Senior Private Sector Specialist

Description

Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org

Western and Central Africa 

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 

 Regional and Country Context

The FCI program in Liberia is deep, covering engagements on both the private and the financial sector sides of the portfolio.  And there is strong demand for further expansion of operational and ASA engagements in the area of both private and financial sector development.

This recruitment is for a Senior Private or Financial Sector Specialist based in Freetown to focus on Liberia’s lending and ASA program in the West Africa unit (EAWF2) sub-region with potential responsibilities elsewhere in the sub-region. Common priorities in Liberia’s  private sector include business environment, SMEs development, entrepreneurship, and diversification as well as taking advantage of regional integration through AcFTA, and promoting key sectors such as tourism and agri-business.  Priorities for the financial sector include financial inclusion, climate finance, and macro-financial risks.

The Senior Private Sector Specialist reports to the Regional Practice Manager (EAWF2) for Finance, Competitiveness and Investment (FCI). The FCI portfolio covers a range of existing and potential pipeline lending operations, analytical work and technical assistance. The selected candidate would be expected to take on leadership responsibilities in coordinating the FCI portfolio, and lead and support operations, analytical work, and technical assistance.

The Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice

The Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private-sector led growth and help create markets in client countries.  For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following main tasks:

• Lead the FCI dialogue in assigned country/(ies) with a focus mainly on private sector development: · Supports counterparts on relevant issues focusing on the private sector (firm level support and productivity, business environment,  value chain development), but also support dialogue for the financial sector (financial inclusion, fintech, macro-financial stability, climate finance) together with financial sector specialists working on Liberia. 

• Lead the dialogue with the assigned CMU and support regional corporate tasks: Prepare inputs for WPA discussions, strategic documents such as CPFs, SCDs, CPSDs as well as regional strategies.

• Support the Management of FCI Portfolio: Lead operations and manage the implementation of the investment portfolio and work closely with the unit operations team to ensure quality, impact and coordination across projects.

• AAA & Advisory work: Support the development and implementation of high-quality AAA and advisory work including through effective aggregation of global team support and active collaboration with IFC. Based on high quality analytical work, lead policy dissemination events with policy makers, stakeholders and the private sector. Where applicable, develop technical assistance projects to follow on or complement the analytics and support lending.

• Collaboration with IFC: Support the implementation of the MFD and PCM agenda, in collaboration with IFC through joint analytics (e.g. CPSD) and advisory, or through implementation of FCI projects that may contribute to or leverage IFC supported investments.

• Donor Collaboration: Support the partnership with the donor community and facilitate/participate in formal and informal meetings with key donors.

• Other tasks as requested by Practice Manager. 

Selection Criteria

• MA +8 years minimum of relevant professional experience in the areas of finance, business, management, economics or related discipline. PhD is an advantage as is private financial sector experience.

• Broad-based technical experience, including on housing finance, payments systems, and capital markets is strongly recommended, with a track record of delivery of high quality ASA work.

• Substantial and diverse experience in leading operations and client dialogue in FCV and/or IDA countries. Strong preference will be given to candidates with experience of leading complex tasks, such as multi-country regional engagements.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies, both within the WBG and outside.

• Demonstrated professional leadership and ability to lead a team of professionals in the execution of major projects.

• Track record of knowledge aggregation and collaboration

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.