Back Energy Specialist - Energy

 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 West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 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.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region: 

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

The Infrastructure Practice Group  

Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

Energy & Extractives Global Practice 

Energy is at the heart of development. Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 -- is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change. For more information: 

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy  

The Africa Energy Program is growing rapidly, 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, rural energy services, renewable energy development, low-carbon and climate friendly initiatives.  The current portfolio comprises about 50 projects with a value of over US$10 billion.  New lending is approximately US$1.5 billion per annum, with a growing share of renewable energy and regional activities.  The Bank’s Africa Energy Program uses a variety of instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, and development policy lending. In addition, the team manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector.

The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four units (2 units for East and Southern Africa and 2 units for West/Central Africa). Each of the four units is managed by a Practice Manager. The units together have over 90 staff with over 25 in various field locations, and more than half of the operational and advisory activities are managed /led by field-based staff.

The IAWE4 (West and Central Africa) unit seeks an Energy Specialist to contribute to the Unit’s strategic, advisory, and operational work on the energy program. In Liberia, the Bank is engaging in the following aspects of the sector – promoting universal access to affordable, reliable and modern electricity services; promoting the clean energy transition; promoting the regional integration; promoting the financial viability of the sector and enabling conditions to attract private sector capital; and supporting policy reforms to promote an efficient power market.  This is achieved through a combination of financing and analytical work. Under the Energy Access Initiative, the Bank seeks to scale up its engagement to promote the objectives of universal access, and to support the development of scalable models that would attract financing from other donors and the private sector.

This position is based in Monrovia, Liberia with a specific focus on existing and pipeline programs in Liberia. The focus will be across the entire energy sector portfolio including the broader electrification agenda, sustainable generation expansion, role of private sector participation across the energy value chain and the related policy dialogue. There are projects and ASAs under implementation and preparation in all of these engagements and the selected candidate is expected to play a key role in design and implementation in the IDA 19 and IDA 20 period.

Duties & Accountabilities 

The Energy Specialist will work on investment projects, analytical work and policy guidance across a range of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The selected candidate will have the following key responsibilities: 

• As part of project teams, prepare, appraise, negotiate and supervise investment operations in the energy sector; 

• Coordinate with development partners to enhance synergies and development outcomes;  

• Support 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 and as needed 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; 

• 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.  

Selection Criteria

 • Master's degree in engineering, energy planning/economics, business administration, or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;