Senior Energy Specialist Job #: req35061 Organization: World Bank Sector: Infrastructure Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Antananarivo,Madagascar Required Language(s): English, French Preferred Language(s): Malagasy Closing Date: 12/12/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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.
Eastern and Southern Africa Region:
Home to about half a billion of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters. The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for Africa is a better future for the world.
The World Bank is assisting the government with policy reforms to attract investments in generation and renewable energy along with the promotion of the regional energy trade in the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), modernizing the electricity network for the needs of a modern economy and increasing energy access are among the key areas of the Bank’s deepening engagement in the sector. To accelerate the access to modern and affordable Energy services, the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched the Mission 300 initiative, aiming at providing electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
The target was announced jointly by President Banga of the WBG, and President Adesina of the AfDB at the Spring Meetings in April 2024, with the WBG committing to delivering electricity access to 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, with African Development Bank adding 50 million people. The initiative was fully endorsed by African Heads of State at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam in January 2025.
In the AFE region, the target is primarily supported by the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program, using a Multi-Phase Approach (MPA). ASCENT is an ambitious multi-billion program aimed at providing clean energy access to 100 million people across up to 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, approved in November 2023 with an IDA envelope of US$5 billion. While the focus is on electricity access, the program will also leverage synergies with clean cooking to accelerate adoption of clean cooking solutions in the region. The Program will also employ cross-sectoral approaches to electrify productive uses and important social infrastructure, such as schools and health facilities. This is done through a combination of mutually reinforcing country projects and regional platforms.
Madagascar
This position is based in Antananarivo, where the Madagascar World Bank Country Office is located. The East Africa unit (IAEE1) Practice Manager is in Nairobi, Kenya.
The World Bank’s ongoing energy portfolio in Madagascar includes two operations; (i) the Least-Cost Electricity Access Development project (LEAD, $161m) and ii) the Digital and Energy Connectivity for Inclusion in Madagascar project (DECIM, $375.6m). These projects remain flagship projects supporting M300 initiative in the country. Under this initiative, the Madagascar National Energy Compact was launched in January 2025 with the goal to guaranteeing access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity to 80% of the population by 2030 and to guaranteeing access to improved and clean cooking solutions for at least half (50 %) of the population by 2030. The implementation of these projects supports grid and off-grid electrification, technical assistance, and sector reforms focusing on new connections, network extension, and operational improvements. In addition to the investments projects, the World Bank is also supporting the government and the electric utility JIRAMA, under the ongoing Development Policy Financing series, to implement necessary reforms that will maintain the reform trajectory of JIRAMA to ensure its financial viability and encourage private sector participation to unlock additional resources. The ambition of the Energy compact is to increase the share of renewable energies to at least 85% by 2030 with support from the private sector. As a member of the Madagascar energy team, the selected candidate is expected to co-lead the design and implementation of part of the on-going and future World Bank support in energy in Madagascar.
Infrastructure Practice Group Context: The Infrastructure Practice Group, which includes energy, transport, and urban sectors, is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.
Energy and Extractives Context:
The Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) of the WBG is made up of more than 300 professionals. The EEX GP focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractive sectors for public benefit. The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) as well as Western and Central Africa. The position is supporting the East Africa unit (IAEE1).
Duties and accountabilities:
1. Supervise, prepare, appraise, and negotiate energy projects in Madagascar and potentially in Comoros, including sector/policy reform programs, public-private partnerships in power generation, grid network strengthening, and electricity access enhancement projects.2. Actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations to enhance quality and accelerate execution.3. Play an active role in policy dialogue with government authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders on strategic energy issues and ongoing sector reforms.4. Maintain sufficient knowledge of all operations and activities (including those not directly managed) to identify and help resolve project-specific or systemic challenges.5. Support and/or manage analytical and advisory work related to energy sector projects across the Indian Ocean region, and forge partnerships with relevant organizations to maximize impact of Bank-supported programs.6. Lead teams and provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on operational work, policy dialogue, and analytical activities.7. Draft and provide timely contributions to project documents, project implementation and project completion reports.8. Support the preparation, completion and follow-up of official missions including the drafting of aide memoires and official correspondence; and9. Draft and provide timely inputs to sector briefings and policy notes.
Selection Criteria
1. Master’s degree in engineering, economics, finance, or a related field; and at least 8 years of experience in the World Bank, other international institutions, power sector utilities, government agencies, or private sector companies, with a proven track record on complex projects.
2. Strong experience in planning, designing, and implementing power infrastructure projects including renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, and on-grid/off-grid electrification; hands-on experience with power sector utilities is a distinct advantage.
3. Experience working on World Bank lending and non-lending operations is highly desirable; familiarity with the Malagasy energy sector and the ongoing sector reform process is preferred.
4. Demonstrated ability to work with large global teams and produce high-quality results with minimal supervision; strong analytical capabilities including power sector financial analysis or power flow modeling is advantageous.
5. Strong experience working with external clients and stakeholders at all seniority levels, with the ability to engage in effective policy and operational dialogue.
6. High level of motivation and initiative, with the ability to work independently and adapt flexibly to changing work program requirements.
7. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proficiency in English and French essential; working knowledge of Malagasy is desirable.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
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.
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