Sector Manager - AFTFE

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 1,400 staff work in the Region, of whom about 50 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.
The Financial and Private Sector Development (FPD) Network has launched the FPD Global Practices (GP) pilot program to promote a more coherent operating model of “One FPD,” replacing a current fragmented structure that operates as if FPD were six separate regional units with only a loosely connected global anchor. With the endorsement of Bank senior management (including the Matrix Leadership Team), the GP pilot seeks to significantly increase client impact and staff satisfaction. Key changes include: (i) re-aligning FPD’s strategic priorities with client demand and innovating FPD’s product portfolio; (ii) creating a strong intellectual home for FPD staff through the establishment of six Global Practices i.e. Financial Systems; Capital Markets; Financial Inclusion; Investment Climate; Competitive Industries; and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology; (iii) applying an innovative approach to Talent Management, while leveraging the broader WBG HR talent management processes and systems; (iv) building a knowledge infrastructure platform; (v) managing separate funding sources to maximize impact; and (vi) adopting a scorecard that cascades down from the corporate level to track results at country and global levels and to track operational performance.
The Region’s Finance and Private Sector Department (AFTFP) has 60+ staff (including a significant portion based in country offices) and is organized into two units, East and Southern Africa (AFTFE) and West and Central Africa (AFTFW). The department will be critical to the implementation of both the new Africa Region strategy and the FPD Global Practices pilot. Specifically, in order to ensure full alignment with the new Africa Strategy (particularly the pillar focusing on competitiveness and employment), the department will be revisiting its own strategy and implementation approaches in FY12. Similarly, as the largest regional FPD department, AFTFP will be closely involved in the implementation of the FPD GP pilot.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 4 year renewable term appointment.

Sector Manager - AFTFE