We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

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.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

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 build their development.

Western And Central Africa (AFW) Region

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA TRANSPORT UNIT (IAWT3)

Transport in the Africa Region has a large and diversity portfolio of about 54 projects under implementation, with an aggregate value of about US$ 8.9 billion. This portfolio is increasing by 5-10 projects per year, with a slightly smaller number closing over the same period. The record replenishment for IDA20, together with the greater focus on fragile states, gender equality, transformational projects, greater private sector participation, and climate change, is leading to a further increase in both the diversity and scale of the portfolio. The Transport program in Africa is split between four units covering (a) Francophone and Lusophone West Africa and Gambia, (b) East Africa, (c) Southern Africa, and (d) Central Africa, and anglophone West Africa except Gambia.

In the IAWT3 unit, the World Bank serves 9 client countries. Clients range from lower middle-income countries such as Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria with high demand for infrastructure programs, to fragile and low-income IDA countries such as Central African Republic and Sierra Leone. Areas of particular interest for the transport sector in these countries include rural transport for agricultural productivity; urban mobility (particularly Bus Rapid Transit systems) to improve functioning of urban areas and improving accessibility to jobs and social services by the poorer segments of the population; regional integration corridors for facilitating trade and reducing logistics costs; investments in ports, railway, and air transport, for improving connectivity within and across countries; PPPs to bring in efficiencies in the provision of infrastructure and services; and road safety interventions to reduce the high number of traffic fatalities in the client countries.

Duties And Accountabilities

IAWT3 is hiring a Senior Transport Specialist, with prior operational experience – preferably in Africa, to join the World Bank Accra country office. The Specialist will: (i) contribute and eventually be responsible for the management of the support to the implementation of a selected number of projects in Ghana and the sub-region, with a focus on those related to urban mobility; (ii) contribute to the technical dialogue in the transport sector with the Ghanian authorities, as well as with other neighboring clients in the sub-region; (iii) support the preparation of possible new projects in the region, as well as the support to policy/institutional reforms; and (iv) contribute to projects and knowledge activities in the Transport global practice and in close collaboration with other Global Practices. More specifically, the Senior Transport Specialist will:

• As a team member or, Task Team Leader, contribute and eventually lead the management, preparation or supervision of transport projects covering the core elements of planning, design, procurement, construction, contract management, maintenance, and operations, while paying close attention to the design and monitoring the implementation of environmental and social safeguards and other cross-cutting issues, including the opportunities for expanding the incorporation of the private sector in the financing and/or provision of transport infrastructure and services.
• Contribute to (and eventually lead) selected analytical studies or Trust Funds, particularly on issues related to the provision of transport infrastructure and services, financing options, asset maintenance and operations, climate resilience, gender, impact evaluation, and general best practices in the investment, management and delivery of infrastructure and services.
• Under the guidance of the Practice Manager, contribute to sector policy dialogue and institutional reforms and capacity building programs, seeking to develop capacity in the pertinent implementing entities, with attention to the opportunities and options to engage the private sector. In this effort, ensure consideration of cross-cutting issues such as, inter alia, social and environmental impacts, gender equality, health and safety, digitalization and climate change.
• Contribute in cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of policy notes, Country Partnership Frameworks, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, and research and policy development activities on the topics/sections pertaining to transport, urban development, poverty reduction, environmental management, agriculture and trade and competitiveness.
• Support the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in a selected number of thematic technical groups (Global Solutions Groups or Communities of Practice) and participating in drafting of technical notes in collaboration with other Global practices to enhance the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and expanding the existing knowledge base.
• Stay abreast of recent developments in the transport sector world-wide, and on cross-cutting issues, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position; identifying knowledge gaps and disseminating relevant knowledge to clients.

Selection Criteria

Skills

The position calls for a highly-motivated individual who is able to lead teams and work with little supervision. The successful candidate shall have a master’s degree or equivalent in transport planning/transport economics/transport engineering, finance, urban planning or other related disciplines, with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience in (a) developing and implementing public transport service plans that include establishing and reorganizing networks; (b) negotiating services contracts in relation to urban mobility (c) implementing complementary road, traffic management and non-motorized transport plans; (d) regulating informal and conventional public transport modes; (e) implementing multimodal public transport systems through physical, fare, and operational integration; and (f) mitigating demand and sustainability risks during public transport start-up and operational phases. Other specific skills include:

• Strong technical and operational skills as evidenced by a proven track record in working on policy institutional, financing, and with an understanding and ability to work on contract management, and social and environmental requirements for the sector;
• Proven ability to lead tasks/projects and to function effectively as team leader or team member of multi-disciplinary teams, mentor staff, and resolve conflicts constructively;
• Strong client and communications skills, with proven experience in providing quality policy and project advice to national and sub-national government clients on urban transport and mobility issues, and interest in transferring knowledge;
• Ability to identify and develop potential areas for future World Bank transport sector initiatives based on client consultation and analysis;
• Excellent writing and communication skills

WBG Competencies

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

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. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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.