Operations Officer -Program Manager Lighting in Africa
Background / General description
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of creating opportunities for people to escape poverty by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services. IFC's Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) Business Line works with firms in manufacturing, agribusiness, services, and infrastructure to contribute to the creation of inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and efficient markets in developing countries. Across six regional teams, Clean Energy Specialists within the Business Line work to increase investment flows into clean energy by demonstrating the commercial viability of and removing specific barriers to the scale-up of renewable energy technologies that reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions and increase access to modern energy services for the poor.
In support of IFC’s growing commitment in this area a Program Manager is sought for a key position in Kenya, in relation to the new expansion.
Duties and Accountabilities
Africa faces deep development challenges and the lack of access to reliable energy sources makes these challenges even more daunting. Currently, about 587 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lack access to electricity. Africa’s growing un-electrified households and businesses are estimated to spend annually US$10 billion on low quality fuel-based lighting such as kerosene and candles. Fuel-based lighting is expensive, inefficient, hazardous, and pollute the environment. Poor quality light negatively affects health, hinders the development of small and medium enterprises, and impedes learning in schools and homes.
There are alternatives to fossil fuel-based lighting. Recent technological advances in compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and in particular light emitting diodes (LED) promise clean, durable, and high-quality lighting as a solution for those who are not yet connected to the electrical grid.
The goal of the Lighting Africa is to reduce market barriers for the private sector to reach and provide modern lighting to 250 million people in Africa without electricity, and using non-fuel based lighting, by 2030. This is in support of achieving the energy access Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with an emphasis on clean energy solutions. Lighting Africa is currently finalizing its pilot phase (700,000 lights benefiting 2.5 million people by 2012), and wishes to replicate its activities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program works with lighting product manufacturers, distributors, consumers, financial institutions, development partners, and governments to help build a market for reliable lighting products. Currently, Lighting Africa is implementing programs in two pilot countries: Kenya and Ghana. In these countries, Lighting Africa has developed five components which address five major market barriers. More information is available at www.lightingafrica.org.
C. Key Responsibilities:
The Program Manager will be in charge of leading the implementation of the Lighting Africa in multiple countries and regions across Africa. In addition, the program manager will oversee the development of a trade finance facility for importers in various countries across Africa. Specifically, the responsibilities will include:
1. Management of the Lighting Africa program
As the leader of the Lighting Africa, the program manager will drive the implementation of business development activities in East and West Africa regions. (S)he will oversee 2 regional managers and country officers and a small team of third party consultants to work with equipment manufacturers, distribution companies, financial institutions, etc. to build a market for off-grid lighting products. In particular, (s)he will develop and oversee the implementation of strategies and advisory services targeted at the Base of the Pyramid to enhance energy access for this market segment.
2. Management of Global activities
The Lighting Africa manager will in additional lead “Lighting Global” activities that have a universal (global) scope, including product quality assurance, market research, and trade finance facilities for manufacturers. The impact of the above activities transcends the Africa region. The program managers will liaise very closely with the Lighting Africa managers in other regions as well as the energy access lead based in Washington.
3. Forging partnerships and engagement with stakeholders
The regional manager will actively seek to forge partnerships and collaborations with the stake-holders leveraging IFC colleagues who have client relationships to increase energy access to the Base of the Pyramid. The key stakeholders may include:
• Distribution and supply chain partners
• Financial institutions
• NGOs and community based organizations
• Associations representing the renewable sector or other industries in general and relevant standard bureaus
• Other IFC internal divisions, World Bank Group and other stakeholders as required
4. Reporting
The program manager will be responsible for reporting on the consolidated Lighting Africa project progress, budgets, and M&E to IFC management and donors, e.g. through IFC’s project supervision reporting system, donor reports etc. as required. S/he will manage the reporting process with the regional managers to ensure that the reports are timely and accurate.
5. Measurement & Evaluation
Monitor and track the program performance in line with the log-frame. Manage individual projects as the Task Team Leader ensuring timely execution and completion of MIS reporting requirements. The successful candidate will have volume and development impact targets defined by the Clean Energy team leader.
