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. While it was hit by the global financial and economic crisis, the continent has been on the rebound since 2010 and overall GDP growth continues to be strong. 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. A new Africa strategy is under implementation. It has two pillars - -competitiveness & employment and vulnerability & resilience - - and a foundation of governance &public sector capacity. It will be implemented through partnerships, knowledge 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 the old 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 the FPD GP pilot seeks to significantly increase client impact and staff satisfaction. The Region’s Financial 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.

Country context

After a period of sustained growth, Burkina Faso’s economy now faces trying times. Between 1994 and 2007, the country’s economy boomed. Structural reforms, sound macroeconomic policies, and steady investment enabled Burkina Faso to sustain significant growth rates and maintain relative macro-economic stability. Cotton exports formed the basis of Burkina Faso’s high gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates, which averaged about 6 percent during this period, significantly exceeding the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) average.

The global financial crisis presents new challenges to Burkina’s development agenda. The impact of exogenous shocks was particularly significant during the last two years. GDP growth dropped to 3.6 percent in 2007 before recovering to 5 percent in 2008, and 5.2 percent in 2010 thanks to government countercyclical interventions and substantial increase of commodities prices. Despite the recovery, the country remains vulnerable to terms of trade shocks, low diversification of its export basket, and high exposure to weather-related risks. The crisis has revealed that ultimately over-reliance on the cotton subsector for economic growth is both risky and unsustainable.

Economic diversification is paramount to reducing vulnerability, enhancing export performance, and ensuring sustainable growth. Burkina Faso’s low income level and thin domestic market makes it dependent on exports for growth.

Recognizing that past reform attempts to diversify export revenue sources have been uneven and spread too broadly, the Government designed a new strategy, the five-year Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development 2011–2015 (SCADD). The Government’s strategy now focuses on growth poles and value chains for the acceleration of growth and job creation through private investments and diversified high-value production.

Consistent with the Government long term development strategy, the Africa Finance and Private Sector Team (AFTFP) will focus on providing a combination of advice and operations on a range of topics, which include inter alia investment climate; investment and export promotion, competiveness, financial sector development.

Taken

The AFTFW Unit seeks to recruit a Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, with a strong background in financial sector development and implementation to join its Ouagadougou team. The selected candidate will report to both AFTFW and AFCF2 management units. The AFCF2 Department is a dynamic Country Management Unit (CMU) which covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo. The Country Director is currently based in Abidjan and is supported by three country managers in Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo.

The candidate will:

• Provide strategic advice and support on FPD matters to the country director / manager.

• Build close and cordial relationships with key private and financial sector counterparts to ensure high impact of analytic and operational work.

• Conduct policy dialogue on private and financial sector issues while actively participating and contributing to multisectoral teams involved in policy based operations or analytical reporting (AAA) to ensure the integration of key FPD thematic areas (financial sector development – stability and access, business environment and regulation, investment climate, enterprise competitiveness, public private partnerships, MSME development) in the country work program.

• Ensure effective supervision of FPD activities (lending and non lending) under implementation in Burkina .

• Develop a strong FPD pipeline of activities (lending and non lending) with a particular focus on design/implementation of operation to improve MSMEs access to finance, investment climate reforms, export and investment promotion etc.

• Broaden the dissemination of FPD AAA in Burkina through effective collaboration with IFC, MIGA and other relevant partners.

• Coordinate public-private policy dialogue activities with financial and private sector partners.

• Mentor or coach junior FPD staff working in the same CMU.

Criteria

• Minimum MA +8 years of relevant professional experience (private sector, government, academia or international agencies with a focus on either the financial or the private sector). The ideal candidate will have a combination of experience inside and outside the World Bank, in other international organizations and across more than one region.

• Broad knowledge of the financial sector and the financial services industry, for either bank or non-bank financial institutions to provide analytical and operational support for financial sector development is highly appreciated.

• Proven technical skills at least in one of key private sector development competencies (business environment reform, trade, investment promotion, competitive industries, PPPs, etc.).

• Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of the project management concepts, as well as of instruments and processes related to project preparation and implementation.

• Prior experience or exposure to the management of a range of Bank products, including different types of loans/credits (adjustment/development policy, investment, and technical assistance) or of a major pieces of analytic work such as ICAs, Private Sector Strategies, FSAP, CEMs, or policy papers.

• Excellent analytical skills with an ability to address both macro and micro issues and a strong track record of excellence in analytical work and policy discussions.

• A consistent track record of performance with a clear focus on results on the ground. Proven ability to integrate multi-sectoral approaches or programs and proven ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

• Trust Fund accreditation and procurement proficiency are desireable.

• The Candidate must have excellent communications skills, including writing and presentation skills in both French and English.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.