Lead Public Sector Governance Specialist (Cluster Leader) - Hoofdinhoud

The Africa Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Department (AFR PREM) plays a key role in implementing the Africa Strategy and the Governance and Anti-Corruption (GAC) strategy. It has particularly significant responsibilities in strengthening efforts to build sustainable and effective institutions that can help bring about shared growth and poverty reduction in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The Department is the focal point for efforts to strengthen public sector management and governance across all the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region. The work of the department is organized across five (5) geographic clusters, each coordinated by a cluster leader who reports to the sector manager.

The department is currently active in about 30 of the 48 countries and serves country management by undertaking analytical work and designing and managing lending operations aimed at improving the transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness of the State in performing its core functions and delivering public services. It currently has an active PSM/Governance project portfolio of 17 projects countries with total commitment of about $650 million. The thematic work of the unit includes public expenditure and finance management, decentralization, civil service management, anti-corruption, legal and judicial reform, and natural resource management. Political economy and demand-side analysis are additional areas in which there is growing work in the region as part of broad governance analysis and programming. Public sector governance staff is actively involved in advising on the design and implementation of Country Assistance Strategies (CASs). With the implementation of the GAC strategy, the unit is active in working with CMUs and sectors to address governance constraints to development in country strategies and in sector operations.

The department seeks to recruit a dynamic and innovative Lead Public Sector/Governance Specialist to serve as cluster leader for the Eastern Africa group of countries that include Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Somalia. The selected candidate will be based in the World Bank’s Country Office as part of the PREM team in Nairobi, Kenya, for a period of at least three years and will have an important leadership role in the country teams of the cluster. She/he will lead the governance and public sector reform program in the countries within the Eastern Africa cluster, working directly with key government and non-government entities and coordinating with other development partners as well as the Lead Economist and colleagues from the PREM network, other sectors, the World Bank Institute (WBI), and Network Anchors.

Taken

The selected candidate will report to the Sector Manager (SM), and will be expected to carry out the following duties:

• - 

  In 2-3 countries, directly lead multi-sector teams to deliver the Bank’s analytical, lending, and grant operations pertaining to public sector reform, including political economy and governance diagnostic work.
• - 

  Generate and exchange knowledge relating to concepts, techniques and lessons of experience pertaining to governance, public sector reform and capacity building.
• - 

  Provide guidance to and mentor AFTPR staff working on public sector governance strategies in countries within the Eastern Africa geographical cluster.
• - 

  Lead the preparation (and periodic updating) of concise public sector/governance strategy papers for each of the countries in the cluster, drawing on inputs from relevant country team members.
• - 

  Engage with the Country Departments to derive substantive buy-in to the strategy and negotiate the allocation of budgetary resources for the related work program, drawing in the SM into the discussion where necessary.
• - 

  Selectively assist sector colleagues in diagnosing and addressing governance constraints in high priority programs
• - 

  Assist the SM in supervising the quality and timeliness of work program deliverables under each cluster by providing guidance on major outputs of the unit.

Criteria

The successful candidate will be a highly seasoned professional with extensive experience working on public sector management, governance and anti-corruption issues in developing countries.

• - 

  Advanced degree in public policy and administration, economics, political science, finance, or other related field, with a strong record of peer reviewed publication.
• - 

  At least 10 years of relevant experience in public sector reform and capacity building. Work experience in Africa would be preferred and experience in post-conflict countries will be relevant.
• - 

  Demonstrated skills and leadership in addressing governance challenges in multiple sectors and in shaping country strategies. Experience in governance issues related to natural resource management a plus.
• - 

  Demonstrated skills and experience in project management.
• - 

  Strong interpersonal skills, proven team orientation, ability to multi-task and work across unit boundaries and a solid track record of mentoring junior staff.
• - 

  Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive, professional relationships with government counterparts, donors and other stakeholders.
• - 

  Excellent writing abilities, persuasive oral communication skills and ability to foster long-term, productive client relationships.
• - 

  Fluency in English is required and fluency in Arabic and French would be an advantage.

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.