Extended Term Consultant, Baghdad, Iraq (EC-2) World Bank Closing date: Wednesday, 4 March 2015 (added 25 February)

Closing date: Wednesday, 4 March 2015

Background / General description: On March 10, 2013, the World Bank and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of the Republic of Iraq signed an agreement for technical cooperation. The agreement sets out a framework of Reimbursable Advisory Service (RAS) between the World Bank and KRG. The Reimbursable Advisory Services shall comprise analytic and advisory services including economic and sector work, non-lending technical assistance, impact evaluation, research services as well as external training and workshops/conferences in support of the Iraq Country Partnership Strategy for the World Bank Group 2013 to 2016 ( the 'CPS'), and the KRG Vision 2020.

The CPS aims to support the efforts of the Republic of Iraq to build stronger government institutions and a more diversified economy that can deliver services to the population and create jobs and is structured around three pillars: (i) improving governance;

(ii) supporting economic diversification for broadly-shared prosperity; and

(iii) improving social inclusion and reducing poverty. Accordingly, RAS shall include activities supporting such areas, including but not limited to: governance (budget and public financial management, institutional strengthening, fighting corruption); private sector development; infrastructure (including energy, telecommunications and transport); environment and climate change; social services, and service delivery. RAS activities may also include assistance in the design, implementation and supervision of the Project. The concrete tasks to be undertaken and outputs to be produced by the World Bank with respect to specific set of reimbursable advisory services will be set out in specific project proposal and activities that are approved for implementation by KRG.

Duties and Accountabilities: The objective of the assignment is to provide local coordination and implementation support for all activities that are agreed upon between the World Bank and KRG.

The candidate will serve as an integral part of the World Bank Middle East and North Africa Country Management Unit responsible for Iraq. The candidate will be based in Erbil, and may require travel to locations outside KRG to support workshops or other activities. The roles and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to the following:

Assist individual project Task Team Leaders (TTL) in coordinating activities from Erbil (this could include coordinating travel, arranging workshops, videoconferences, translation and interpretation, etc.);
Interact regularly with TTLs to setup meetings ahead and during missions, develop mission programs, and ensure smooth and coordinated mission schedules;
Undertake data collection on behalf of the team from respective sectoral ministries, agencies, etc., and undertake local research relevant to the project/activity;
On behalf of and in coordination with the TTL, interact regularly with government officials on issues related to the specific activity/project, ensuring smooth on-going communications between the World Bank team and KRG officials;
Build and sustain effective relationships with counterparts at the ministries in KRG and inform the various TTLs on obstacles faced that may impact the objectives of the activities;
Support organizing and participate in implementation workshops in Erbil and other locations in KRG or outside. This will include identifying workshop locations and making necessary arrangements to ensure successful workshops;
Support the identification of local consultants to support implementation, and participate in the evaluation and selection process;
Document information shared by MOP other key counterpart agencies working in the project, and inform the TTLs accordingly;
Assist with the gathering of information required to support individual projects, keeping track of media and press, and information related to a specific sector in Erbil and/or Iraq as a whole as it relates to a project;
Translate relevant documents, as requested, and review and edit translated documents for quality control purposes;
Liaise with the Ministry of Planning and other ministries and agencies, as required;
Liaise closely with the World Bank Country Offices in Baghdad and Beirut; and
Provide a monthly report to the Iraq Country Manager and the respective TTL regarding activities performed, developments at MOP/KRG, update on gaps and specific needs, and when needed, requests for specific guidance or support.
Available Documents: World Bank Iraq Country Partnership Strategy 2013-2016

KRG Vision 2020

The candidate will be contracted locally as an Extended Term Contract. He/She will report to the Iraq Country Manager, and will work in close coordination and under the guidance of individual TTLs. The candidate is expected to be located in Erbil.

Selection Criteria: Education:

A minimum of a Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in management, finance, business administration, public policy & administration, or other related fields. A Master's degree is highly desirable.
Knowledge & Experience:
At least 5 years of experience in working in public administration, public sector management, human development, social sectors, and infrastructure or project coordination/management;
Experience working with the KRG and/or Iraqi public sector;
Experience working with international donors and organizations;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to interact and communicate effectively and diplomatically with government staff, at all levels, and ability to work independently;
Ability to engage in substantive technical discussion with all stakeholders;
Excellent knowledge and practical experience using computer software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project);
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills, including the ability to work with, and relate to, a wide range of stakeholders-ministries.
Ability to work across a matrix structure in a collaborative manner is essential; and
Fluent in Kurdish, Arabic, and English, written and oral.