Manager, Africa Region (HRS)

As one of the premier development organizations, the World Bank has a critical role in assisting countries to reach their development goals. In this role, the World Bank needs to attract, develop and retain staff of the highest technical and professional caliber. In order to maintain the Bank’s competitive advantage as provider of global expertise, the Human Resources (HR) function need to develop and maintain “people policies” which provide the Bank with the diversity, flexibility, mobility and productivity necessary to respond to a changing business environment and support greater decentralization of the Bank’s business.

The World Bank is operating in a rapidly changing global environment which brings a variety of interesting challenges. In addition, several factors affect the World Bank’s operational model, including: greater decentralization for more relevant and effective delivery of services; rapid change in technology and its impact in the work place; and dramatic changes in international labor markets.

We require the highest technical and professional caliber of staff to offer value added services to clients, and the ability to respond with agility to rapidly changing client needs and corporate priorities in a global business environment.

HR’s organizational structure consists of three departments, each headed by a Director: (a) Client Services; (b) Employment Policy & Compensation, and (c) Performance & Development.

This position is that of the head of the Client Service Team that supports the Africa Region. Sub-Saharan Africa is the largest and most complex region in the Bank, spanning 47 countries (including 34 of the world’s poorest countries) with a population approaching 800 million. It has an active and diverse work program encompassing significant IDA operations (over $7 billion in commitments per annum), a growing demand for IBRD operations in some countries, a diverse program of analytical work, and a large portfolio of almost 500 projects under supervision. Over 1,500 staff work in the Region, of whom about 60 percent are based in 38 country offices.

While it was badly hit by the global financial and economic crisis, the continent has been on the rebound since 2010 and is on the cusp of accelerated economic growth. Beyond growth, making headway against poverty will require a focus on job creation with Africa’s youth entering the labor force at an estimated 7-10 million annually, comprising more than 20% of its population and projections to double by 2045. A new Africa strategy has been prepared for the Africa region to support the transformation of the continent with a focus on job creation. With two pillars - -competitiveness & employment and vulnerability & resilience - - and a foundation of governance &capacity building - - this strategy sets the stage for our assistance to Africa under increased partnerships, knowledge transfer and financing. That strategy will require substantial adjustments in the region’s work program, resource allocation, incentives, processes, staffing and skill mix to ensure alignment and responsiveness to client needs and the new strategic emphases.

The position is one of the six Client Teams which, together with Talent Search and Global Mobility units, comprises the Client Services Department.

Manager, Africa Region (HRS)