Senior Energy Specialist

Job #: req24086

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Energy

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): French

Closing Date: 9/21/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

Western and Central Africa is a region with diverse cultures, beliefs, languages, and lifestyles – marked by contrasts of stability and conflict, affluence, and poverty. Home to about half a billion people, it encompasses 22 countries stretching from the westernmost point of Africa across the equator and partly along the Atlantic Ocean to the Republic of Congo in the South. The sub-region is rich in resources and brimming with opportunities. It made impressive progress in regional cooperation and includes two monetary unions – the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) which cover 13 countries between them.

Yet these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought back to the forefront the risks posed by weak health systems and poor surveillance. AFW countries are disproportionately dependent on natural capital. With climate change and a degrading and depleting natural resource base, vulnerability is increasing, and food insecurity is rising. Fast-growing urbanization with little planning, has also led to unproductive cities that do not generate growth. A huge deficit of infrastructure and access to jobs and basic services leads to exclusion, conflict, and migration. So, in AFW, we seek to understand and leverage the abundant natural capital of the region to support reliable food systems, green jobs, and the protection of invaluable global environmental assets for improved livelihoods.

The World Bank Western and Central Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,139 staff mostly based in about 22 country offices, is committed to helping countries realize their considerable development potential and become more competitive in the global economy by focusing on the following priorities – Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies, Building up the Digital Economy, Institutions more Efficient and Accountable, Investing in People, Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption, Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, and Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

UNIT CONTEXT

The Energy & Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank Group is made up of more than 300 professionals, a lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. The EEX GP focuses on: providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractive sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of East and Southern Africa and newly created VPU of West and Central Africa. The position is based at World Bank HQ in Washington DC supporting the West and Central East Africa unit (IAWE4). The Bank is engaged in all aspects of the electricity sector – generation, transmission, distribution, rural electrification and off-grid– through development policy financing, program for results, investment financing support, technical assistance and guarantee operations. Assisting the government with policy reforms to attract investments in generation and renewable energy along with the promotion of the regional energy trade, undertaking sector reforms on tariffs and regulations, analytical work on energy subsidies, modernizing the electricity network for the needs of a modern economy and increasing energy access are among the key areas of the Bank’s deepening engagement in the sector.

The World Bank access focused portfolio in Africa includes support includes efforts to support countries to achieve SDG7 and Develop policy, strategy and implementation modalities to accelerate access expansion and develop new and improved financing and implementation methods building on the Africa Region Energy LEAP program.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

IAWE4 seeks a Senior Energy Specialist based in Washington DC to support the Africa Energy unit’s work in energy access and clean energy transition initiatives in West and Central Africa as well as supporting instruments to address financial viability issues related to expanding access to electricity and clean energy transition. The Senior Energy Specialist will specifically work with country teams of Energy GP engagement in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana CMUs with particular focus on Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia on energy subsidies, sector reforms, electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects, Renewable Energy, public-private partnership (PPP) projects and technical assistance.

The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:

•  Supporting teams on strategic energy issues and implementation of the sub-region’s energy access goal and enable clean energy transition through adoption of renewable energy including implementation of RESPITE program;
•  Lead the dialogue on Sierra Leone and Liberia in Presidential roundtables and donor coordination platforms for developing enabling framework of national electrification programs including least cost planning, optimal spatial prioritization of grid and off grid solutions using GIS tools, regulatory policies and financial framework for financing of accelerated electrification with clear linkages to jobs and sustainable growth;
•  Enable regulations, policies and competitive framework for promotion of renewable energy through leveraging private sector engagement;
•  Lead teams in developing knowledge products and operational instruments to support Bank clients and advise relevant task teams;
•  Lead or coordinate business development and policy dialogue in selected countries in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone on energy access, sector reforms, and clean energy transition including through design and implementation of PforRs and IPFs;
•  Support analytical and advisory services focusing on enhancement of private sector participation in energy access and renewable energy (particularly access to electricity through decentralized schemes as well as pre-electrification options);
•  Work with IFC and MIGA for a WBG collaboration and donor coordination on potential PPP opportunities for energy access and clean energy transition;

This requisition is open to WBG staff as well as external candidates.

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in energy planning/economics or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;
•  At least 8 years of combined experience in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with demonstrated track record of successful engagement with complex projects;
•  Demonstrates solid understanding of energy/extractives policies, technologies or strategies, Private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work.
•  An excellent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities would be advantageous;
•  Experience of analysis and advice on regulatory reform, economic analysis of sector reform impacts (subsidies etc.) and cost of service.
•  Experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and stakeholders.
•  Experience working on World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending and non-lending operations is desirable;
•  Demonstrates active listening skills and the ability to influence the audience (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).
•  Experience working with large global teams, with an ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision is required;
•  High level of excitement, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients. and
•  Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Oil & Gas; Mining; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.
•  Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Oil & Gas; Mining; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.

COMPETENCIES

•  Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level;
•  Policy Dialogue Skills – Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners;
•  Integrative Skills – Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations;
•  Energy Sector Technologies – Deep experience applying knowledge (hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, and energy efficiency) to policy-related decisions and advice;
•  Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Solid understanding of energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations;
•  Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
•  Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for clients.;
•  Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront;
•  Create, Apply and Share Knowledge– Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions; and
•  Make Smart Decisions– Recommends and takes decisive action..

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All others will be offered a 4-year term appointment. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe. 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.

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.