Description

About the World Bank Group (WBG)

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in ground-breaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.  For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries, 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. 

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

The Infrastructure Practice Group 

Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

Transport Global Practice

Better transport has the potential to improve the lives and livelihoods of billions of people by facilitating access to jobs, markets, and essential services such as healthcare or education. The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to help countries implement sustainable mobility solutions that create real, lasting development benefits. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport

About the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP)

The Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) is an international partnership to facilitate policy development and related capacity building in the transport sector in Africa. It comprises 42 countries, eight Regional Economic Communities, public and private sector organizations, and international development agencies and organizations. Since its inception in 1987, SSATP plays a key role as a convener and leader in transport policy advocacy, serving as continental platform for sector policy dialogue, knowledge exchange and capacity building. SSATP’s mission is fully aligned with continental, specifically the Africa Union Commission’s (AUC) continental vision-Agenda 2063, the G20’s Quality Infrastructure Principles, and the European Commission’s Green Deal.

SSATP operates in five-year cycles and responding to the emerging transport policy issues pertaining to each period.   SSATP is currently in the process of implementing its Fourth Development Plan (DP4, 2021-2026), The development objective of the DP4 is to prepare knowledge products and undertake capacity building activities to facilitate the decarbonization of the transport sector in Africa by focusing on three priority thematic areas: (i) Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration (RCEI), (ii) Sustainable Urban Mobility and Accessibility (SUMA), and (ii) Road Safety (RS). A fourth thematic area, Resilient Road Asset Management (RRAM), could also be included in DP4 subject to the availability of funding.

SSATP is financed by development partners’ contributions to a trust fund administered by the World Bank. The following partners are supporting the SSATP Fourth Development Plan (DP4) for the period 2021-2026: the European Commission, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the African Development Bank and Agence Française de Développement. Further information about SSATP is available on the SSATP website at: www.ssatp.org

Role and Responsibilities:

IAWT3 is hiring a Senior Transport Specialist to join the IAWT3 unit, based in Abidjan, Côte 

d’Ivoire. The selected candidate would be expected to work across other Africa countries. The position requires experience related to transport corridors and trade facilitation sector reforms, including, multi-modal transport system integration, and port and logistics sectors policy. Experience in policies, institutions, regulation, management, and financing aspects of regional transport corridors and trade facilitation. The position requires ability experience to engage appropriately with the stakeholders at countries’, Regional Economic Communities’ and Continental’s levels- . Excellent knowledge of continental and regional initiatives, such as “the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA)” or “the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Second Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP2)”, is required. English and French are essential and excellent written and oral skills in one and good working knowledge of the other is required.

The Senior Transport Specialist will lead the implementation of the SSATP-DP4 Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration (RCEI) Pillar activities, as defined in the SSATP-DP4 strategy. This includes, but not limited to: (i)  developing knowledge products and designing capacity building activities, aimed at making economic corridors more competitive ;  (ii) supporting the overarching  African Union Commission (AUC)’s objective of realizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA); (iii)  enhancing coordination with AUC regarding the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Second Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP2); and (iv) supporting the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) being led by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

The Senior Transport Specialist/Pillar Lead of the RCEI, will: (a) support the development of Regional/Sub-regional transport corridors strategies; (b) develop capacity of transport corridor management institutions; (c) support port and Logistic Platforms Digitalization; and (d) develop guidance/Tools to assess and monitor regional transport corridors performance. 

More generally, she/he will contribute to efforts in knowledge generation and management to ensure global best practices and lessons learned in the transport sector including critical cross-cutting themes like decarbonisation, digitalization, accessibility, affordability, climate impact, health and safety, inclusiveness, and socio-economic impact.

The specific roles and responsibilities shall include:  

(i) Lead the implementation of the RCEI-DP4 priority activities, which will include translating the overall RCEI strategy into work plans, preparing Terms of Reference (ToR) and hiring consultants and supervising their activities, ensuring overall coordination and quality control of activities,  interacting and providing technical expertise support to the SSATP member countries/RECs/AUC, and carrying out the day-to-day management, including monitoring progress;
(ii) Lead the policy dialogues and advocacy on transport sector decarbonisation and digitalization;
(iii) Provide timely and relevant regional connectivity and economic;
(iv) integration policy advice to the SSATP country members and to Regional Economic Communities,
(v) Prepare and generate relevant knowledge and capacity building products and tools;
(vi) Share and disseminate experiences and knowledge in the transport economic corridors and trade facilitation areas; and
(vii) Function as the premier reference and repository for regional integration transport policies on the continent.

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the position will be selected based on the following requirements (academic credentials and experience):

• At least, Master’s degree or higher, in transport planning, engineering, economics, finance, or other disciplines relevant to the Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration sector;
• At least 8 years professional experience in the transport sector with a focus on one or more of the following areas: (a) planning and implementing transport sector reforms; (b) regional transport corridor and trade facilitation planning and implementation/management; (c) planning and implementing green transport logistic transport plans and policies, including port and logistic digitalization platforms; (e) multi-modal transport integration, transport regulatory, institutional and managerial aspects; and (f) transport corridor performance assessment and monitoring.
• Experience in managing projects/programs involving multiple stakeholders;
• Proven ability to build relationships involving multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues in a concise manner;
• Experience in working on similar programs in developing countries (including middle-income countries), in activities financed by multilateral development partners or other financing organizations, including in a consultant capacity;
• Excellent written and oral communications in either English or French and good command of the other language; and
• Experience in the design and implementation of initiatives that can harness the opportunities of new technologies (i.e., digitalisation, “big data” analytics) would be a plus.

Transport Global Practice Technical Competencies: 

• General Transport Engineering and Planning Knowledge – Possesses specialized technical knowledge in the roadway and urban transport fields and ability to translate this knowledge for the practical benefit of clients.
• Knowledge and Experience in the Development Arena – Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills – Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Transport Policy, Strategy, and Institutions – Solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations that affect both passenger transport and freight logistics.
• Transport Systems and Technologies – Extensive experience with urban and interurban transport systems and technologies, with ability to apply knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice.
• Client Orientation – Maintains 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 – Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. 

WBG COMPETENCIES

• Deliver results for clients – Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective, and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
• Integrative skills – Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas
• Policy dialogue skills – anticipate needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners
• Transport policy, strategy, and institutions – Solid understanding of transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Operational Project Management – demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of transport project management tools and methodologies,
• Project design for impact and sustainability – contributes to the design of projects and programs, based on an understanding of the country and sector context
• Team leadership – leads teams to achieve challenging outcomes, providing a role model, and enhancing the team-leadership skills of team members.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.  Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The duration of this assignment will be a 3-year term appointment. It may be extended based on business needs, the satisfactory performance of the candidate, and the availability of trust fund resources. Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, they will retain their Regular or Open-Ended appointment. If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Term appointment that expires later than the end date of this appointment, they will retain the duration of their current Term appointment.

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.