Senior Thematic Lead - Finance

Job #:
req17281

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Education

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):
French, Spanish, Portuguese

Closing Date:
5/24/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Are you a passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children in the world's poorest countries? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.

Who we are

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is a shared commitment to ending the world's learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world.

We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to achieve our shared vision that every child deserves to learn.

What we do

GPE currently supports 76 low- and lower-middle-income countries to transform their education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We work where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those who live in countries characterized by extreme poverty or conflict.

How we work

Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE's new strategic plan, GPE 2025, sets out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing reforms to help partner countries get more girls and boys in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century.

Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. In 2020, GPE was also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, rapidly providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning could safely continue.

Raise Your Hand

In July 2021, the Global Education Summit raised a record US$4 billion from donors for GPE's Raise Your Hand campaign. This put GPE firmly on the path to achieving its fundraising target of at least $5 billion over the next five years to transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to domestic education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.

A fully funded GPE would enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.

Governance and organizational arrangements

The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership's breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Dr Susan Liautaud. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.

The GPE Secretariat, with over 130 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat's headquarters are in the World Bank's offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels. This is an international recruitment subject to compensation on the local pay scale for the selected duty station, and global mobility benefits may apply as per World Bank Group policy.

ABOUT THE TEAM

CEP acts as GPE Secretariat's primary relationship coordinator with country partners. We support national evidence-informed policy dialogue at country level, including on the development and implementation of inclusive Education Sector Plans, Partnership Compacts, Joint Sector Reviews, etc. to accelerate transformative progress in policy priorities. The CEP Team comprises three Regional Country Support teams, the Education, Policy and Learning team and the Strategy and Coordination team.

Education Policy and Learning (EPL) is a sub team of CEP. Working at the nexus of global and country levels to advance progress in thematic areas central to GPE 2020, EPL's primary objective is to consolidate evidence on the challenges and what works in GPE's priority areas, including identifying cross-country needs, mobilizing, curating and disseminating knowledge across the partnership, and collaborating with partners in technical initiatives.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a Senior Economist -Thematic Lead to join GPE's Education Policy and Learning (EPL) team, working in close cooperation with other teams of the Secretariat, and ensure GPE thought leadership on education finance. They will report to the EPL team lead. Note that the position may be in either Washington, D.C. or Paris, France, at the discretion of GPE management.

As a member of the GPE Country Engagement and Policy Team, the Senior Economist - Thematic Lead is held accountable for performing the duties and responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the technical competencies listed below in his or her capacity. Accountability means being answerable for managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, and compliance with GPE policies and procedures.

Duties and Accountabilities

Key responsibilities include the following:

Strategic Leadership
• Provide informed strategic advice and leadership to the Secretariat and the Partnership for the purpose of advancing more and better domestic financing at country level through the implementation of the current GPE strategy and the associated portfolio of activities, including cross-sectoral opportunities and interventions. • Identify global and country opportunities, mobilize GPE partners' unique capabilities and comparative advantages, as well as GPE's assets to convene strategic collaborations for advancing the global agenda and country progress. • Drive and coordinate education finance efforts with a specific focus on Domestic Financing across the Secretariat including advising and leading on institutional and organizational changes to profile GPE a thought leader on education finance.

Technical Leadership:
• Broker Education Finance knowledge and expertise across the Partnership for the implementation of the GPE operating model at country level but also for informing and influencing the global agenda. • Provide technical advice and support, expertise, and capacity development opportunities for country operations; develop and/or quality assure analytical work produced in the area of education finance. • Represent GPE in global initiatives • Lead the design, management, and reporting of complex programs and budgets and be accountable for results delivery.

Additionally, it is expected that she/he will -
• Represent CEP and EPL in certain Secretariat meetings and tasks • Undertake periodic mission travel to support country and global level work • Contribute to other tasks as needed

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience• Master's degree in economics, education, development studies, or a related field.• At least 8 years of experience in education finance (or in another social sector) capacity development programs, and approaches to improving learning outcomes. 10 or more years of relevant experience is preferred. • Country experience supporting education sector reform, policy making and implementation; budget programming and monitoring.

Language Requirements• Fluency in English required• Proficiency in French desired

Competencies • Thematic Expertise - Deep knowledge and subject matter expertise in Economics and Education. • Demonstrates relevant knowledge of education finance and education policy and policy implementation, especially in developing countries. • Recognized thought leader, with record of publication and wide network and thorough knowledge of evidence bodies and evidence of what works in this area. Extensive experience supporting related education sector reform, policy making and implementation; education budget programming and monitoring.

Desirable, but not required • Knowledge in one or more of the other policy and enabling factor areas outlined in GPE's 2025 strategy: • Education planning and management, data and evidence, sector coordination and policy dialogue, other areas relevant to work of GPE.• Collaboration & Teamwork • Accountability & Results Focus • Communication & Interpersonal Skills • Adaptability - Models flexibility • Planning & Organizing • Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development • Policy Dialogue Skills • Quantitative and Analytical Skills • Education Research and Data Analysis • Partner Engagement Skills

STAFF MOBILITY

Staff appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from under-represented regions are equally encouraged to apply. 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, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.

GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment inline with its PSEAH policy.

Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations. Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at [email protected] for further information and support.

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.