Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Job #:

req23507

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Disaster Risk Management

Grade:

GG

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English, French

Preferred Language(s):

Arabic

Closing Date:

8/11/2023 (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 and Unit Context

The Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA) at the World Bank serves 21 client countries with a total population of about 335 million. Clients range from upper middle-income countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which are more interested in the Bank's Reimbursable Technical Assistance, analytical and advisory services; to IBRD middle income countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, and two IDA countries, Yemen and Djibouti where more traditional Bank services are required. Hence the range of needs for advice, support and cross-fertilization of experiences is wide and challenging.

The MNA Urban, Resilience and Land Unit (SMNUR) consists of both headquarters and field-based staff in eight country offices (Amman, Tunis, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Rabat, Riyadh and Jerusalem). The portfolio comprises a diverse set of projects under supervision and has an active lending pipeline which is poised for further growth.

The SMNUR team works across a complex institutional environment, in partnership with many different units within the Bank given the cross-cutting nature of urban, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), land, and resilience issues. The span of work of SMNUR extends to all active clients in the region, and across a variety of financial and technical assistance support. This includes IBRD/ IDA financial and technical assistance to client countries, as well as the provision of Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) from the Bank to the GCC countries.

The thematic work of the SMNUR unit cover an active portfolio and a growing pipeline for lending, and a large RAS and TF program. The portfolio responds to the demands articulated by the MNA strategy and covers a range of urban programs and a growing disaster risk management and resilient recovery agenda, given the vulnerability of most of MNA countries to a wide range of risks, including disasters, climate change, and most prominently, conflict.

In the area of disaster risk management and resilience areas, the SMNUR team provides technical, analytical and financial support to regional clients in a broad range of technical areas including climate and disaster risk management and financing, urban resilience, coastal climate change adaptation, post disaster damage assessment and recovery, post conflict assessments and conflict recovery, etc. The team is active across the spectrum of Bank instruments including the provision of advisory services and technical assistance, financing city and national-level interventions, and deep policy and analytical work to support the climate risks resilience challenges of the region. SMNUR provides support to client countries with IBRD and IDA financing, Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) as well as through significant partnerships with a range of grant financing windows.

The MNA Urban, Resilience and Land Unit (SMNURL) is led by Practice Manager based in Beirut country office, in Lebanon, and serves the whole MNA Region.

The Senior Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Specialist will be based in Washington, DC, United States (or with possible option of a Country Office - TBC) and will report to the SMNUR Practice Manager based in Beirut. He/She will work across the Urban and DRM program in the area of Disaster Risk Management and climate resilience; with a particular focus on the Maghreb. He/She will be expected to lead and co-lead tasks, including the preparation and implementation of lending operations, operational and analytical work, contribute to teams within the unit and beyond, lead cross sectoral and multi sectoral DRM engagements across various global practices, and support the further development and implementation of the DRM and climate resilience building programs through a range of Bank instruments and engagement modalities. Given the multi-GP nature of the DRM agenda, the Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist is expected to demonstrate the highest collaborative competencies, working with colleagues across the range of technical areas within the unit and, equally importantly, from other GPs.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Senior DRM Specialist's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Lead our engagement in DRM and Climate Resilience through existing country programs and provide technical support towards the promotion and implementation of the DRM agenda, including through participation in our dialogue with clients and CMUs

• Provide technical and thought leadership on DRM strategy development and portfolio management, including in maintaining engagement with a range of stakeholders within the Bank, and with clients and development partners across the region

• Participate in, co-lead, and lead task operational and analytical activities as part of the Urban, Land and DRM program in MNA, including preparation and implementation support towards lending operations and development and implementation of cutting-edge analytical instruments and knowledge products

• Lead and contribute to regional and country level policy dialogue and just-in-time advisory work in DRM, climate resilience and adaptation, urban resilience and conflict recovery

• Work closely with national and sub-national clients to respond to DRM and Resilience challenges through analytical work and lending operations, particularly towards the mainstreaming of the DRM agenda in national and subnational policy development, planning and budgeting

• Lead business development opportunities in the DRM and resilience area by identifying key priority areas for engagement and by conceptualizing, preparing and implementing DRM solutions both in the operational and analytical realms

• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the DRM sector and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and across the various Bank units

