Program Analyst

Program Analyst

Job #:

req25409

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Other

Grade:

GE

Term Duration:

3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

Local Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French

Closing Date:

12/26/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Regional Context

Countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region confront a vast array of development challenges, from an uncertain and uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to the implications of decelerating global economy, deepening geopolitical divisions, protracted regional conflicts, and climate change. These overlapping crises are amplified by longstanding structural relating to economic governance that contribute to an outsized presence of the state in the economy, high unemployment rates among women and youth, and limited intraregional trade and investment.

Overcoming these challenges will allow MENA countries to realize their vast development potential, endowed as the region is with a rapidly growing and highly educated population, geo-strategic location, and abundance of renewable energy potential. To unlock this potential, the World Bank is advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development through a two-pronged strategy that seeks to respond to sudden and severe crises while supporting reforms that spur structural transformation and job creation, advance gender equity, strengthen regional cooperation, and accelerate green transitions. This strategy is operationalized through a differentiated approach that reflects the distinct circumstances of the World Bank's clients in the region, comprising 20 countries that range from active IBRD borrowers and IDA recipients to recipients of reimbursable advisory services and non-active countries with whom the Bank maintains a policy dialogue. For more on the World Bank in MENA, visit www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena.

For this position, the World Bank's MENA region consists primarily of the Front Office of the Regional Vice President (including the Director of Strategy and Operations, Development Effectiveness Unit, External and Corporate Relations, Special Assistant to the Vice President, and Senior Executive Assistants), the Chief Economist, 5 Country Management Units, 4 Regional Directorships, and close linkages with People and Culture (HR), Resource Management, and Corporate Security. More broadly, the MENA region consists of nearly 600 full-time staff. In FY23, the MENA region delivered $4.7 billion in IBRD, $561 million in IDA, $80 million in special financing for the West Bank and Gaza, $9 million in reimbursable advisory services, and 107 knowledge products for clients.

Unit Context

MENA's Development Effectiveness Unit (MNADE) comprises the Regional Environment and Social Standards Adviser (RSA), Sr. Environmental and Sr. Social Specialist who work closely with the environment and social regional coordinators and practice manager. MNADE brings together the following functions pertaining to operations management:

Supporting the Regional Vice President (RVP) and the MNAVP Front Office (FO) in carrying out operational, strategic, and corporate functions. This includes: (a) serving as the Secretariat for the Regional Operations Committee; (b) supporting the RVP on operational matters and exercise of ADM functions, on operational issues submitted for the RVP's decision or approval; and (c) coordinating and/or preparing the Region's views on Bank-wide reviews of policies and procedures, operations and country strategies, and other operational matters.

• Coordinating and supporting quality of operations with an extended team of operations staff in the region including in the Regional Directors offices and in the CMUs.
• Managing delivery of projects to board with OPCS and SEC.
• Regional portfolio monitoring and management.
• Providing advice to CMUs and GPs on operational quality, including promoting the results and risk management frameworks in operations.
• Representing regional interests e.g., with the environment and social safeguards advisory function of OPCS; with Legal, IEG, INT, IAD, IP and OPCS more generally.

The Program Analyst reports to the MNADE Manager. The Unit consists of about 10 staff based in Washington.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Program Analyst will report to the MNADE Manager and will be responsible for the following tasks and duties:

• Operational Support
  • Preparation of the monthly regional ESF meetings chaired by the SD RD and DSO.
  • Support the MNA RSA team with providing on-demand environment and social (E&S) related operational support to teams on lending, active portfolio, and ASAs and ensure adherence to regional and global quality requirements.
  • Assist the MNA RSA team with workflow management, coordination with E&S GPs, periodic pipeline and portfolio status review meetings, thematic reviews, project support and mission travel.
  • Assist the MNA RSA team to coordinate with the E&S GPs to put into practice the actions to streamline and strengthen the implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) in the MNA region, including E&S Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support, gap analysis of countries/borrower frameworks, simplified ESF review and clearance processes.
  • Monitor ESF metrics in the region and reports to RSA and MNADE Manager.
  • Support on-demand research and data collection and contribute to drafting of reports, proposals, and briefs for the RSA team.
  • Contribute to the design and implementation of regional, sub-regional events.
• Portfolio Management
  • Prepare tables and regular operational updates on the status of the portfolio including strengthened E&S oversight during implementation ("action 10"), E&S performance ratings, grievance redress system cases, E&S incident responses), Stakeholder Engagement and grievance Mechanisms ("action 8"). Contribute to active portfolio monitoring, identifying risks and issues.
  • Support the drafting of responses for ad-hoc information requests from internal and external parties and review and provide inputs on corporate requests and documents and ensure consistency in messaging across briefs and updates.
  • Support budget monitoring and reporting, including assisting with tracking expenditures using BPS reports.
  • Assist E&S Specialists in the RSA team to review and clear - operational and technical documents for compliance with operational guidelines (e.g., on Implementation Status Reports, Implementation Completion and Results Reports, Project Restructuring Papers, aide memoires/management letters, ASA reports, E&S documentation), and prepare feedback to teams.
  • Prepare presentations and infographics as needed.

Selection Criteria

• Master's Degree in environment or social science or equivalent demonstrated professional experience including specific work on the Environment and Social Framework (ESF) monitoring.
• Basic understanding of Bank policies and practices related to operations.
• Basic understanding of instruments (IPF, PforR, ASA, RAS).
• Familiarity with Bank policies, quality standards and of corporate priorities.
• Strong team player with the ability to work independently and effectively both remotely and face-to-face.
• Ability to treat sensitive and confidential information with a high level of discretion and care.
• Proven ability to work both independently and in diverse teams - COS skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, ability to listen carefully and provide sound advice in a constructive manner; ability and readiness to stand firm on difficult and sensitive issues, ability to convey ideas and positions clearly and tactfully to staff and managers at all levels.
• Attention to details.
• Excellent workflow management and task organization skills.
• Strong quantitative analytical skills, extensive experience and comfort with Excel, ability to analyze data for trends and produce a range of supporting graphics to illustrate.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.