Organization:Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Location:Washington, DC
Background / General description:
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a region whose progress is central to the World Bank's mission of eliminating
poverty and increasing shared prosperity. The Africa Region is implementing a strategy built around two pillars (competitiveness and employment; and vulnerability and resilience) and a foundation (governance and public sector capacity). The strategy is being implemented through partnerships, knowledge and financing. In implementing the strategy, the Africa Region's Finance and Private Sector Development Department (AFTFP) is committed to working multi-sectorally with other departments in order to accelerate financial and private sector development in client countries in SSA.
As part of the Financial and Private Sector Development (FPD) network, AFTFP is also implementing the FPD Global Practices (GP) pilot program which was launched in July 2011. This initiative aims to significantly improve client impact and knowledge connectivity across the entire FPD agenda by promoting a more coherent operating model of 'One FPD,' replacing the previously fragmented structure.
AFTFP, is organized under a front office led by a Sector Director (who is also responsible for the Global Practice on Financial Inclusion) and two units led by Sector Managers for Eastern and Southern Africa (AFTFE) and West and Central Africa (AFTFW). The Senior Financial Sector Development Specialist will report to the AFTFE Sector Manager.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Roles & Responsibility :
AFTFE unit seeks to recruit a Senior Financial Sector Development Specialist, with a strong background in, financial sector policy design, development and implementation to join its Washington team. At the heart of the Africa Region's Strategy is the belief that countries should be the drivers of their own growth with the World Bank playing a supportive role in two key areas of increasing competitiveness and employment; and reducing vulnerability and building resilience to economic and climatic shocks. The Senior Financial Sector Specialist will advance the knowledge agenda and facilitate innovative operational approaches for the financial sector in Africa so as to promote the achievement of these objectives of this new Africa Region Strategy. The specialist will also be expected to assist with developing and delivering the FPD unit's growing work program of strengthening and deepening financial sectors by:
(i) Instilling sound macro-policies and sector-governance (crowding-in) with IMF and PREM; facilitating greater reliance on market based solutions through privatization and more competition; strengthening DFI governance; and pursuing fraudulent transactions/AML/StAR;
(ii) expanding access to finance by: Lowering cost/leveraging remittance flows; promoting structured finance to support infrastructure investments;
(iii) Harnessing finance for growth by: Strengthening financial sector infrastructure, e.g., payments systems, legal/judicial framework for property & creditor rights and insolvency; Strengthening financial institutions regulatory/supervisory capacity; Deepening capital markets -- reform of pensions, insurance, housing and securities markets; and
(iv) Stimulating finance for all via: Rural/SME finance, microfinance, mobile money; Enhancing financial literacy; Public-private risk sharing mechanisms, e.g., weather-based insurance
The candidate will
(i) lead the policy dialogue on financial and private sector issues while actively participating and contributing to multisectoral teams involved in policy based operations or AAA ensuring the integration of key FPD thematic areas (business environment reform, competitive industries, public private partnerships, financial sector development, etc.) in the country work program
(ii) lead and/or support the implementation of ongoing FPD projects and the ongoing policy lending operations in coordination with PREM and other sectors;
(iii) participate in the dissemination and preparation of ongoing AAA, and
(iv) develop effective coordination within the context of the Global Practices with IFC advisory services and other donors.
Selection Criteria:
Selection Criteria
- Minimum of a Masters Degree in Finance, Economics or Business Administration
- At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in finance and private sector development programs and a good knowledge of the financial sector and business environment in Zambia; The ideal candidate will have a combination of experience inside and outside the World Bank, in other international organizations and across more than one region.
- A minimum of 5 years experience in implementation of Bank-financed AAA and project activities.
- Knowledge of Bank operational, procurement and financial management policies and procedures.
- Ability to contribute to strategic design and be innovative in both substance and process in the implementation of country strategy and work programs.
- Strong understanding of macroeconomic issues, and the ability to link project, sector and macro
- conditions into coherent strategies.
- Solid overall judgment and analytical skills, and ability to organize lending, portfolio support and AAA tasks.
- Practical experience in results-based activities, monitoring and evaluation, and donor harmonization from a Paris Declaration perspective.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Private Sector Development, and dialogue related to improving the Business Environment in countries.
- Proven ability to work effectively in complex, multicultural teams in a matrix management.
- Proven ability to think strategically and demonstrated political sensitivity and mature judgment, with an ability to navigate a challenging environment.
- Demonstrated initiative, leadership skills, and drive for results including ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
- Strong communications skills in English including the ability to draft concise reports, minutes, briefs, and correspondence.
- Trust Fund accreditation required.
- Excellent communication skills, both in oral and written presentations and a strong track record of prior written work.
COMPETENCIES
- Project Design for Impact and Sustainability - - Able to lead the design of projects and programs, based on an understanding of the country and sector context.
- Sector Dialogue - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client on familiar topics, with a narrow scope, based on a solid understanding of the sector.
- Knowledge and Experience - Demonstrate in depth knowledge of the political, economic, policy, and operational aspects Private Sector Development; Engage country clients/ governments to develop projects that will build capacity.
- Client Orientation - Maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
- Drive for Results - Identify the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and find solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
- Teamwork, Collaboration and Inclusion - Show leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seek and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
- Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Lead in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
- Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gather inputs, assess risk, consider impact and articulate benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
How to Apply
http://unjobs.org/vacancies/1374009359244