6. Other Responsibilities
• Direct link with the Investment Services team to develop trade finance facilities for the sector.
• Providing Thought Leadership to the off-grid lighting sector/industry on energy access through devises/appliances targeted at the BOP.
6. Coordination
The regional manager will report to the Clean Energy sector lead based in Kenya. In addition, (s)he will also coordinate with the Global Clean Energy Specialists who oversee IFC’s global clean energy program portfolio as well as the infrastructure investment cluster team leader.
Selection Criteria
Successful candidates will be determined and perseverant “go-getters”, with a positive attitude, dedication to excellence, patience for detail and the ability to translate detailed information into broad strategy that is then used to create individual work-plans or actions. While the candidate will need to be able to work independently and take initiative, (s)he would have to be a strong team player, able to take leadership as well as supporting roles. (S)he will need to handle a variety of activities concurrently in a high-pressure environment and deliver consistently. (S)he must be open-minded, able to work in a fast-paced and multicultural environment, and used to exploring links between fields, disciplines and people which would not usually be related. (S)he should encourage innovation and knowledge sharing in an open, team-based environment and create an environment conducive to teamwork, continuous learning and innovation. (S)he should build alliances and promotes open communication and collaboration to achieve joint objectives.
Specifically, the successful candidate will have a combination of the following skills and qualifications:
• Masters level education in business, engineering, finance, economics, or related subject.
• 10+ years of hands-on commercial sales/marketing or business development or managing complex programs and delivering results
• Experience with supporting new technology ventures, SMEs or Base of the Pyramid business and marketing, ideally in Africa or Asia
• Experience with projects in or that interfaced with the private sector is a must
• Successful experience managing relationships, resolving differences, and achieving successful outcomes among multiple and diverse set of stakeholders
• Dynamic individual, committed to and motivated by promoting economic and social development by supporting the growth of private sector companies and new markets in the clean energy space
• Strong communications and negotiation skills and ability to represent the program at senior levels at companies and government
• Experience with clean energy technologies and is an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English a must, other languages a plus
• Ability to synthesize multiple/complex messages and to identify appropriate key points for different audiences
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of creating opportunities for people to escape poverty by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services. IFC's Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) Business Line works with firms in manufacturing, agribusiness, services, and infrastructure to contribute to the creation of inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and efficient markets in developing countries. Across six regional teams, Clean Energy Specialists within the Business Line work to increase investment flows into clean energy by demonstrating the commercial viability of and removing specific barriers to the scale-up of renewable energy technologies that reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions and increase access to modern energy services for the poor.
In support of IFC’s growing commitment in this area a Program Manager is sought for a key position in Kenya, in relation to the new expansion.
Duties and Accountabilities
Africa faces deep development challenges and the lack of access to reliable energy sources makes these challenges even more daunting. Currently, about 587 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lack access to electricity. Africa’s growing un-electrified households and businesses are estimated to spend annually US$10 billion on low quality fuel-based lighting such as kerosene and candles. Fuel-based lighting is expensive, inefficient, hazardous, and pollute the environment. Poor quality light negatively affects health, hinders the development of small and medium enterprises, and impedes learning in schools and homes.
There are alternatives to fossil fuel-based lighting. Recent technological advances in compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and in particular light emitting diodes (LED) promise clean, durable, and high-quality lighting as a solution for those who are not yet connected to the electrical grid.
The goal of the Lighting Africa is to reduce market barriers for the private sector to reach and provide modern lighting to 250 million people in Africa without electricity, and using non-fuel based lighting, by 2030. This is in support of achieving the energy access Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with an emphasis on clean energy solutions. Lighting Africa is currently finalizing its pilot phase (700,000 lights benefiting 2.5 million people by 2012), and wishes to replicate its activities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program works with lighting product manufacturers, distributors, consumers, financial institutions, development partners, and governments to help build a market for reliable lighting products. Currently, Lighting Africa is implementing programs in two pilot countries: Kenya and Ghana. In these countries, Lighting Africa has developed five components which address five major market barriers. More information is available at www.lightingafrica.org.
