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, visit www.worldbank.org
The South Asia Region Context
The South Asia Region comprises eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the world’s poorest, with 216 million people living below $1.9/day.
The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar
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.
UNIT CONTEXT
One out of four people in the planet live in South Asia. However only 1/20 of the world’s electric power capacity is installed in the region. The World Bank’s Energy and Extractives GP contributes to addressing this challenge through its strong lending and knowledge management program in the region. The South Asia region (SAR) energy unit manages a large and diverse portfolio of active projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The South Asia Energy Program has grown rapidly in the last few years with a portfolio of more than US$8 billion and expected annual lending of more than US$1 billion going forward.
The Energy Practice commitments in the region cover reforms (sector and corporate governance, energy security and the environment, regional energy trade, public-private partnerships, energy efficiency), and investment support in power generation, power and gas transmission and distribution, rural energy electrification, renewable energy development, and low-carbon and climate friendly and resilient initiatives. A particular area of growth has been investments in renewable power generation including hydropower, power systems and electricity transmission and distribution networks, and policy reforms in the power sector, with sizeable activities and a strong pipeline of projects in several countries.
The Bank’s Energy Program uses a variety of instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, program for results and development policy lending. In addition, the team manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The South Asia Energy unit seeks a Energy Specialist, based in Dhaka (Bangladesh), with experience in the energy sector to work on an active Bank policy dialogue with the various counterpart in the Bangladesh Government, Bangladesh’s power sector agencies and companies, and other stakeholders on the implementation of power sector investments and sector reforms. He/she will also contribute to lending operations, technical assistance/capacity building activities, and Advisory Service and Analytics (ASA) activities as well as other operational work in Bangladesh.
The selected candidate’s primary responsibilities will be to lead or contribute to preparing, appraising, negotiating, and supervising energy sector projects in Bangladesh on energy transitions (e.g., renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage and grid technologies), and strengthening the power grid. Projects will include policy and investment lending, public-private partnership/guarantee approaches, technical assistance/capacity building, and advisory services. The selected candidate will also support senior task team leaders in business development, coordination with development partners, and building and maintaining strong client relationships.
The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:
• Contributing to preparation of new operations and overseeing implementation of existing energy operations, which are expected to include renewable energy and its grid integration, demand and supply side energy efficiency and decarbonization, strengthening of the power grid, cutting-edge technologies such as smart grids and battery storage, and/or regional integration and trade.
• As part of project teams, leading specific operational tasks.
• Actively participating in sector dialogue on energy transitions, power grid development, and power market, governance, institutional and other policy reforms in Bangladesh’s power sector with the client and other stakeholders/development partners.
• Contributing to designing and/or executing technical assistance and capacity building interventions to support client in improving the sustainability of electricity supply and strengthen institutional capacity towards energy transitions, market reforms, improved planning and execution, and providing reliable and affordable access to power.
• Contributing to knowledge management activities that will enhance the unit’s understanding, knowledge, and experience on energy sector economics, financials and governance.
• Providing inputs to operational products and outputs, including for sector and country briefings and ad hoc requests by management, analytical and advisory services reports, portfolio performance and monitoring reviews, and liaison with the Practice Manager, Program Lead, and Country Management Unit on energy issues.
Selection Criteria
1. Master’s degree in engineering, economics, business administration, finance or other energy related field;
2. At least 5 years of relevant experience in the energy sector with demonstrated ability to engage in energy transition;
3. Direct experience with some or all of the following: renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, hydrogen, power transmission & distribution, smart grids, power dispatch, power utilities, and technical, economic and/or financial analysis of projects, including those owned and operated by the private sector.
4. Direct experience with policy and regulatory issues, utility level analysis, and market and utility reforms, including public-private partnerships and climate change mitigation and resilience;
5. Demonstrated experience in preparing and implementing energy projects, including aspects related to financing, fiduciary (procurement and financial management) and safeguard (environment and social) management;
6. Track record of teamwork and ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision;
7. High level of energy, initiative and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
8. Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different locations;
9. Demonstrated track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships;
10. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders;
11. Proficiency in spoken and written English and Bangla is essential.
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.
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This vacancy is archived.