Principal Investment Officer at Ivory Coast
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Location:
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Salary:negotiable / YEAR
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Job type:FULL_TIME
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Posted:5 months ago
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Category:
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Deadline:03/07/2024
JOB DESCRIPTION
Description
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in over 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
IFC has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in low-income countries and fragile and conflict situations. This strategy calls for generating our own investment opportunities by proactively working ‘Upstream’ to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group (WBG) engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. It also requires capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to (i) develop our own proactive sector interventions and (ii) to imagine and design self-standing projects even in the absence of reforms.
IFC has created Regional Upstream Units in the Regional Industry Departments (Financial Institutions Group, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services) to identify the relevant market / investment gaps, and how they can be closed by addressing regulatory / sectoral / transaction blockages. These Units are mandated to develop and incubate impactful a multi-year pipeline of market opportunities and bankable projects.
IFC is seeking a Principal Investment Officer, Infrastructure, to be based in Abidjan or Dakar, to help drive the Upstream work for the sector in the region. The selected candidate will focus on developing high-quality Upstream pipeline under the direction of the Regional Upstream Manager, and in partnership with the relevant Country / Regional Managers, Regional Industry Managers, Global / Regional sector teams and other Regional Upstream Leads. S/he will also support the integration of advisory services, policy work and other interventions across the World Bank Group to prioritize various initiatives and to maximize the impact of Upstream efforts.
The selected candidate will lead several strategic priority initiatives requiring a dedicated focus and take on sub-regional responsibility for team and program management. The position will report to the Regional Upstream and Advisory Manager.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The roles and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to:
Business Responsibility
• Support country clusters’ business development teams on identifying, assessing and prioritizing upstream project selection and Upstream processes.
• Imagine, design and structure Upstream initiatives with the potential to lead to IFC investments.
• Explore and develop opportunities for scalable solutions and platforms that can be replicated across markets.
• Spot game-changing trends, technologies and business models that can help bring solutions to emerging markets.
• Lead upstream project execution including team supervision, project design and structuring, and relationships with sponsors/governments, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the administration and reporting of the regional industry Upstream portfolio, including (i) monitoring progress against KPIs and preparing regular reports on the status of the Upstream portfolio to enable portfolio decision-making, (ii) playing an active role in the raising and management of donor funds and internal budget allocations and (iii) overseeing compliance with all internal governance and reporting requirements on projects under leadership / supervision.
Client and Stakeholder Responsibility
• Work with country and sector teams to generate ideas about new investment opportunities, new products and platform businesses by leveraging sector-specific data analysis, stress-testing various operating models, dialogue with stakeholders, and information sharing across the WBG.
• Work with the World Bank to identify and implement sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock opportunities for private investment, including leveraging the Bank’s lending program.
• Proactively convene stakeholders, form partnerships and connect expertise from investment and advisory staff, industry specialists, the WBG, sponsors, clients and other external parties to enable delivery of Upstream projects.
Knowledge Capture and Management
• Connect global and regional teams, ensure solutions and knowledge flow across IFC and the wider WBG, and promote adoption of new approaches and best practices.
• Build external recognition of IFC’s distinctive capabilities in working Upstream to catalyze greater flow of investment opportunities in the sector.
People and Resource Responsibility
• Mentor and manage staff working on Upstream activities.
• Support relevant manager(s) in staff recruitment and skills development.
Selection Criteria
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• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, or other relevant field.
• At least 15 years of relevant experience in project and/or program development and finance.
• Genuine commitment to development and to the mission, strategy and values of IFC and wider WBG.
• Understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and changing business model against the backdrop of IFC 3.0.
• Demonstrated capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and proven track record of new idea generation, business development, and creating projects / programs from scratch.
• Deep understanding of the infrastructure sector and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization to deliver solutions at a country level.
• Track record of engaging with private sector clients, local and national governments, and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development.
• Demonstrated experience in project/program management, including executing against implementation plans with defined business development milestones.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring and reporting on a portfolio of projects / programs / initiatives.
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthetize complex information and make concrete strategic and tactical recommendations.
• Gravitas to interact directly with senior management of clients, technical partners and with senior government officials.
• Sensitivity for working in multicultural environment, commitment to diversity, and ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues / clients / partners across regions, sectors and business lines.
• Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.
• Ability to mentor and coach junior staff, share experiences and ensure quality.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
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.
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