue skills: Possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, and negotiating skills. Applies cross-country development knowledge to discussions with clients and development partners. Is able to anticipate needs and requests in the field and develop/offer relevant tools to clients. Is able to conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners on selected policy issues. Able to lead task teams, participate in formal negotiations, and assist government in establishing priorities.
Social protection knowledge and experience: Has experience leading social protection work and dealing with institutional design and implementation issues, including on building social protection systems. Is able to conceptualize issues and help clients develop flexible and creative approaches to social protection strategy. Can contribute to regional and sectoral strategies, products and tasks, and understands the principles of evaluation and the interpretation of their results. Knowledge and expertise in agriculture, natural resource management and climate change is an asset.  
Integrative skills: Is able to link all relevant cross-sectoral areas to own work, and understands how they are interrelated. Draws on diverse, cross-sectoral teams to enhance the rigor of advice on cross-cutting and sectoral issues. For operations roles, demonstrates ability to undertake cross-sectoral work, in lending and non-lending operations.
Lead and innovate: Encourages and works with others to identify, incubate and implement relevant solutions. Identifies opportunities in changing circumstances and energizes others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity. Helps others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context.
Deliver results for clients: Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clients and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally and socially sustainable. Shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients. Holds self and team accountable for risk management and outcomes.
Collaborate within teams and across boundaries: Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect. Consistently engages others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due. Leverages expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes. 
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge: Ensures systematic sharing of good practice and learning from lessons from across clients and partners. Is known across the international development community in their subject area and is sought out to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others. Seeks mentoring opportunities with more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge and mentors junior staff. Builds networks as part of external professional groups/networks.
Make Smart Decisions:  Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions. Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.

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.

Recommended for you