The Word Bank recruits 01 Urban Specialist

The Word Bank recruits 01 Urban Specialist

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.

Context

The Sustainable Development Practice Group

The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water.

The “Urban, Resilience and Land” (URL) Global Practice

Urbanization is occurring at an unprecedented pace. Cities generate 80% of global GDP and are key to job creation and the pursuit of shared prosperity. Yet one billion city residents live in slums today, and by 2030 one billion new migrants will arrive in cities. This concentration of people and assets will exacerbate risk exposure to adverse natural events and climate change, which affects the poor disproportionately. The absence of secure land tenure underpins deprivation and is a major source of conflict in the urban and rural space. One and a half billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence. In the absence of services, participative planning and responsive institutions, these trends will result in increased poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability and violence. Finally, avoiding a 4-degree warmer world requires drastically reducing the carbon footprint of cities.

The URL Global Practice covers a wide gamut of issues including: (i) supporting the development of green, inclusive, resilient and productive cities, including harnessing urbanization to contribute to growth and poverty reduction, and strengthening local governments’ capacity to plan, finance and deliver services and infrastructure investments; (ii) promoting efficient, well-coordinated spatial and territorial development processes including strengthening rural-urban linkages and developing lagging regions; (iii) strengthening disaster risk management policies, institutions and regulations and mainstreaming resilience across development sectors including risk assessment and mapping, risk reduction (including urban flood management, stormwater drainage, coastal management, and retrofitting of infrastructure), disaster preparedness (including hydromet services, early warning systems, and civil defense), risk financing (including CAT-DDO), and resilient reconstruction and recovery (including post-disaster damage and needs assessment); (iv) post-conflict reconstruction and recovery; (v) strengthening land tenure, management and information systems; and (vi) supporting the development of national and sub-national spatial data infrastructure and supporting the development of geospatial information.

The position in Senegal

The URL unit in West and Central Africa (SAWU1) has a growing work program encompassing project loans and grants, advisory and analytical programs and active partnerships supporting a wide range of engagements across subsectors,. In Senegal, SAWU1 is supporting comprehensive and inclusive programs covering among others: (i) integrated flood and coastal risk management, (ii) preventative resettlement for populations in areas of high hazard exposure and vulnerability, (iii) systemic and institutional improvements of urban planning , disaster risk management and resilience (across sectors) through policy actions and reforms, (iv) solid waste management in support of the circular economy to reduce waste and create jobs in participation with the private sector, (v) decentralization reforms to enhance the intergovernmental fiscal transfer system to all Local governments and strengthen their capacity, (vi) affordable housing across the entire value chain from proper planning, investments in critical infrastructures, institutional strengthening, sustainable financial management (with introduction of land value capture mechanisms), and faster land titling and (vi) nationwide land administration and tenure improvement for inclusive development.

SAWU1 is looking to recruit an Urban Specialist to provide support to the Bank’s expanding program in the region, with a focus on social inclusion, citizen engagement, community resilience, risk reduction disaster preparedness and response, livelihood restoration/diversification, and participatory planning and preventative resettlement.

Duties & accountabilities 

The selected candidate will be based in Dakar, Senegal, reporting to the Practice Manager, SAWU1, will be expected to work closely with country units in Senegal and task teams across the region. In particular, (s) he will focus on the following :

• Support/co-lead preparation and implementation of projects and programs related to the URL agenda in Senegal This includes: Support the drafting, review and process operational documents (e.g. Project Appraisal Document, theory of change matrixes, results framework, among others) and coordinate with other team members (procurement, financial management, disbursement, safeguards and legal ), as needed, to facilitate internal clearance processes of relevant documents;
• Participate in missions and supervise Bank-financed projects as a technical expert and/or co-Task Team Leader; interact with clients at the operational and policy level. This includes (i) coordinate mission preparation and supervision documents, letters, contribution to aide-memoires, back-to-office reports, implementation status and completion reports and implementation completion reports, planning meetings with client and donor counterparts; and (ii) Actively engage with Project Implementation unit to closely monitor activities preparation and implementation, identify risks and delays and, when need be, advise on solutions to improve outcomes
• Contribute to or lead dialogue on social inclusion and resilience, participatory planning and citizen engagement, gender, comprehensive livelihoods restoration/diversification, skills and capacity development in URL programs, and disaster preparedness and response issues
• Participate in cross-practice teams responsible for the preparation of policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, CCDR, sector Briefs, studies, and research and policy development activities on the full range of URL topics.
• Contribute to the development of the URL strategies and to the strengthening of cross Practice Group collaboration
• Contribute to the unit’s analytical work; “think pieces” and “best practice” papers; contribute to the development and implementation of proposals for analytical and advisory work.
• Support the management of Trust Fund (TF) activities including: developing proposals, TORs for consultancy services procurement packages, monitoring contract management and ensuring deliverables are technically viable and in line with TOR requirements, and trust fund reporting;
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank operational policies.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with both Bank staff and clients, as well as participate to corporate and sector training, retreats and learning events
• Work independently under the general direction of the Practice Manager and Task Team Leaders, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from lead specialists.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in urban development, social development, disaster risk management, environmental planning, public management, or equivalent, and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in preparation and implementation of investment projects,
• Operational experience in community engagement and social resilience in URL projects situation in Africa.
• Experience working on complex urban risk programs involving multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Demonstrated skills to engage and effectively lead dialogues with both local communities as well as city leaders and decision makers charged with action to reduce risks.
• Experience in social issues in Solid Waste Management would be an asset.
• Analytical skills with the ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusion and recommendations
• Knowledge of the country sector context and challenges
• Knowledge of World Bank operational policies, practices and procedures would be an asset
• Takes personal ownership, responsibility, and accountability for timely response to requests; meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results; working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Excellent organizational skills with appropriate attention to details and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands.
• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal and written communication (English and French required, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced solutions to complex development problems, with a strong client focus. .
• Strong teamwork spirit and demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams

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.

Closing Date: 2/28/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTCPostuler