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 

The Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

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 with 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. AFW countries are disproportionately dependent on natural capital.  With climate change and a degrading and depleting natural resource base, vulnerability is increasing, and food insecurity is rising. Fast-growing urbanization with little planning, has also led to unproductive cities that do not generate growth. A huge deficit of infrastructure and access to jobs and basic services leads to exclusion, conflict, and migration. So, in AFW, we seek to understand and leverage the abundant natural capital of the region to support reliable food systems, green jobs, and the protection of invaluable global environmental assets for improved livelihoods.

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 by focusing on the following priorities – Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies, Building up the Digital Economy, Institutions more Efficient and Accountable, Investing in People, Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption, Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, and 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. 

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. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa 

Unit Context:

The Energy & Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank Group is made up of more than 300 professionals, a lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. The EEX GP focuses on: providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractive sectors for public benefit.   There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of East and Southern Africa and newly created VPU of West and Central Africa. The position is based at World Bank HQ in Washington DC supporting the West and Central East Africa unit (IAWE4). The Bank is engaged in all aspects of the electricity sector – generation, transmission, distribution, rural electrification and off-grid– through development policy financing, program for results, investment financing support, technical assistance and guarantee operations. Assisting the government with policy reforms to attract investments in generation and renewable energy along with the promotion of the regional energy trade, undertaking sector reforms on tariffs and regulations, analytical work on energy subsidies, modernizing the electricity network for the needs of a modern economy and increasing energy access are among the key areas of the Bank’s deepening engagement in the sector.

The World Bank access focused portfolio in Africa includes support includes efforts to support countries to achieve SDG7 and Develop policy, strategy and implementation modalities to accelerate access expansion and develop new and improved financing and implementation methods building on the Africa Region Energy LEAP program.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

IAWE4 seeks a Senior Energy Specialist based in Washington DC to support the Africa Energy unit’s work in energy access and clean energy transition initiatives in West and Central Africa as well as supporting instruments to enable private investment for decentralized renewable energy access to electricity and clean energy transition. The Senior Energy Specialist will specifically work with country teams of Energy GP engagement in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana CMUs with particular focus on the development of both regional and country-level engagements for the scale up of electricity access through private sector driven scale-up of Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Solutions and the acceleration of West and Central African Energy from unsustainable fossil fuels to Cleaner Energy Solutions and Renewables.

The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:

Collaborate with other World Bank Group entities and Global Practices to leverage cross-sectoral expertise and financial instruments for DRE projects. This requisition is for WBG staff and external candidates.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., renewable energy, electrical engineering, energy economics);
• Minimum 8 years of experience in the energy access sector, with substantial private sector and operational management experience in the DRE subsector;
• Demonstrated expertise in DRE technologies, business models, and financing mechanisms;
• Strong understanding of the regulatory, financial, and political landscape affecting DRE deployment in West Africa;
• Proven track record in driving innovation and developing successful DRE projects in challenging environments;
• Experience in working with governments, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders;
• Excellent analytical, communication, and team leadership skills;
• Fluency in English with knowledge of French as desirable.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of technical expertise, private sector experience, and strategic thinking to accelerate DRE deployment in West Africa. They will play a crucial role in advancing the World Bank’s commitment to universal energy access in Africa by 2030, meeting Mission 300 of proving energy access to 300 million Africans by leveraging DRE solutions to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to underserved communities.

COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge and Experience in 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;
• Energy Sector Technologies – Deep experience applying knowledge (hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, and energy efficiency) to policy-related decisions and advice;
• Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Solid understanding of energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations;
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for clients.;
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront;
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge– Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions; and
• Make Smart Decisions– Recommends and takes decisive action.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  Position open to external candidates also. Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All others will be offered a 4 year term appointment. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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.