Fostering competitiveness & employment is one of the two pillars of the Bank Africa Region’s new strategy. The second pillar aims to reducing vulnerability and improving resilience, along with a foundation of governance & public sector capacity. This strategy is being implemented through partnerships, knowledge and financing, as 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. 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. The Financial and Private Sector Development (FPD) Network has been supporting Sub-Saharan African countries to design and implement programs to increase their competitiveness and private sector investment for nearly a decade.

The Region’s Financial and Private Sector Department (AFTFP) 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.

AFTFP is comprised of 60+ staff based in HQ with a significant portion based in country offices. It 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.

The AFTFW Unit seeks to recruit a Private Sector Development Specialist to join its team in Togo. This locally recruited Private Sector Development Specialist position will report to both AFTFW and the AFCF2 country management, a dynamic Country Management Unit (CMU) covering Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo.

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 3 year renewable term appointment.

Taken

AFTFW’s work program in Togo and Benin includes a combination of lending and non lending activities which aim to address competitiveness barriers and overcome finance and private sector development binding constraints. The current portfolio includes:

• The Competitiveness and Integrated Growth Opportunities project (CIGOP) in Benin;

• The Private Sector Development and the Financial Sector Development and Governance projects in Togo

The Private Sector Development Specialist will assist in the development of the Bank’s private sector business plan to support Togo and Benin’s medium term competitiveness strategy. He/she will provide technical support to other country team members and provide support in supervising ongoing projects in the FPD portfolio in the two countries.

More specifically he/she, will:

• Supervise FPD operations (lending and non lending), working in close collaboration with the FPD cluster leader and other FPD staff;

• Provide support and guidance to the Government team implementing projects and undertake supervision activities on behalf of IDA (e.g. organizing missions, preparing procurement responses etc.);

• Contribute to the development of a robust finance and private sector work program in AFCC2 countries (Togo, Benin) through support to management and staff within the CMU;

• Work closely with the FPD cluster leaders based in Washington, Abidjan and Dakar in providing regional oversight on private sector related issues and developing regional analytical work;

• Provide technical inputs to the Togo and Benin strategic policy dialogue, policy-based lending, Country Assistance Strategies and Development Policy Operations

• Provide technical inputs to Government on specific issues for the formulation of a competitiveness and private sector development strategy;

• Represent the World Bank in meetings relating to private and financial sector development ;

• Serve as the principal contact for coordination of private sector issues and disseminate analytical work and best practice principles (including regional reports and workshops/conferences);

• Work closely with other development partners including the European Union, and the African Development Bank to strengthen partnerships and build synergies.

Criteria

• Masters Degree in economics and/or business administration with a minimum of 5 years of directly relevant experience since completing the degree, preferably with private and/or financial sector operations;

• Operational experience in the World Bank group or related organizations, preferably experience in preparation or supervision of sector investment loans or adjustment operations or policy lending;

• Excellent conceptual and 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;

• Recognized and respected by peers with demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collegially in a team with peers at all levels;

• Demonstrated ability to represent and present private and financial sector issues effectively and make sound judgments on issues requiring management guidance;

• Demonstrated ability to communicate ideas and analyses clearly and tactfully, both verbal and written, in French and in English.

• Trust Fund accreditation and procurement proficiency a plus.