Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC’s Country Advisory and Economics (CAE) unit is responsible for:
•  Producing both regional and country-level economic assessments to support IFC’s strategy and operations;
•  Collaborating with regional and industry colleagues to produce analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and IFC Country Strategies;
•  Significantly contributing to WBG products such as Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), and IBRD/IDA lending operations; and
•  Putting IFC’s country strategy and diagnostic recommendations into practice through Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, civil society, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector development.

CAE’s advisory efforts focus on improving the enabling environment that can facilitate private investment opportunities, including foreign direct investments, while strengthening IFC’s relationships with client countries in support of IFC 3.0. Specifically, the CAE team works proactively with governments and regulatory agencies to create effective and efficient market conditions, both at economy wide as well as industry/sector level, for increased private investments. The unit collaborates extensively with IFC Industry teams, cross-cutting teams, and other teams across the World Bank Group in the design and delivery of advisory services.

CAE currently operates across East Asia Pacific (EAP), with an active portfolio in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Mongolia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Solomon Islands. In Fiji, CAE supports the Government’s ambitions to streamline the regulatory environment for business and to create investment opportunities in tourism, affordable housing and other competitive sectors. But Fiji also faces the threat of rising emissions as well as an increase in the frequency of disasters caused by climate change. IFC notes that adaptation and mitigation of climate change and its impacts requires a strong focus on increasing investment in and financing of a new “green industrial revolution”, improving the environmental, social and economic performance of existing industries, while creating competitive industries delivering sustainable goods. IFC has identified industrial decarbonization, circular economy, green manufacturing, eco industrial parks as a few thematic areas of intervention for supporting emission reductions.

Role & Responsibilities:
IFC is seeking to recruit a highly motivated Operations Officer based in Suva, Fiji, with extensive hands-on experience in business regulation reforms, investment policy and promotion and green investment climate reforms. He/she will work closely with EAP CAE, IFC Upstream, Investments and Advisory staff as well as World Bank staff to design and implement high quality advisory engagements to the government and private sector in Fiji and potentially in other countries of the region if required.

The selected candidate will report directly to the CAE Regional Manager for EAP.
Duties and Accountabilities:
•  Work with external clients and World Bank Group colleagues to deliver technical support in the areas of business regulation reforms, investment policy and promotion and green investment climate reforms.
•  Work with thematic Leads to design and deliver operational projects, including the provision of technical advice in these thematic areas.
•  Lead efforts to develop new business development in line with client and market needs as well as IFC priorities.
•  Engage with the relevant teams at the World Bank and IFC for reforms needed to unlock new markets and work collaboratively with Upstream teams.
•  Work collaboratively with IFC Investment/Upstream/Advisory colleagues to align advisory to help build a pipeline of investment projects and provide solutions to key portfolio clients.

Design and Operationalize Solutions:
•  Collaborate with CAE as well as Upstream/industry specialists in the identification and design of business regulation, investment policy, investment promotion and green investment climate reforms, including formulating reform recommendations for the respective clients.
•  Lead the development and approval of relevant project documents (Concept Notes and Implementation Plans) and client deliverables to ensure standards and objectives are met.
•  Lead efforts to leverage relationships with Government officials, private sector and World Bank Group staff to design and implement reforms using existing or new projects and tools to support reform implementation.
•  Improve the design and delivery of client solutions by incorporating global best practices and lessons from past.
•  Partner with results team in developing appropriate theories of change and results frameworks and indicators to strengthen the development impact and sustainability of client solutions and continuously learn from client projects/ engagements.
•  Ensure high quality control of work products and outputs.
•  Ensure high quality of project supervision and completion documents and provide quality control over client deliverables. Moreover, support client in implementing recommendations and help trouble shoot as needed.

Client and Stakeholder Management:
•  Manage multi-stakeholder relationships, including between government clients and the private sector.
•  Communicate with senior level clients of the Government and private sector and articulate the case for reforms.
•  Conduct stakeholder and client workshops and training events in relation to thematic areas.
•  Engage pro-actively with donor partners to report progress on donor funded programs and develop new fund-raising proposals.

Create and Share Knowledge and Build Capacity:
•  Conduct research and undertake project-based analysis in the above technical areas, contributing to the WBGs knowledge dissemination.
•  Contribute to Global and Regional Knowledge Management initiatives, including through the development of benchmarking, diagnostic reports, implementation manuals, internal and external articles and publications that aim to capture trends, practices, and lessons learned.
•  Support peer to peer knowledge exchange sessions across the region.

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, Economics, or a closely related field, or professional certification (CPA, CFA).
•  At least 8 years of relevant experience in private sector development with focus on business regulatory reforms, investment policy reforms, investment promotion or green investment climate in Fiji or across countries in the Pacific region.
•  Experience working in Fiji or at least one country in the Pacific, and preferably at least one other region of the world.
•  Strong research, analytical, and writing skills are essential. Publications in the relevant technical area are considered an asset.
•  Understanding of IFC and WBG products/instruments and where there are opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration. Demonstrable experience working on IFC and WBG products will be an advantage.
•  Able to design, negotiate and lead efforts to develop client offerings that reflect in-depth knowledge of thematic area and understanding of business case for how thematic focus will help client to improve their business.
•  Strong drive for results and impact, great responsiveness and team work.
•  Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and aptitude to learn new systems is a must.  Ability to use IFC project management systems such as iPortal is an additional advantage.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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