Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Visit
www.worldbank.org.Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Practice Group:
The Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Practice Group (EFI) is one of the World Bank Group’s four Practice Groups. EFI’s mandate is “Growth, Finance, and Institutions for all.” Our approach is to leverage public and private sector expertise, together with International Finance Corporation (IFC), to support a data-driven reform agenda. EFI supports clients in advancing evidence-based structural reforms to build the foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth.
EFI is composed of four Global Practices (GPs):
Macroeconomics, Trade, and Investment (MTI)and Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) — consist of country economists and trade, financial and private development specialists that support structural reforms.
Governance GP – consists of public sector, financial management and procurement specialists to support institutional and governance reforms and provide fiduciary support to all Bank operations.
Poverty and Equity GP – consists of micro, labor, and development economists to build the evidence base, provide advice and operational support to ensure country policies and WBG interventions are inclusive.
The Finance Competitiveness and Innovation GP (FCI GP) is comprised of two directorates: The Finance directorate, and the Trade,Investment and Competitiveness (TIC) directorate. The GP aims to support client countries to create an enabling environment in which financial stability, efficiency and firm-level solutions are provided in an integrated way to crowd in the private sector, support the creation of markets, and accelerate equitable growth.
The Finance Directorate provides analytical and advisory support to the international community to enact reforms that lead to deep, inclusive, efficient and resilient financial systems.. The Directorate is comprised of thematic teams focused on
(1) Financial Stability and Integrity,
(2) Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure,
(3) Long term finance and
(4) Crisis and disaster risk finance.
This advertisement pertains to a Lead Financial Sector Specialist position in the Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure team in the Finance directorate of the FCI GP. The Lead expert will collaborate across technical, geographic, and institutional boundaries to help design and deliver solutions across a diverse range of clients pertaining to all the topics covered by unit with a specific emphasis on payment systems, market infrastructures, DFS, and financial inclusion themes. The lead expert will also support sharing of global knowledge and practical development experience with WB client countries and assuring that global lessons are reflected in WB-supported programs.
This position is based in Washington DC.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide technical and thought leadership for EFNFI’s country/regional engagement on policy dialogue, technical assistance and financing projects and programs across World Bank regions on payment systems, market infrastructures, and DFS.
• Participate in and support strategic country diagnostics such as Financial Sector Assessment Programs.
• Lead or contribute to the development and implementation of high-quality global and regional technical assistance, and knowledge products on payment systems, market infrastructures, and DFS. Lead policy dialogue and dissemination events with senior policy makers, stakeholders and private sector on the aforementioned topics.
• In coordination with the Practice Manager and with team colleagues generate new ideas and approaches to meet emerging client demands and achieve development impact.
• Support the practice manager in managing the units work program, continuously strengthen analytical underpinnings, and mobilize funding.
• Contribut e to and shape the work of standard setting bodies such as the CPMI, FSB, FinCoNet, and multilateral bodies like the G20 on the aforementioned topics.
• Works closely with relevant colleagues internally (e.g., Governance GP, and Digital Development GP), and externally (e.g., IMF and CPMI) on the aforementioned topics by supporting relevant analytics and providing in-depth technical inputs and quality reviews for cross-sectoral advisory and lending projects; and sharing global experiences and practices.
• Works in partnership with EFI regional PMs, TTLs and relevant public and private stakeholders, to find tailored and holistic operational solutions to complex challenges. Is effective in communication to various audiences, including key stakeholders, clients, beneficiaries, public, internal, and external partners.
• Mentor, guide and support staff and STC colleagues on DFS, payment systems, market infrastructures and related areas, providing coaching, advice, and quality assurance.
Selection Criteria
• A Master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) in relevant field, with at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience and established intellectual leadership in areas described above.
• Experience and track record of results working across practices, disciplinary and institutional boundaries.
• Experience in applying know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results.
• Broad technical expertise and experience in conceptualizing, designing, and implementation of reforms and programs to harness innovations and digital technologies for advancing financial inclusion, financial sector development, competition in the financial sector, and development of digital economy.
• Experience as technical specialist in policy dialogue, designing projects and providing TA on aforementioned topics in both low income/FCS countries, and middle/high income countries.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies.
• Demonstrated professional leadership and ability to lead a team of professionals in the execution of projects.
• Ability to coach/mentor more junior staff and manage consultants and manage large teams.
• Willingness to travel, including to low income and FCS countries.
Required Competencies:
• Support with Policy and Technical Analysis of DFS, payment systems and market infrastructures, and financial inclusion programs and projects – Develops innovative solutions, contributes new insights to understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems, and adapts as circumstances require and manages impact of own behavior on others in context of WBG’s values and mission.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs. Adds value by constantly looking for a better way to get more impactful results; sets challenging stretch goals for oneself. Immerses oneself in client experiences and perspective by asking probing questions to understand unmet needs. Demonstrates accountability for achieving results that have a development impact and financial, environmental and social sustainability. Identifies and proposes solutions to mitigate and manage risks.
• Collaborate within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives. Appropriately involves others in decision making and communicates with key stakeholders. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Integrates WBG perspective into work.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen WBG client solutions. Contributes to the department’s and WBG’s body of knowledge by applying lessons learned and expertise. Seeks to learn from more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge and helps others to learn. Builds personal and professional networks inside and outside the department unit.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward. Seeks diversity of information and inputs, researches possible solutions and generates recommended options. Identifies and understands risks and proposes recommendations. Based on risk analysis makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of responsibility, considering the interests and concerns of stakeholders.
• Demonstrate Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and communicates findings/points of view verbally and through reports and papers. Plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders as part of Bank teams.
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.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