• Contribute to and support across sector dialogues in MNA countries from a DRM perspective and provide inputs towards just-in-time advisory work

• Contribute to dialogue and provide technical inputs from a DRM perspective for the preparation of country strategy documents and the unit's operational and strategic documents on DRM and resilience building

• Work with consultants and technical specialists in support of various DRM operations, analytical undertakings, national and sector policy reviews and recommendations, including identifying suitable consultants and firms, and managing and supervising consultants' reports and outputs

• Ensure alignment of MNA DRM strategy and products with the Bank's global strategic perspectives and priorities on DRM, including harmonization of work with SDG targets and international conventions on DRM such as the Sendai Framework for Action

• Work closely with other development partners and DRM policy makers and practitioners in the MNA region to ensure collaboration and harmonization of DRM policies and programs across partners

• Contribute to knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with key clients on disaster risk reduction, prevention, resilience building, climate adaptation and disaster

• Contribute to the work of the urban and DRM teams in MNA, facilitating team building, learning and knowledge sharing, and collaboration.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree areas related to Disaster and Climate Risks Management such as engineering, urban planning, economics, climate, or similar field with at least 8 years' experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Solid experience and expertise in DRM, Climate risks resilience and urban resilience and climate finance

• Operational experience, ideally including with substantive experience in designing/implementing Cat-DDO and PforR instruments.

• Track record of delivery of client-oriented solutions.

• Strong analytical track record in the core areas of disaster risk management strategy development and implementation, such as risk identification and mapping, mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction, disaster risk financing, preparedness and recovery.

• Familiarity with the Bank's global policy and strategic direction and priorities on DRM and resilience building, and with international DRM conventions such as the Sendai Framework for Action.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner and deliver complex concepts and messages orally in an understandable and compelling manner.

• Ability to think innovatively and strategically in dealing with policy issues while maintaining a strong client focus.

• Demonstrated capacity to effectively engage in policy dialogue with World Bank clients.

• High energy and demonstrated interest and experience in achieving impact through operational and analytical work.

• Demonstrated experience to work with teams in a collaborative manner.

• A proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.

• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability of making effective presentations to diverse audiences.

• Excellent command of English and French, Arabic is desirable.

Competencies

• Technology and systems knowledge - Has advanced knowledge of, and keeps up to date with systems, technology and databases relevant to functional area of assigned responsibilities. Demonstrates initiative and pro activity in learning and/or supporting implementation of emerging technology applications and systems relevant to effective work of the unit.

• Project and task management - Displays good project management skills. Exhibits good understanding of unit's priorities; can proactively negotiate with stakeholders and adjust own deliverables upon changing and competing priorities, remaining flexible and effective with a clear understanding of objectives to be achieved. Can organize, coordinate, and make priorities-based adjustments to work schedule of internal clients (e.g. manager), if the tasks fall in the area of assigned responsibility. Exhibits and promotes ownership and accountability of results and quality-oriented delivery, proactively anticipates and approaches issues. Demonstrates innovation and creativity, promotes process simplification and effectiveness. Able to mentor less experienced staff in task and time management.

• Institutional policies, processes, and procedures - Displays an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the institutional vision, strategy, and priorities and how they affect unit's products and programs and interaction with clients in relevant functional area. Able to act as an expert on relevant administrative and policy guidelines, procedures and practices, demonstrates up-to-date knowledge of a diverse range of products and/or services in the relevant functional area of assigned responsibilities; can independently interpret relevant policy application and guide others in complex situations within assigned area of functional responsibility.

• Versatility and adaptability - Able to anticipate change in the business environment and accurately assess the need for new skills and knowledge. Able to facilitate and catalyze change where applicable. Demonstrates continued learning attitude, shows initiative in accepting new challenges and meeting critical needs within the unit/department/VPU. Encourages and supports others in their learning and change management efforts.

• Deliver Results for Clients - Demonstrates initiative, independence and autonomy in addressing client needs in changing business contexts and environments. Has knowledge of department strategy, vision, and goals and can link them to those of the larger organization. Allocates and prioritizes resources according to areas of most urgent need and greatest impact for the client.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Adopts a collaborative approach to improve overall effectiveness outside one's department and displays an open, helpful attitude toward others. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Demonstrates understanding of and acts to incorporate multiple perspectives. Frames thinking/actions with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.

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.

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.

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