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 United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), based on its Statute of 1950, the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and subsequent resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, is mandated to provide international protection, assistance, and solutions to refugees and other categories of persons such as returnees and internally displaced people. UNHCR’s Mandate is also to prevent and reduce statelessness. The “Global Compact on Refugees” (GCR) affirmed in 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly and its annexed “Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework” (CRRF) highlight the need to promote the self-reliance of refugees and the need for interventions targeting and benefitting simultaneously refugees and host populations. The CRRF specifically highlights the role of the private sector in refugee hosting areas as an effective and sustainable provider of services, the main creator of jobs, opportunities, and growth facilitator.

As, about 114 million people are today forcibly displaced worldwide and as protracted refugee situations present unprecedented development challenges, IFC and UNHCR have set up a Joint Initiative aiming at enabling sustainable private sector solutions, including through IFC investment transactions and advisory projects, in forced displacement contexts. This approach will target and benefit both the forcibly displaced and their host communities.

The Joint Initiative’s overarching goals are two-fold:

• To enable inclusive economic opportunities for people affected by forced displacement and their hosts by designing, funding, and piloting innovative, impactful, and scalable private sector solutions. The ambition is to mobilize USD 100 million in private sector projects over the five-year life cycle of the Joint Initiative, and more importantly to demonstrate commercial viability of investing in forced displacement contexts.
• To establish thought leadership on private sector development in forced displacement contexts through a strong knowledge base of operational lessons and promoting knowledge exchange among key stakeholders engaged in this space.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Contribute decisively to the implementation of the IFC-UNHCR Joint Initiative. This will include the following activities:

• Supporting IFC and UNHCR Regional, Country and Technical colleagues to design and implement tailored projects through the provision of technical expertise, operational support and funding;
• Building and leveraging strong relationships with the IFC Upstream, Investment and Advisory and UNHCR Operational teams to identify key priorities and implementation support;
• Designing Solutions and helping designing solutions to private sector interventions in forced displacement;
• Mainstreaming the concept of Private Sector engagement in forced displacement contexts and maintaining good relationships with external stakeholders, including government representatives, development partners, private companies, NGOs, financial institutions and humanitarian stakeholders;
• Contributing, when required, to specific Joint Initiative program management tasks;
• Ensuring knowledge management is embedded across all JI’s activities and best practices are taken into consideration in project design and implementation;
• Readiness to travel extensively and interact/provide advice to decentralized teams;
• Operate with a significant degree of autonomy, under the overall guidance of the Joint Initiative Manager.

Selection Criteria

• A post-graduate degree in one or more of the following disciplines: international development, business administration ideally with 15 years or more field experience;
• Relevant private sector development experience with a successful track record in designing and implementing development programs across several continents, in emerging economies, and familiar with market creation and inclusion approaches;
• Proven ability to engage with and provide technical assistance to private companies in business development, project design and/or innovations;
• Over 7 years’ experience in investment/transaction support or operational and technical expertise/support of advisory projects with an MDB or DFI
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and proven ability to bridge the gap between private sector and humanitarian actors;
• Familiar with project cycle, processes and procedures for investment transactions and advisory services projects at DFIs and/or MDBs;
• Extensive experience of living and/or working in challenging business environment and/or in forced displacement contexts will be a distinct advantage;
• Self-starter, mature and flexible personality; able to work in a multicultural, fast-paced, and diverse team environment;
• A team player with excellent people management skills, ability to work with colleagues from different teams and institutions who are not reporting to him/her and achieve results while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining strong client service orientation;
• Strong analytical and presentation skills working with data using standard office software Excel, Word, Powerpoint;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and ideally at least one other language (Arabic, French, Spanish, etc.).

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.