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 has created a climate-smart cities platform called APEX Green Cities. This new platform will help cities make decisions about the future of their energy, transport, water, and waste systems through an extensive array of policy and investment options (Figure 1). The APEX software is used to quickly assess the resource requirements, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts, costs, and payback periods of policies, investments, and planning measures. The APEX Green Cities program aims to increase the pipeline of public and private climate-related investment influenced by city-level policies and investment plans.

The IFC APEX Team works directly with client cities to conduct APEX analyses. The analyses will determine the future GHG and resource impacts of the city’s current investment pipeline, as well as identify other investment, policy, and planning opportunities in the city. The APEX development process includes workshops with city officials and stakeholders, data gathering, research, analysis using the APEX software, peer review, and preparation of the final reports. IFC’s APEX software and example case studies can be explored at www.apexcities.com.

The online APEX software is driven by an underlying APEX calculation engine, which comprises several building blocks, as illustrated in Figure 2. There are many inter-related engines for each APEX sector, employment, cost, and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as databases with information about countries and cities built upon publicly available datasets. The calculation engine is undergoing continuous improvement to incorporate lessons learned with client cities, the latest in green cities research, emerging best practices, new data sources, and client priorities.

Duties and Accountabilities

IFC is seeking a Tool Analyst Extended-Term Consultant (ETC) to support the implementation of the development pipeline for the APEX calculation engine and online software. Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities and deliverables:
•  Implement new algorithms, methodologies, and data into the APEX calculation engine
•  Track and fix bugs in the calculation engine
•  Work with team members to develop and implement innovative methodological approaches to quantify impacts from energy, built environment, transport, waste, water, and GHG actions in cities, as well as develop new tool modules such as adaptation and financing approaches
•  Work with team members to explore and retrieve alternative sources of data for cities, particularly for cities in emerging markets and data-scarce environments
•  Provide input on opportunities to improve current functionality of the APEX calculation engine
•  Work with team members to develop, test, and deploy updates to the APEX online software
•  Coordinate with internal/external IT colleagues regarding updates to the APEX online software
•  Project management support for the methodology, tool, and online software development pipeline
•  Other duties as needed

Selection Criteria

•  Advanced degree in engineering, computer science, architecture, urban planning, policy, transport planning, or related field
•  2-5 years of work experience with Excel-based tools in the area of cities and urban sustainability
•  Exceptionally strong skills in Microsoft Excel, including VBA and Macros
•  Familiarity with the GHG Protocol for Cities (GPC), as well as some general knowledge across all APEX sectors (i.e., buildings, energy, transportation, waste, and water/wastewater)
•  Strong research and data retrieval skills
•  Strong teamwork skills, as well as the ability to self-motivate and work independently
•  Strong project management skills
•  Demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and succinctly
•  Strong oral and written communication skills in English
•  Experience with Python, preferably using Python to automate Excel a plus
•  Experience with .NET, SQL, and QGIS a plus

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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