Senior Financial Sector Specialist

Job #:
req16980

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Financial Sector

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English, French

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
5/7/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2 billion people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

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.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank's program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world's extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Practice Group
Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions (EFI) Practice Group (PG) support economic policies and legal, regulatory and institutional reforms to enable equitable and sustainable growth and to reduce poverty.

The Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice
The Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private-sector led growth and help create markets in client countries. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Financial Sector Specialist, will be based in Washington DC but required to travel frequently to the region. She/he will be expected to lead the financial sector work program/policy dialogue in Burkina Faso, Benin and contribute to other countries as required. The job requires a versatile skillset and expertise to cover integrative solutions focusing on financial sector aspects, particularly, Agri-finance, Disaster Risk financing, digital finance, SME finance and financial inclusion, among others.

• Specific tasks and responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:
• Lead/contribute to the policy dialogue on financial sector development; lead, task manage, and/or support the implementation of ongoing FCI lending projects, analytical and advisory services work with a focus on strong country outcomes.
• Serve as a task-team leader/team member for various financial sector projects and lead strategic policy dialogue with clients on the design of policies to promote a sound, efficient and inclusive financial sector.
  Work closely with the Program Leaders/Country Economists and CMUs to ensure the integration of relevant finance, competitiveness and innovation sector issues in country strategies, SCDs/CPFs, CCDRs, work programs and country policy dialogue and engagement.
• Develop effective coordination mechanisms internally within EFI, across other WB Practices and IFC, and externally with development partners, in particular AfDB.
• Lead in Business Development and cultivate strategic relationships with country clients and the CMU and contribute to building the FCI engagement further in line with the AFW Strategic Direction, FCV strategy and country priorities.
• Promote synergies across product teams, providing support through trouble shooting, anticipating problems and solving them.
• Facilitate learning across projects, regions and best practices.

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 build back better after COVID.

Selection Criteria

This job requires a seasoned Financial Sector development professional with demonstrated technical and operational skills and experience in the Financial sector (FSD) and Private Sector Development (PSD) agendas. She/he will have demonstrated an ability to manage and mentor teams effectively and deliver results on the ground. The ideal candidate will be required to possess:

• A PhD or a Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Management or a related field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the area of financial sector development.
• Demonstrated experience with, and knowledge of, the full range of Bank lending and analytical instruments, including DPF, IPF, PforR, ASA and FSAPs that span more than one WB region or combination of region and Global Team. Strong track record in effective design and implementation of IPFs in an FCV context will be a plus.
• Strong expertise in the financial sector, with proven ability and track record in conceptualizing and delivering high-quality technical and analytical work.
• Demonstrated track record in integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader economic development framework.
• Strong client orientation and capacity to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders within and outside the Bank;
  Should be a mature professional with strong results focus, be able to work in an FCV environment, inspire confidence in senior country officials.
• Possess strong internal and external client engagement skills and ability to collaborate and work across boundaries, and have the ability to effectively mentor and engage teams.
• Excellent communication skills: both presentation and writing in English and French .

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.