Senior Public Sector Specialist

The Bangladesh program is one of the largest IDA-only portfolios in the World Bank and is diversified across many sectors. It is implemented in a complex country context with challenging cross-cutting issues such as governance, climate change and large infrastructure gaps. A new results based Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) has recently been developed for Bangladesh focusing on transformative investments for economic growth, increased resilience to climate change, improved human development and social protection, and strengthened mechanisms for domestic accountability.

The size and breadth of the program require Bank staff to be innovative, familiar with international experience and capable of navigating the shortest path through the Bank's internal processes. The Bangladesh portfolio includes 24 active projects with gross commitments of $1.7 billion. The Bank committed a record amount of $1 billion for Bangladesh in FY2009 with major programs in education, health, social protection, infrastructure, community driven development, water management, environment, and local governance. There is also an active dialogue on macroeconomic management, good governance and fiduciary improvements. Trust fund support plays a significant role.

The Strengthening Public Expenditure Management Program (SPEMP) is a multi donor trust fund (MDTF) and currently under active implementation in Bangladesh. The overarching objectives of the SPEMP are to (a) strengthen and modernize core institutions of budgeting within the government with particular emphasis on introducing a performance orientation in public financial management; and (b) enhance demand for better budget outcomes by improving the effectiveness of formal institutions of financial accountability, in particular the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Office and the Financial Oversight Committee of the Parliament.

Around 150 international and national staff work in the World Bank Country Office in Dhaka. The Public Sector Specialist will serve as part of the South Asia Governance & Public Sector Unit for the Bangladesh program, reporting to the Sector Manager based in New Delhi, India. For administrative purposes, he/she will report directly to the Administrator of the SPEMP MDTF based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The initial term assignment will be for two years.

Senior Public Sector Specialist