Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.

Digital Vice Presidency 

Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through:

• Building digital infrastructure and data platforms (including AI, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure).
• Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity and data protection & privacy.
• Developing ICT sectors and supporting digital entrepreneurship, skills, and jobs.
• Implementing digital government services that improve accountability and transparency.
• Supporting the Vice presidencies of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of their clients, and in leveraging digital solutions, including building client sectoral digital capacity, defining sectoral specific AI strategies, and designing sectoral AI solutions.
• Coordinating the operationalization of the digital Global Challenge Program as well as cross-GP efforts of achieving the new Corporate Scorecard digital indicators.

For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digital.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Line

The World Bank’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Line aims to help the Bank’s client countries realize the transformational potential of responsible AI. Our work aims to advance equitable access to AI infrastructure and solutions, helping to close the digital divide. We focus on ensuring adequate infrastructure, anticipating and responding to emerging AI risks and impacts, and harnessing opportunities to unlock AI-driven growth and catalyze local ecosystems.

The team’s work is structured under three pillars: (i) Thought leadership and analytics to generate evidence and fill knowledge gaps; (ii) Global platforms and convening to amplify good practices, collaborate and raise awareness; and (iii) Country and regional action to provide financial and technical assistance for our client countries.

The World Bank’s Digital Vice Presidency is recruiting an Extended Term Consultant (ETC). The role will support World Bank Teams to advance country and regional engagements with clients and produce high-quality analytical work. The ETC will work with the business line lead and will be responsible for providing technical assistance, expert advice and documentation, collaboration and knowledge sharing, analytical work, and travel and meetings as required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage Portfolio Tracking and Reporting: Oversee the tracking and reporting of AI activities, and support on various corporate tasks including grant reporting, preparing senior management talking points and briefing notes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations to promote responsible AI adoption.
• Convening events: Conceptualize, build and develop roundtables, panel sessions, and other events as needed.
• Capacity Building: Support the development of workshops, training sessions, and other capacity-building activities to enhance the understanding and implementation of AI among stakeholders.
• Conduct Research and Analysis: Perform thorough research and analysis on topical AI issues, including use cases and legal and ethical implications, to inform policy and strategy development.
• Draft Reports and Documentation: Prepare detailed reports, policy briefs, and other documentation to communicate regulatory recommendations and findings effectively.
• Support on AI Strategies and Digital Transformation: Design and implement national AI strategies, promoting the adoption of AI solutions in the public and private sectors, to support AI-driven economic transformation.
• Provide Technical Guidance: Offer a range of comprehensive technical guidance and support to governments from Policy advice on AI-powered digital transformation, to ensuring alignment with industry trends and best practices.
• Business Development: Identify and pursue new opportunities for AI initiatives, fostering partnerships and securing funding to support AI-driven projects and innovations.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in public policy, engineering, or related relevant field with a minimum of 5 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to think both conceptually and operationally and a proven track record of taking a comprehensive/whole-of-society approach to the development and implementation of AI powered solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, including the ability to find innovative solutions to technological issues in resource-constrained, low-and-middle-income contexts and clearly and succinctly communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership and inspire clients to expand their thinking about the potential of technology and AI to improve outcomes.
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and regulators, consultants, and academics.
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments, including significant work experience in developing countries.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, proven team orientation, proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively within and across institutional boundaries.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience advising governments on AI strategy and implementation is a plus.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or Russian is advantageous.

Required Competencies 

• Integrative Skills: Integrating divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project/program/strategy.
• Internal and External Client Engagement: An ability to independently coordinate and engage with stakeholders from various parts of WBG, including IFC and MIGA, during the course of assisting team with operational design and implementation.
• Bank Instruments, Policies, and Procedures, and Ability to Proactively Apply Them: Solid operational experience, including as a TTL/co-TTL Bank lending and non-lending products. Solid knowledge of operational policies and procedures and ability to apply them in the different context, advise teams to resolve the bottlenecks, and find pragmatic operational solutions. An ability to exercise high standards in quality assurance of documents at different stages of project cycle.  An ability to review and advice country products.
• Portfolio Management and Results Monitoring and Evaluation: An ability to independently monitor portfolio and pipeline and provide signals to management when the program goes off track. Preparing and leading country/GP portfolio reviews. An ability to monitor IBRD financing as well as IDA utilization. An ability to design, advice and implement results frameworks. Providing key inputs in business planning/MoU exercises.
• Operational Knowledge Sharing: An ability to design and consolidate core content of operational learning programs, and deliver presentations, trainings and BBLs on various topics. Mentoring junior colleagues in all aspects of operations.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.