Description

Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity 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, visit www.worldbank.org

Regional Context: Western and Central Africa

Western and Central Africa is a region with diverse cultures, beliefs, languages, and lifestyles – marked by contrasts of stability and conflict; affluence and poverty.  Home to about half a billion people, it encompasses 22 countries stretching from the westernmost point of Africa across the equator and partly along the Atlantic Ocean to the Republic of Congo in the South. The sub-region is rich in resources and brimming of opportunities. It made impressive progress in regional cooperation and includes two monetary unions – the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) which cover 13 countries between them.

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 COVID-19 pandemic has brought back to the forefront the risks posed by weak health systems and poor surveillance. Many countries in the region that learned difficult lessons from the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014 are applying some of the lessons and using all existing instruments and expertise to curb the pandemic while prioritizing the poorest and most vulnerable people.

The World Bank Western and Central Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,139 staff mostly based in about 22 country offices, is committed to helping countries realize their considerable development potential and become more competitive in the global economy. For more information please see: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Large challenges remain in the infrastructure sectors as well. Only about half of the population in west and central Africa has access to electricity and only about 40% has access to broadband internet. Africa is the most rapidly urbanizing region in the world, yet most cities in west and central Africa still lack the public transport infrastructure needed to ensure that growing cities will become productive and livable spaces for people and businesses. Poor rural and inter-urban connectivity contributes to food insecurity and limits opportunities for rural communities to escape poverty.

The region’s operations and analytical work are led by Global Practices (GPs) divided in several sectoral areas. Among them, Human Development (HD) comprises Health, Nutrition and Population, Education, and Social Protection. Infrastructure (INF) includes Transport, Energy and Extractives, Urban, Resilience and Land, and digital development. Staff from GPs are based in headquarters (HQ, Washington DC), country offices and hub offices such as Paris.

Duties and Responsibilities:

 The World Bank’s Western and Central Africa Region is recruiting a Program Assistant (PA), in Paris, France to provide administrative/ office support to Infrastructure (INF) and Human Development (HD) staff in the Paris Office. The PA will be mapped to the INF Practice Manager (PM) based in Dakar, Senegal, with regular, day-to-day reporting to the Paris-based Program Manager for the African Transport Policy Program (SSATP). Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide administrative support to Global Practice (GP) staff from the Infrastructure and Human Development practice groups based in Paris by managing calendars, organizing meetings, prioritizing, and resolving scheduling conflicts and competing demands, and ensuring background materials for meetings are available.
• Respond and handle a wide range of extensive and diverse inquiries, prioritizing and making timely decisions.
• Communicate information to appropriate staff inside and outside the immediate work team.
• Support the team’s administrative procurement needs, following the World Bank corporate procurement policies; facilitate hiring of consultants and firms and coordinate invoicing; manage travel arrangements for consultants and group trips and submit travel expenses.
• Provide support with all types of administrative requests such as office supplies orders, staff directory changes, email distribution lists, and visitor’s passes.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the teams, collecting and organizing background material for core and leadership meetings, preparing draft correspondence and inputs for briefs, monitoring and following up on priorities.
• Provide back-up support to the other Program assistants in their absence or during periods of heavy workload.
• Lead the planning of events/meetings/retreats related to the teams.
• Organize team’s travel arrangements and logistics, working closely with American Express Travel (Amex) and liaising with country offices and external parties.
• Handle sensitive and confidential material discreetly, in line with the Access to Information policy.
• Coordinate staff meetings, taking minutes and following up on relevant next steps.
• Assist in arranging logistics for meetings/seminars, including audio or video conferencing, Webex, catering, etc.
• Work with the other Program Assistants in the team (including HQ) to manage time recording, leave calendars, etc.
• Undertake ad-hoc tasks as assigned by the team as needed.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum Education/Experience: bachelor’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous experience with a project team and good knowledge of the World Bank policies and procedures (desirable).
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to effectively interact with internal and external clients and staff at all levels.
• Proven high degree of flexibility and reliability, and a demonstrated capacity to handle a variety of multiple concurrent activities, to prioritize and balance competing demands under pressure, while maintaining attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, respond to, and deal effectively in diverse situations with good judgment, discretion, and diplomacy in handling confidential and sensitive matters.
• Proficiency in advanced functions of standard Bank technology packages, i.e. SAP, Outlook, Excel, intranet, etc.
• Proven track record of high-quality work. Excellent organizational and administrative skills and demonstrated experience in the smooth operation of a busy office and related systems, assuming primary responsibility for organizing and coordinating workflow.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, in English. Fluency in French is desirable.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment, and contribute towards common goals.

Competencies

• Technology and systems knowledge – Demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience working with Microsoft office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). Has ability and willingness to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills as technology.

• Task Management – Demonstrates good organizational skills, can plan and prioritize own work and work of internal clients.

• Versatility and adaptability – Demonstrates flexibility and is receptive to the implementation of new solutions. Is willing to stretch own capability. Demonstrates motivation to avail and adapt oneself to effecting change.

• Client Orientation – Exhibits positive and professional client service attitude; able to understand clients’ needs and complete them professionally.

• Drive for Results – Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results and has the personal organization to do so.

• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion – Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team’s work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.

• Knowledge, Learning and Communication – Able to write clearly, learn and share knowledge/information across the unit.

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.