C. Key Responsibilities:
The Program Manager will be in charge of leading the implementation of the Lighting Africa in multiple countries and regions across Africa. In addition, the program manager will oversee the development of a trade finance facility for importers in various countries across Africa. Specifically, the responsibilities will include:
1. Management of the Lighting Africa program
As the leader of the Lighting Africa, the program manager will drive the implementation of business development activities in East and West Africa regions. (S)he will oversee 2 regional managers and country officers and a small team of third party consultants to work with equipment manufacturers, distribution companies, financial institutions, etc. to build a market for off-grid lighting products. In particular, (s)he will develop and oversee the implementation of strategies and advisory services targeted at the Base of the Pyramid to enhance energy access for this market segment.
2. Management of Global activities
The Lighting Africa manager will in additional lead “Lighting Global” activities that have a universal (global) scope, including product quality assurance, market research, and trade finance facilities for manufacturers. The impact of the above activities transcends the Africa region. The program managers will liaise very closely with the Lighting Africa managers in other regions as well as the energy access lead based in Washington.
3. Forging partnerships and engagement with stakeholders
The regional manager will actively seek to forge partnerships and collaborations with the stake-holders leveraging IFC colleagues who have client relationships to increase energy access to the Base of the Pyramid. The key stakeholders may include:
• Distribution and supply chain partners
• Financial institutions
• NGOs and community based organizations
• Associations representing the renewable sector or other industries in general and relevant standard bureaus
• Other IFC internal divisions, World Bank Group and other stakeholders as required
4. Reporting
The program manager will be responsible for reporting on the consolidated Lighting Africa project progress, budgets, and M&E to IFC management and donors, e.g. through IFC’s project supervision reporting system, donor reports etc. as required. S/he will manage the reporting process with the regional managers to ensure that the reports are timely and accurate.
5. Measurement & Evaluation
Monitor and track the program performance in line with the log-frame. Manage individual projects as the Task Team Leader ensuring timely execution and completion of MIS reporting requirements. The successful candidate will have volume and development impact targets defined by the Clean Energy team leader.
6. Other Responsibilities
• Direct link with the Investment Services team to develop trade finance facilities for the sector.
• Providing Thought Leadership to the off-grid lighting sector/industry on energy access through devises/appliances targeted at the BOP.
6. Coordination
The regional manager will report to the Clean Energy sector lead based in Kenya. In addition, (s)he will also coordinate with the Global Clean Energy Specialists who oversee IFC’s global clean energy program portfolio as well as the infrastructure investment cluster team leader.
Selection Criteria
Successful candidates will be determined and perseverant “go-getters”, with a positive attitude, dedication to excellence, patience for detail and the ability to translate detailed information into broad strategy that is then used to create individual work-plans or actions. While the candidate will need to be able to work independently and take initiative, (s)he would have to be a strong team player, able to take leadership as well as supporting roles. (S)he will need to handle a variety of activities concurrently in a high-pressure environment and deliver consistently. (S)he must be open-minded, able to work in a fast-paced and multicultural environment, and used to exploring links between fields, disciplines and people which would not usually be related. (S)he should encourage innovation and knowledge sharing in an open, team-based environment and create an environment conducive to teamwork, continuous learning and innovation. (S)he should build alliances and promotes open communication and collaboration to achieve joint objectives.
Specifically, the successful candidate will have a combination of the following skills and qualifications:
• Masters level education in business, engineering, finance, economics, or related subject.
• 10+ years of hands-on commercial sales/marketing or business development or managing complex programs and delivering results
• Experience with supporting new technology ventures, SMEs or Base of the Pyramid business and marketing, ideally in Africa or Asia
• Experience with projects in or that interfaced with the private sector is a must
• Successful experience managing relationships, resolving differences, and achieving successful outcomes among multiple and diverse set of stakeholders
• Dynamic individual, committed to and motivated by promoting economic and social development by supporting the growth of private sector companies and new markets in the clean energy space
• Strong communications and negotiation skills and ability to represent the program at senior levels at companies and government
• Experience with clean energy technologies and is an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English a must, other languages a plus
• Ability to synthesize multiple/complex messages and to identify appropriate key points for different audiences
Company Description
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
Operations Officer -Program Manager Lighting in Africa
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