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

Water Global Practice and the Sustainable Development Practice Group

The water challenges of the world are tremendous. For human development, livable cities, food security, and energy security the need for better water resources management is growing. Even today, 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, of which 1 billion people practice open defecation. Poor sanitation, including inadequate wastewater collection and treatment, impacts health, education, the environment, and industries such as tourism. At least 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water. The lack of access to safe water and sanitation results in significant economic losses in many countries. This is further exacerbated by climate change, water pollution, water scarcity, and the global covid-19 pandemic in a fast-changing world.

The Water Global Practice (WTR GP) is poised to deliver on a Water Secure World through an approach that focuses on Sustaining Water Resources, Delivering Services and Building Resilience. The WTR GP also seeks to ensure that water issues are effectively addressed across all related sub-sectors, such as agriculture, climate change and disaster risk management, and energy (hydropower). An integrated approach is adopted in each sub-sector, with the support of its respective Global Solutions Group, which considers investment alongside issues such as governance, institutions, and policies. Water in Agriculture (WIA) projects focus on all aspects of agricultural water management, from governance in service delivery, to modernization of irrigation, farmer led irrigation, water accounting and resilience through improved agricultural water practices. The Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) projects include rural and urban water and sanitation services, hygiene behavior, improving the efficiency of utilities, and provision of services to the poor. The Water Resources Management (WRM) projects include integrated water resource management, including groundwater management, dam safety, and flood management. Increasingly, while staff may specialize in one sub-sector, they are encouraged and supported to address the full water agenda in terms of analytical, policy and operational work – and the position of Lead Water Sector Specialist is an integral element of bringing together all elements to manage water security and “water writ large”.

The Water GP is housed within the Sustainable Development Practice Group, which brings together the cross-cutting sectors of Water with Agriculture, Environment, Social Inclusion, and Urban and Disaster Risk Management. The GP, through its fully integrated GWSP Trust Fund, places highest priority on global knowledge into local implementation, as well as in deploying staff to countries and regions while still working globally.

Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region

Home to about 700 million 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 subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continues to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future. 

The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,207 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities:

• Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate job creation and economic transformation by leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to promote investment.

• Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa’s vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030 – a vision that, if realized, can boost growth by up to 2 percentage points per year, and reduce poverty by 1 percentage point per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

• Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support is helping governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services.

• Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities. With the influx COVID-19, we are mobilizing financial support and timely analysis and advice to countries across the subregion deal with the pandemic.

• Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption:  In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure. A number of East African countries are currently facing a debilitating Desert Locust infestation, threatening the already precarious food security situation. The Bank has put together a program to help affected countries deal with the scourge.

• Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity.

• Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eastern and Southern Africa (E AFR) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa

AFE Water Team (SAEW3)

Within the Eastern and Southern Africa Region, the hiring unit, SAEW3 is responsible for ensuring the translation of the World Bank’s Africa Regional Strategy and the Water Global Practice’s Water Security Strategy into practical results relevant to 12 countries. Specifically, the unit supports the definition and achievement of these results through analytical, policy, and investment activities. The unit has a staffing complement of around 29 water professionals, with an active portfolio of over $4.4 Billion, through 21 investment projects, 2 Programs for Results, Advisory Services and Analytics, and contribution to Development Policy Financing.

The hiring unit has an active portfolio of investments and lending projects in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique CMUs under implementation, focusing on water security, including water supply, sanitation, irrigation, and water resources management. These require intensive engagement with government counterparts, and other stakeholders to ensure local ownership, capacity, and sustained focus on implementation for results.

The successful candidate will be recruited for a GF-level Locally Recruited Staff position to be based in Malawi for a Two-year term and report to the SAEW3 Water Practice Manager.

OBJECTIVE AND CONDITIONS OF RECRUITMENT

The SAEW3 unit seeks to recruit a Water Sector Specialist to:

(1) support the the team providing implementation support to the Shire Valley Transformative Program (SVTP-1 P158805 and SVTP-2 P176575), which is a flagship high-risk high reward project;

(2) provide technical and operational guidance on other projects in the SAEW3 unit with a focus on Malawi;

(3) support the Country Management Unit and Practice Manager in corporate and unit activities; and

(4) play a role on cross-SD issues as an SD staff).

Duties & Accountabilities:

The Water/Irrigation Engineer will be responsible for the following specific tasks including but not limited to:

• Provide project implementation support for water investment operations, particularly Shire Valley Transformation Project (SVTP), including reviewing Terms of Reference (TORs), specifications and bidding documents, and assist for the organization of implementation support missions and the preparation of internal report documentation – with a particular emphasis on the engineering aspects;

• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity with the Bank’s standards; evaluate studies and sector-related project documentation;

• Assist with the coordination of SVTP stakeholders as well as internal WB efforts to ensure timely completion of ongoing activities under the project and meeting multiple interests around management of water resources, irrigation, and agriculture in Malawi;

• Coordinate closely with the Bank’s teams across different GPs and the Country Management Unit (CMU) as well as with Development Partners investments and national public administration;

• Provide guidance to government counterparts and implementing agencies by, identifying potential problems and advising on required actions as well as overall project/program implementation;

• Help adapt global good practice to local context and advise government counterpart and Bank teams on matters related to the water sector;

• Lead operational aspects of the preparation, appraisal, and negotiations of water lending operations, including Sector Investment Projects and Technical Assistance activities in the water portfolio;

• Manage Trust Fund (TF) activities including preparation and review of grant proposals, consultation on technical issues, preparation of progress reports, project briefings, disbursements and quality control of deliverables;

• Lead and/or contribute to cross-sectoral engagements such as Sustainable Development Practice Group works, Systematic Country Diagnostic and Country Partnership Framework and other CMU-led activities;

• Contribute to the overall strategic program development within the SAEW3;

• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the Water Global Practice, the GSGs, and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the World Bank;

• Provide coaching mentoring on-the-job to junior team members, extended term consultants and junior professionals in the unit; and

• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Practice Manager. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in technical fields relevant to water such as civil engineering, hydrology, geology, physical sciences, agricultural engineering, or equivalent;

• At least eight years of relevant experience on water infrastructure, water supply, irrigation, drainage, urban/municipal development or related field;

• Experience working on water management, irrigation, water supply, and climate change;

• Knowledge of water and urban infrastructure. Experience working on strengthening of local governments and local associations;

• Experience working on complex water programs involving high safeguards and fiduciary risks, and multi-sector coordination;

• Demonstrated skills to engage and effectively lead dialogues with both local communities affected by water risks as well as city leaders and decision makers;

• Applies cross-country development knowledge to discussions with clients and development partners.

• Conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners on selected policy issues;

• Leads task teams, participate in formal negotiations, and assist government in establishing priorities;

• Possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, and negotiating skills;

• Understands policy making process and the role of own sector of expertise in that process;

• Demonstrates a foundational familiarity with the water policies, strategies, local government and institutions relevant to the project or analytical work;

• Experience and/or understanding of the World Bank’s operations and full range of Bank products and services, and up-to-date knowledge of the Bank’s operational policies and processes is desirable;

• Tailors communication style to meet audience needs and deliver information effectively in support of team or workgroup;

• Has excellent analytical writing ability;

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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