Deadline: 21 February, 2021

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking to fill the role of Operations Officer.

The bank, with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, works with public and private sector partners, invests in groundbreaking projects and uses data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The WBG consists of five specialised institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Responsibilities

• Participate in senior level client meetings, providing technical advice and monitoring progress in implementing investment climate reforms
• Develop new business development in line with client and market needs as well as IFC priorities
• Leverage relationships with government officials, private sector and World Bank staff to design and implement reforms using existing or new projects and tools to support reform implementation
• Communicate with senior level clients of the government and private sector and articulate the case for investment climate reform that can unlock investment potential
• Work collaboratively with IFC region investment/upstream/advisory anchors to align advisory to help build a pipeline of investment projects and provide solutions to key portfolio clients
• Engage with relevant teams at the World Bank and IFC for reforms needed to unlock new markets and work collaboratively with upstream teams
• Engage with donor partners to report progress on donor-funded programmes and develop new fund-raising proposals
• Collaborate with CMA as well as industry specialists in the identification and design of investment climate reforms to unlock investment potential and create markets in Nigeria and the sub-region (as needed)
• Review and contribute to the development and approval of relevant project documents (concept notes and implementation plans) and client deliverables, ensuring standards and objectives are met
• Improve the design and delivery of client solutions by incorporating global best practices and lessons from past
• Partner with results team in developing appropriate theories of change and results frameworks and indicators to strengthen the development impact and sustainability of client solutions and continuously learn from client projects/engagements
• Ensure high quality of project supervision and document completion and provide quality control over client deliverables
• Support client in implementing recommendations and help troubleshoot (as needed)
• Support peer-to-peer knowledge exchange sessions across the region, lead diagnostics with the client and solicit AS engagements in line with IS and country policies
• Conduct research to shape ongoing and future offerings in investment climate reform and develop new tools and guidance to incorporate internal and external best practices
• Design and deliver training and communication strategy for investment and advisory staff to better enable them to be champions for investment climate reform, and for external stakeholders to generate interest in investment climate reforms and understanding of why it is important/advantageous to businesses, community and/or economy
• Proactively strengthen the value proposition of advisory products through embracing new trends and partnerships
• Build a bench strength of experts and consultants in the thematic areas of leadership across the region

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, Economics, or a closely related field
• Eight years, minimum, of experience in private sector development, with a focus on delivering investment climate and sector reforms in two regions or more and across a variety of IDA and FCS countries
• Strong skills and demonstrated track record in delivering advisory engagements in the area of investment climate reform, both economy wide and sector level reforms
• Strong technical knowledge and demonstrated track record in delivering advisory engagements in several thematic areas
• Understanding of IFC and WBG products/instruments and where there are opportunities for cross-organisational collaboration
• Demonstrable experience working on IFC and WBG products will be a plus
• Understanding of the implications of different policy and regulatory frameworks governing the thematic areas
• Ability to design, negotiate and lead efforts to develop client offerings that reflect in-depth knowledge of thematic area and understanding of business case for how thematic focus will help client to improve their business
• Ability to identify how changes in markets, business climate, regulations, etc., may create new opportunities for IFC to accelerate its mandate in a thematic area
• Thorough understanding of IFC products, what is likely to be approved, and how long it will take
• Good understanding of WBG and how to initiate collaborative efforts to leverage its products/instruments
• Ability to design research and analytical projects or major portion of complex projects to credibly produce new understanding of a thematic issue and/or potential opportunities to unlock new markets or new streams of business
• Strong drive for results and impact
• Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and aptitude to learn new systems
• Ability to use project management systems is a plus
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills in English

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: World Bank Photo Collection