Operations Officer -Local Champions Initiative (LCI)
| Job #: | req35004 |
| Organization: | IFC |
| Sector: | Operations |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Kinshasa,Congo Democratic Republic |
| Required Language(s): | English, French |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 12/5/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit: https://www.ifc.org The WBG estimates that by 2030, half the world’s extreme poor will live in countries characterized by fragility, conflict, and violence. In these settings, the private sector can help transform livelihoods by creating jobs, providing goods and services, generating tax revenues, and rebuilding infrastructure. Fragile economies demand innovative approaches that go beyond country, regional, or sectoral strategies. In recognition of this, IFC has identified supporting stability and growth in fragile and conflict-affected situations as a top priority, pledging that 40 percent of its annual commitments will be in International Development Association-eligible (IDA) and Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations (FCS) countries by 2030. IFC’s Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations (FCS) Africa is an advisory team, based in Nairobi, dedicated to piloting innovative tools to enable IFC to scale up its engagement (investment and advisory services) in and across all fragile countries in Africa. The team helps IFC to deliver on its FCS commitments under the World Bank Group’s Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) Strategy, and the 2018 Capital Increase Package. The Local Champions Initiative is a project designed and delivered by the FCS team and aims to expand engagement with strong domestic businesses to support local economic development, job creation and resilience. The program is aligned with IFC 2030s commitment to increase direct engagement with MSMEs and with the refreshed WBG FCV Strategy which focuses private sector engagement in FCV countries on MSME engagement, including ecosystem building, firm level capacity building and access to finance. The FCS Africa team is looking to recruit an experienced Operations Officer to lead and scale the Local Champions project in Burundi and to design and deliver the project in DRC. The focus of the LCI approach in DRC will be on the Katanga and Kolwezi area to identify and support the growth of high potential SMEs linked to the mining industry and other sectors around the WBG focus area of the Lobito corridor, with linkages to the WBG Inga and Pact programs. In addition, the role will have include coverage of Sao Tome and Zimbabwe and will lead any FCS activities that are delivered in these 2 countries. The role will report into the FCS thematic lead for Domestic Private Sector engagement, with co-supervision from the IFC Country Officer or JCR. Duties and AccountabilitiesBurundi Local Champions Initiative • Lead the implementation of the Burundi Local Champions IP, including oversight of the technical assistance; client relationship management; supporting access to finance solutions; maintaining relationships with Investment Officers to review the cohort and investment opportunities; identifying local business service providers and designing a capacity building module as part of the LCI next phase.• Identify opportunities to scale the Burundi LCI work in conjunction with the WB SME and agribusiness focused activities and to build the second LCI cohort.• Work with the thematic leads for conflict sensitivity and forced displacement to identify any opportunities to integrate these activities into the project. DRC Local Champions Initiative• Undertake the mapping, screening and champion selection in the selected region, building on the business development activities and studies undertaken by the IFC and WB country office and focusing on potential SMEs that could either be direct clients or part of value chain development.• Analyze industry value chains and procurement patterns to determine linkage opportunities.• Identify gaps in capacity, quality, or compliance that limit supplier participation in key value chains.• Develop selection criteria and processes for SME participation in the program.• Lead the design and delivery of the implementation plan for the LCI project in conjunction with industry teams and the Country Office. • Work with the thematic leads for conflict sensitivity and forced displacement to identify any opportunities to integrate these activities into the project. • Prepare all necessary project documentation for internal IFC approval processes. Coordinate internal consultations and ensure validation from key stakeholders to secure buy-in and guide the project through decision meetings. Develop detailed workplans, budgets, and procure roadmaps. Identify resource needs, including staff time and consulting support, and coordinate with relevant teams to ensure availability and financial compliance ahead of implementation. Sao Tome and Zimbabwe• Supporting the delivery of the FCS lens into core WBG analytics with the support of the FCS Thematic lead on conflict sensitivity.• Delivering on any diagnostic and scoping work deemed viable and appropriate in these markets. General requirements (both countries)• Work closely with the Country Management Unit (CMU) to enable delivery of the program and to engage with Development Partners in country to identify additional sources of support.• Coordinate technical assistance providers, trainers, and consultants delivering program components.• Ensure regular and ad‑hoc updating of project documentation in line with IFC approval processes. Continuously carry out all activities required at any stage of project implementation, including consultations, stakeholder validation, ongoing updates to workplans, budgets, procurement processes, and staffing plans, to reflect evolving requirements.• Track program outputs and outcomes, including SME participation rates, contract awards, and capacity improvements.• Maintain accurate project documentation and databases.• Lead the project supervision processes \and contribute to donor reporting and the broader LCI impact narrative as required. • Capture lessons learned, case studies, and best practices for replication in other IFC projects.• Develop lessons learned, knowledge tools and case studies for the wider LCI team.• Map out strategic IBRD/IDA efforts in FCS to define a common ground for LCI collaboration, and Identify synergies with WBG FCV teams • Interact with internal and external counterparts to understand how LCI can better support job creation.
Selection Criteria
Requisite skills include but are not limited to the following:• Master's degree in a related field and at least 10 years of relevant experience. Related fields of education include business, law, finance, public administration or economics or an area of expertise specific to a sector, subject matter, or industry specialty. Relevant experience could include a proven track record in business consulting or investment banking, or operational experience in the sector or technical or professional field.• Strong experience and proven knowledge of managing the delivery of both IFC and IBRD/IDA solutions/advisory projects, preferably in fragile contexts. CAE experience and/or Investment experience is a plus.• Knowledge and experience of working in francophone African countries. Experience in a FCS country is a plus.• Ability to identify opportunities in changing circumstances and energize others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG’s values and mission.• Critical thinker with solid understanding of WBG’s/IFC’s vision, and other relevant business variables to assess and recommend opportunities, while articulating potential implications and consequences of various approaches.• Exhibit a deep understanding and respect for cultural, social, and political complexities in demanding environments.• Understanding of the AFI program and the World Bank Group’s Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) Strategy. • Experience with local economic development programs and operational implementation including designing and implementing development programs in Africa.• Knowledge of the investment, advisory and upstream process in IFC, through working with advisory, upstream and/or investment teams or completion of the IFC credit course.• Self-starter, mature and flexible personality; able to work in a multicultural, fast-paced team environment.• A team player with outstanding people management skills, ability to work with colleagues from different teams who are not reporting to him/her and achieve outstanding results while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining strong client service orientation.• Strong analytical and presentation skills working with data using standard office software. • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
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.
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.
