Senior Partnership Specialist

Senior Partnership Specialist

Job #:
req19706

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Other

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
11/4/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Regional Context

The Western & Central Africa (AFW), Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE), and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regions of the World Bank (WB) are committed to helping the African continent (including both Sub-Saharan and North Africa) realize its considerable development potential. For this, we need the best and brightest talent to harness the potential and innovation happening across the three regions.

Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.3 billion people. 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.

The Regional Integration (RI) program in Africa is an important strategic priority for the continent and the World Bank Group (WBG). The RI program is guided by the 2021 "Regional Integration and Cooperation Assistance Strategy Update", which adopts a 4X4 strategic framework of four thematic priorities and four Fragility Conflict Violence (FCV) geographical priority areas. The four thematic priorities are: regional infrastructure connectivity; trade and market integration; building resilience to shocks; and human capital development. The four FCV sub-regional priority areas are: the Horn of Africa, Sahel, Lake Chad, and the Great Lakes. The World Bank has an existing financial commitment of over $18 billion for RI programs in Africa, making it the single largest WB program in Africa. There are currently over 80 active projects in the portfolio. The RI program is the largest user of the IDA Regional Window. Under IDA20, the RI program is expected to deliver about $9 billion in lending, or around $3 billion new lending annually, of which two thirds are from the IDA Regional Window.

The RI program also maintains partnerships with regional organizations and manages a strong ASA program focused on regional integration.

Unit Context

The RI Unit, led by a Director, covers AFE and AFW regions (Sub-Saharan African countries) and the MENA Region. The Unit has a small team of staff who help oversee the RI program and work collaboratively with the Country Management Units (CMUs) and Global Practices (GPs). The RI Unit operates like a CMU with similar ADM responsibilities. The Unit has the following responsibilities: ensure coherence in the overall strategic approach for the WB's RI program, commission necessary analytics to inform operational and policy dialogue, manage the delivery of IDA / IBRD resources, oversee the implementation of RI projects, and manage the convening of countries through formal structures (of Regional Economic Communities) or other platforms for cooperation.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

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

Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa

Middle East and North Africa (MNA) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena/overview

Duties and Accountabilities

The RI Unit is seeking an experienced, high-performing Sr. Partnerships Specialist who can transcend sectoral silos and make mature judgments for promoting regional integration. The candidate will be interested in the range of activities being undertaken by the RI Unit, and be able to quickly grasp key policy, operational and political economy issues in various sectors, sub-regions and instruments. He will also be comfortable working across WBG (e.g., Global Practices and Themes, CMUs, IFC and MIGA) and interacting with senior representatives of client governments, regional organizations, and development partners. The candidate will be based in Washington DC and report to the Director of the RI Unit.

Working closely with others in the Regional Integration unit (AFWRI), the responsibilities of the Sr. Partnerships Specialist will include:
• Perform all functions as the focal point for the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Commissions (RECs), Specialized Institutions, Think Tanks, and other Stakeholders, including day-to-day coordination, upstream work, scheduled and ad hoc consultations, follow up, etc.
• Operationalize and manage the Africa Regional Integration Umbrella Trust Fund, coordinate RI Director's collaboration with partners for its replenishment and partnership council functions.
• Manage child funds of the Horn of Africa Umbrella Trust Fund and Horn of Africa Initiative workflows.
• Lead the RI Unit interface with DFI, OPCS and other Bank units on trust fund matters.
• Work collaboratively with other team members in the Unit and with GPs, CMUs across three regions: Work seamlessly across boundaries in the Bank and develop common understanding of managing different aspects of the RI program; maintain communication with IFC and MIGA, as required on activities including engagement with RECs.
• Lead or contribute to other parts of the Unit's work program, including the formulation of RI Strategy, management of the analytical and knowledge work, overall portfolio management, lesson learning within the community of practice, preparation of corporate / management briefings, Annual and Spring Meetings and other convening events being organized by the RI unit, and mentoring.
• Join strategic missions and directly engage with clients in support of task teams.
• Any other partnership and representation tasks assigned by the Director.

Selection Criteria
• PhD or Master's degree in relevant field/discipline (typically the successful candidate will have minimum 8 years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility).
• Prior work experience in partnerships and Trust Fund management achieving results on the ground in Africa
• Proven integrative skills with ability to mage dynamic situations.
• Sound operational experience, including thorough knowledge of Bank Group policies, programs, and procedures.
• A strong track record in operations with demonstrated results in lending and non-lending products.
• Ability to interact effectively with regional Institutions, Bank teams and managers, and international partners to find practical solutions to problems, and to facilitate quick results on the ground, all in response to a complex and constantly evolving environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills required for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with partners, and stakeholders, including experience with donor coordination
• Superior level of resourcefulness, ability to work with considerable autonomy as well as willingness to work under pressure and through the whole spectrum of activities from the strategic level to the resolution of specific implementation issues.
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment with team members and across organizational boundaries.
• Previous operational experience in Africa is desirable.

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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