World Bank recruits 01 Operations Officer
World Bank
Banjul, Gambia
Banque et Assurances
Operations Officer
Job # : req13347Organization : World BankSector : OperationsGrade : GFTerm Duration : 4 years 0 monthsRecruitment Type : Local RecruitmentLocation : Banjul,GambiaRequired Language(s) : EnglishPreferred Language(s) : Closing Date : 10/22/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description
The Gambia is the smallest country on the African mainland. It stretches 450 km along the Gambia River. Its 11,285 sq. km area is surrounded by Senegal, except for a 60 km Atlantic Ocean front. Although the smallest country on the African continent, The Gambia harbors a wealth of land, coastal, marine and wetland habitats and species of local, national, regional and global significance, making it an attractive tourist destination. Due to its unique geographic location, it is also a hub for trade in the region.
The country has a population of 2.4 million, with a fairly high average rate of growth of 2.8% per year over the last decade. With 177 people per square kilometer, The Gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. Most of the population (57%) is concentrated around urban and peri-urban centers. The main languages are English, Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, and Jola, and 90% of Gambians are Muslim.
The Gambia is a small economy that relies primarily on tourism, agriculture and remittances inflows, and is vulnerable to external shocks. The COVID-19 crisis resulted in a sharp economic downturn in 2020, reversing the good economic growth witnessed over the last years. Tourism came to a standstill, which seriously impeded growth in services, and GDP growth dropped to -0.2 percent in 2020 (-3.1 percent in per capita terms) compared to a pre-COVID projection of 6.3 percent. As the global economy starts to recover, growth is projected to rise to 4 percent in 2021 and 6 percent in 2022 (1.1 percent and 3.1 percent in per capita terms respectively) but remaining below pre-pandemic levels, and to average 6.3 percent between 2023-2025.
The Gambia is still undergoing a period of great uncertainty caused by its ongoing transition from the autocratic rule of the previous government, unfinished transition process, and uneven pace of needed political, legal, and economic reforms; all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. While major progress toward restoring democratic governance and respect for the rule of law has been achieved, setting the country on a new development path, it will be critical to ensure macro-fiscal stability, strengthen public service delivery, diversify the economy and build human capital.
Roles & Responsibility
The Operations Officer position is based in Banjul Country Office with primary responsibility of supporting the Resident Representative, Country Director and Operations Manager with respect to the performance of the existing portfolio and ensuring its strategic alignment with the Country Partnership Framework. The Operations Officer supports the Resident Representative, Country Director, Operations Manager and Program Leaders to conduct country-specific monitoring and reporting on the existing lending and non-lending activities in the portfolio, and to identify and resolve country-specific implementation issues. The Operations Officer maintains up-to-date information on portfolio performance (IDA, ASAs, and trust funds) of the country in close collaboration with the Senior Operations Officer based in Washington. The Operations Officer is a member of the Country Management Team which meets frequently to share information and resolve all relevant operational and administrative issues in the country office.
Specific duties include:
• Take the lead on portfolio management, monitoring, identify and analyze bottlenecks for projects implementation including conducting periodic portfolio monitoring sessions with Government project coordination units, country portfolio performance reviews and regular analysis of operational performance, quality and trends.• Coordinates with other Operations Officers in the Country Management Unit and lead and participate in the preparation of a Monthly Portfolio Report. The report monitors lending, non-lending activities, trust funds, and other key portfolio performance indicators. The report is shared with the Country Team. • Monitors and facilitates timely delivery on various milestones during the project cycle, including with respect to project closing and reporting. • Provide problem solving advice to task team leaders and the implementation support team (comprising of financial management, procurement and safeguards specialists) and interact with government counterparts to facilitate action needed to address challenges facing operations. • Support the Resident Representative organize Clinics periodically with task team leaders and program leaders to discuss and find solutions to the ongoing concerns, anticipate potential future problems/bottlenecks and share good practices.• Ensure teamwork and cross-sectoral cooperation on program preparation and implementation and contribute to country team meetings and activities.• Play a key role in the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework and monitor the implementation and performance of the Country Partnership Framework.• Support the Country Director and Resident Representative preparing Country Partnership Framework Performance and Learning Review and Completion and Learning Review.• Support and prepare briefing notes (e.g., for spring and annual meetings, senior management country visits, etc.) and other internal complex reports; and draft and review operational correspondence.• Make substantive contributions to The Gambia sector strategies, lending and non-lending programs.• Liaise with the main government counterpart (Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and other implementing ministries/agencies and project implementation units on operational matters.• Review, and draft comments on Project Documents, Implementation Status Reports, Implementation and Completion Reports for the Resident Representative.• Provides inputs to or prepares diverse operational products/outputs (e.g. country briefings, background reports, case studies, portfolio performance reviews, etc.). • Provide continuous case-by-case support to teams and the Implementation Support Team and provides operational support for problem or risky operations. To the extent possible, participate in operational missions and meetings and assist teams in resolution of difficult issues.• The Operations Officer works closely and mentor junior staff on issues of portfolio management and monitoring.• The Operations Officer will provide support to the management team.• Review, comment on, and clear all out-going correspondence; manage in-coming correspondence.
Selection Criteria
• MA/MS with minimum 5 years’ relevant experience; a post graduate qualification in finance with a supplementary Business Administration will be an added advantage. • Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.• Effective verbal and written communications skills.• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix environment.• Good understanding of Bank policies, procedures and system. • Recognized by peers and/or managers for ability to identify and pro-actively solve operational issues and problems. • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Country Management Unit’s annual reporting, budgeting, and business planning. • Ability to coordinate mechanisms to ensure efficient and effective procedures for routine workflow in the County office. • Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. • Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. • Shares best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
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.
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