Operations Officer
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
JOB DETAIL
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.
The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). Our goal is to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop impactful investment projects. This strategy is, in part, premised on improved country/sector diagnostic, strategic, and public sector engagement capabilities, which seek to: 1) resolve obstacles to private sector growth via diagnostic and strategic work that informs both IFC operations and relevant IBRD/IDA policy operations; and 2) overcome the shortage of investable projects in priority markets by proactively improving the private sector ecosystem at the country and regional level.
The Country Advisory and Economics team for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (CAEAE) supports the region through provision of country economic diagnostics, strategy, and engagement products as well as through direct support to operational teams and country units, in collaboration with economists throughout the World Bank Group. Specifically, the team has four principal functions:
• 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.
CAEAE is hiring an Operations Officer to be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia working closely with IFC country, industry, and upstream teams in select countries in the Eastern Africa Region. The Operations Officer will report to the Country Advisory & Economics Manager in CAE.
Roles & Responsibilities:
In this role, the selected candidate will serve as an Operations Officer for the CAE team in Adds Ababa, Ethiopia. He/she will work closely with IFC Country Management Unit, Upstream, Investments and Advisory staff as well as World Bank staff to design and ensure implementation of reforms that address bottlenecks faced by investors in IFC’s priority sectors, using a variety of WBG tools and offerings. He/she will play a leading role executing strategic initiatives to enhance the CAE’s functions in Ethiopia, develop new projects and support the implementation of active programs and support the delivery of the WBG/IFC country strategy and business plan, and deliver high quality advisory engagements to the Government and private sector.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Client and Stakeholder Management:
• Provide advisory services and monitor progress in implementing financial sector/private sector related reform initiatives.
• Develop new business in line with client and market needs aligned with IFC priorities.
• Communicate with senior level clients of the Government and private sector and articulate the case for enabling environment related reforms that are critical to unlock private investment potential.
• 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.
• Engage with the relevant teams at the World Bank and IFC for reforms needed to unlock new markets and work collaboratively with Upstream teams.
• Report progress to development partners on donor funded programs and develop new fund-raising proposals.
Design and Operationalize Solutions:
• Collaborate with Upstream/industry specialists in the identification, design and deliver of implementation support for relevant reforms to improve the enabling environment to create markets and promote private investments in Ethiopia.
• Develop and contribute to the development and approval of relevant project documents (Concept Notes and Implementation Plans) and client deliverables to ensure standards and objectives are met.
• 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 of project supervision and completion documents and provide timely and high-quality support to clients. Moreover, support client in implementing recommendations and help trouble shoot as needed.
• Manage project budgets and ensure efficient/ effective use of resources.
Create and Share Knowledge; Build Capacity:
• Support sharing of tools and guidance to clients incorporate internal and external best practices.
• Proactively strengthen the value proposition of advisory products through new trends and partnerships.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree in Economics Law, Finance or Business, or a closely related field
• At least 7 years’ relevant professional experience with a focus on delivering private sector and financial sector/investment climate reforms in Ethiopia.
• Strong skills and demonstrated track record in delivering advisory engagements, particularly in the areas of private sector development as well as financial sector issues.
• Understanding of Ethiopia’s business environment for the private sector and opportunities for private sector investments, and great knowledge of key stakeholders in this area.
• Existing / established network with relevant Ethiopian stakeholders in government and the private sector would be an advantage.
• 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.
• Understand the implications of different policy and regulatory frameworks governing the thematic areas.
• 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.
• Able to identify how changes in markets, business climate, regulations or emergence of new/ successful innovators/ disruptors may create new opportunities for IFC to accelerate its mandate in a thematic area.
• Able to design research and analytical projects or major portion of complex projects to credibly produce new understanding of a thematic issue and/or potential opportunities to unlock new markets or new streams of business.
• Ability to conceptualize and lead research and analytical projects that could ultimately lead to the opening of new markets and/or reframe thinking on thematic approaches to better meet IFC and WBG mandates.
• Able to develop the research storyline that is relevant to and engages targeted stakeholders and mobilizes needed expertise.
• Able to move research proposals and results across functions to ensure relevant aspects becomes anchored and integrated with the work in those functions.
• Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and aptitude to learn new systems is a must.
• Ability to use project management systems is a plus.
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills plus fluency in English is must.
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.
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