Urban Specialist - The World Bank

The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). IBRD and IDA are commonly known as the World Bank, which is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and – as of July 1, 2014 – has introduced fourteen Global Practices (GPs) as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas (CCSAs) to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

GLOBAL PRACTICES & CROSS-CUTTING SOLUTIONS AREAS

The 14 GPs are: Agriculture; Education; Energy and Extractives; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance and Markets; Governance; Health, Nutrition and Population; Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management; Poverty; Social Protection and Labor; Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience; Trade and Competitiveness; Transport and ICT; and Water. The 5 CCSAs are: Climate Change; Fragility, Conflict and Violence; Gender; Jobs; and Public-Private Partnerships.  The new operating model is part of a broader internal reform aimed at delivering the best of the World Bank Group to our clients, so that together we can achieve the twin goals of (1) ending extreme poverty by 2030, and (2) promote shared prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population in every developing country.

THE “SOCIAL, URBAN, RURAL AND RESILIENCE” (SURR) GLOBAL PRACTICE

Urbanization is occurring at an unprecedented pace. Cities generate 80% of global GDP and are key to job creation and the pursuit of shared prosperity.  Yet one billion city residents live in slums today, and by 2030 one billion new migrants will arrive in cities.  This concentration of people and assets will exacerbate risk exposure to adverse natural events and climate change, which affects the poor disproportionately.  The absence of secure land tenure underpins deprivation and is a major source of conflict in the urban and rural space.  One and a half billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence.  In the absence of services, participative planning and responsive institutions, these trends will result in increased poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability and violence.  Finally, avoiding a 4-degree warmer world requires drastically reducing the carbon footprint of cities.

Duties and Accountabilities:

•  Carries out responsibilities for a variety of operational tasks including lending, technical assistance and policy advisory work, e.g. technical analyses, design of technical assistance interventions, participation in loan negotiations, etc and take on the lead of specific activities as requested.

•  Employs appropriate methodologies for handling simple and complex procurement tasks and/or issues

•  Participates in developing and implementing practice strategy and assists in country-specific policy work.

•  Participates in missions in area of specialization; provides technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope, technology, costs, etc.; prepares terms of reference for project- or sector-related work.

•  Works independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior specialists.

•  Performs regular reviews of financial/fiduciary, technical, safeguards, budgetary issues, and prepare relevant reports and updates on implementation progress as part of Bank teams.

•  Makes regular and as needed field visits to address issues, consult stakeholders and review project and activity implementation.

•  Provides guidance and hands-on support to implementing agencies and management units, assisting them in monitoring project progress, procurement processing, preparing and maintaining essential documentation for these processes. Identify potential problems and advise on required actions.

•  Provides continuous feedback to the CMU on urban and local government issues and report on progress to relevant partners within Government and among Development Partners.

•  Participates in the review of technical documents throughout the various stages of procurement of project financed services, goods, and works; and manage and monitor disbursement and safeguard implementation

•  Works closely with other GPs and the CMU on issues of mutual interest, such as decentralization, and to provide support on projects and initiatives led by other GPs and the CMU (such as SCDs, CPS).

Desired Skills and Experience

•  Master's degree in urban planning/development, engineering, economics/finance or related field with 5 years experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

•  Past experience in lending operations/investment projects in urban issues in the areas of focus - housing, land, slum upgrading, municipal service delivery, and urban infrastructure.

•  Past experience in analytical products in urban issues in the areas of focus – urbanization, housing, land, slum upgrading, municipal service delivery, and urban infrastructure.

•  Past experience in policy dialogue in complex urban issues such as land management, housing subsidies, slum upgrading, etc, would be an asset.

•  Written and spoken fluency in English is a must.

For further details and to apply, please go to www.worldbank.org/careers and under “current job openings” seek vacancy number 150226. Deadline for applications March 7, 2015.