Background / General description
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region is undergoing radical transformation in the wake of the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. These events have affected virtually all countries in the region and have triggered a fundamental re-thinking of the role of the State and the way governments operate.
In the MENA region the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Group (MNSPR) is responsible for the Bank’s work on economic policy, public sector and economic governance, trade, gender and poverty. MNSPR comprises two units: economic policy, poverty and gender (MNSED) with a Lead Economist in the front office, and public sector and governance (MNSPS). The work program includes lending operations, non-lending technical assistance and a large AAA portfolio – with approximately 50 staff and consultants located in headquarters and country offices and managed by two Sector Managers under the guidance of a Sector Director.
MNSPS has an opening for a Senior Governance Specialist to serve as the focal point for our public sector and governance program in the region - with a major focus on Egypt. The Egypt program is covering a broad range of macroeconomic and public sector governance activities. The ideal candidate would be combine a deep understanding of public sector and economic governance issues with a considerable knowledge of economic policy issues. This position is also suitable for economists with a strong public expenditure management background. She/he will be responsible for public sector and economic governance activities in selected countries in the region, working directly with key government and non-government entities and coordinating with other development partners as well as colleagues from the PREM network, other sectors, the World Bank Institute (WBI), and Network Anchors.
The position will ideally be based in Cairo or in another field office in the region to ensure close interaction with our clients on our ongoing engagements there. The location is negotiable.
Duties and Accountabilities
The Senior Governance Specialist will help implement and further expand MNSPR activities in the selected countries in the region, in particular with regard to public sector reform, economic governance and public expenditure management. This requires substantial knowledge of both, economic and public sector governance issues, and (ideally) some familiarity with recent developments in the MENA region and OECD countries. He/she will also have thorough knowledge of the economic governance and broader public sector governance literature. He/she will also have the ability to lead production of projects and/or major studies on economic and public sector governance reforms, and demonstrate significant experience working with governments on relevant reform issues. He/she will have experience organizing learning and outreach events and programs, both regional and in-country. The Senior Governance Specialist will be able to actively integrate political economy issues, organization and institutional analysis, and change management in his/her work. He/she will also have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with multilateral and bilateral institutions engaged in economic and public sector governance reforms.
The Senior Governance Specialist will facilitate and participate in the analytical and advisory activities of MNSPR in the region, in particular public sector and economic governance issues. He/she will also be involved in economic policy issues, especially at the nexus of implementation of economic policy reforms. He/she will advise MNSPR and the relevant country team on strategic and technical aspects of economic and public sector governance reforms, including political economy-related aspects.
The Senior Governance Specialist will report to the Sector Manager, MNSPS for all technical and human resource-related matters. If based in a field office, he/she will also report to the Country Manager on matters related to country representation and day-to-day management.
Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree (preferably PhD) in economics, political science, public policy, or public administration/ management and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience, including management and implement of substantive analytical tasks on public sector and economic governance reform.
• Operational experience (preferably within the Bank or with a major donor) on public expenditure, economic policy or public sector and economic governance reforms, including the task management of operational activities.
• Proven knowledge of good practices, trends, and emerging lessons in economic policy, public expenditure or public sector/economic governance reforms, and experience adapting that knowledge to client countries.
• Ability to conceptualize and design analytical work on economic policy, public expenditure or public sector/economic governance reforms.
• Ability to work to participate and eventually lead multi-sectoral teams, including consultants, researchers and related professionals.
• Creativity, resourcefulness, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong client orientation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural environment and to present complex ideas clearly to non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic or French are a prerequisite for the position.
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.
Apply Now
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region is undergoing radical transformation in the wake of the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. These events have affected virtually all countries in the region and have triggered a fundamental re-thinking of the role of the State and the way governments operate.
In the MENA region the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Group (MNSPR) is responsible for the Bank’s work on economic policy, public sector and economic governance, trade, gender and poverty. MNSPR comprises two units: economic policy, poverty and gender (MNSED) with a Lead Economist in the front office, and public sector and governance (MNSPS). The work program includes lending operations, non-lending technical assistance and a large AAA portfolio – with approximately 50 staff and consultants located in headquarters and country offices and managed by two Sector Managers under the guidance of a Sector Director.
MNSPS has an opening for a Senior Governance Specialist to serve as the focal point for our public sector and governance program in the region - with a major focus on Egypt. The Egypt program is covering a broad range of macroeconomic and public sector governance activities. The ideal candidate would be combine a deep understanding of public sector and economic governance issues with a considerable knowledge of economic policy issues. This position is also suitable for economists with a strong public expenditure management background. She/he will be responsible for public sector and economic governance activities in selected countries in the region, working directly with key government and non-government entities and coordinating with other development partners as well as colleagues from the PREM network, other sectors, the World Bank Institute (WBI), and Network Anchors.
The position will ideally be based in Cairo or in another field office in the region to ensure close interaction with our clients on our ongoing engagements there. The location is negotiable.
Duties and Accountabilities
The Senior Governance Specialist will help implement and further expand MNSPR activities in the selected countries in the region, in particular with regard to public sector reform, economic governance and public expenditure management. This requires substantial knowledge of both, economic and public sector governance issues, and (ideally) some familiarity with recent developments in the MENA region and OECD countries. He/she will also have thorough knowledge of the economic governance and broader public sector governance literature. He/she will also have the ability to lead production of projects and/or major studies on economic and public sector governance reforms, and demonstrate significant experience working with governments on relevant reform issues. He/she will have experience organizing learning and outreach events and programs, both regional and in-country. The Senior Governance Specialist will be able to actively integrate political economy issues, organization and institutional analysis, and change management in his/her work. He/she will also have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with multilateral and bilateral institutions engaged in economic and public sector governance reforms.
The Senior Governance Specialist will facilitate and participate in the analytical and advisory activities of MNSPR in the region, in particular public sector and economic governance issues. He/she will also be involved in economic policy issues, especially at the nexus of implementation of economic policy reforms. He/she will advise MNSPR and the relevant country team on strategic and technical aspects of economic and public sector governance reforms, including political economy-related aspects.
The Senior Governance Specialist will report to the Sector Manager, MNSPS for all technical and human resource-related matters. If based in a field office, he/she will also report to the Country Manager on matters related to country representation and day-to-day management.
Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree (preferably PhD) in economics, political science, public policy, or public administration/ management and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience, including management and implement of substantive analytical tasks on public sector and economic governance reform.
• Operational experience (preferably within the Bank or with a major donor) on public expenditure, economic policy or public sector and economic governance reforms, including the task management of operational activities.
• Proven knowledge of good practices, trends, and emerging lessons in economic policy, public expenditure or public sector/economic governance reforms, and experience adapting that knowledge to client countries.
• Ability to conceptualize and design analytical work on economic policy, public expenditure or public sector/economic governance reforms.
• Ability to work to participate and eventually lead multi-sectoral teams, including consultants, researchers and related professionals.
• Creativity, resourcefulness, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong client orientation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural environment and to present complex ideas clearly to non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic or French are a prerequisite for the position.
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.
Apply Now