Senior Public Sector Specialist, Dhaka (GG) World Bank Closing date: Monday, 16 March 2015 (added 25 February)

Senior Public Sector Specialist, Dhaka (GG)
World Bank
Closing date: Monday, 16 March 2015 (added 25 February)

Closing date: Monday, 16 March 2015

Background / General description

WORLD BANK GROUP CONTEXT

Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help poor nations reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve the quality of life. The World Bank Group's work focuses on achievement of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The goals call for eliminating poverty and achieving inclusive and sustainable globalization. The MDGs lay out a blueprint for the World Bank Group, setting its priorities and measuring its results. The World Bank is the world's largest funder of education; the world's largest external funder of the fight against HIV/AIDS; a leader in the fight against corruption worldwide; a strong supporter of debt relief; and the largest international financier of biodiversity, water supply, and sanitation projects.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

The South Asia region spans eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) ranging in population from India (over 1 billion) to Maldives (0.3 million). The Region has a diverse work program encompassing significant lending operations of about $8 - 10 billion a year, a diverse program of analytical work, and a portfolio under supervision of about $30 billion in 180 projects, including donor-funded operations. South Asia's decade-long rapid economic growth, declining poverty, and progress in human development have raised the possibility that the region with the largest concentration of poor people could end poverty in a generation. In FY14, the region had over $150 million in administrative and reimbursable budgets and over $30 million of Bank executed trust funds.

GOVERNANCE GLOBAL PRACTICE CONTEXT

Governance Global Practice Thematic Areas & Activities

The Governance Global Practice (GGP) brings together professionals in public sector management, procurement, financial management, taxation, regulatory policy, transparency, digital governance, law and development, anticorruption, and social accountability to develop innovative, integrated solutions to institutional challenges.

The practice utilizes a problem-driven, diagnostic approach, combining global comparative knowledge of reform successes and failures with a keen understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities of developing countries.

Specifically, the GGP provides support in:

Sustainable Public Resource Management by improving analytic and policy capacity in public finance; strengthening the composition, management and reporting of public expenditure; and augmenting budget and accounting systems and procurement processes to ensure sustainable funding for public programs.
Effective Service Delivery and Policy Implementation through strengthening both core agencies and line departments. The GGP seeks to improve public sector performance and effectiveness by supporting reforms in public management, human resource management, performance monitoring, regulatory reform, ICT solutions and innovative delivery approaches, and other areas.
Open and Accountable Governments by facilitating collaboration to foster social accountability and citizen-centric development. This work stream includes government transparency and responsiveness, strengthening key accountability institutions (including parliaments and the judiciary), using mobile technologies to monitor performance and enabling citizens to participate effectively in government decision-making.

Governance Global Practice Program in South Asia & Bangladesh

GGODR is responsible in South Asia region countries for a growing lending program with a shift towards result-based lending while needing to address active portfolio implementation challenges (disbursement performance, results achievements). The portfolio also includes an important program of Trust Funds (TF) and Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS), as well as several Analytical and Advisory Activities (AAAs).

In Bangladesh, the unit currently manages a major multi-donor trust fund focused on public financial management, an innovative project supporting the implementation of new identity cards and service delivery, as well as a new Program for Results operation on revenue mobilization (administration of a new value added tax). Other areas of engagement include performance management, public investment management and supporting the implementation of the Right to Information Act.

The selected candidate will play a critical role in strengthening the operational capacity of the team of GGODR specialists working on the Bangladesh program. Under the overall leadership of the Practice Manager, the selected candidate will work closely with the unit's Country Focal Point for Bangladesh and the governance team based in Bangladesh.

Note: The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3-year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The selected candidate will report to the Practice Manager and will be expected to carry out the following duties

Providing high quality advisory services on public sector and governance issues to internal and external clients.
Task managing the Bank's analytical work, lending and grant operations (supervision and preparation) related to Governance and performance of public institutions.
Ensure effective and timely delivery of the work program.
Generate and exchange knowledge related to the Governance Practice, work with other Practices and facilitate multi-sector approaches.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be a highly seasoned professional with solid operational experience working on governance and public sector management in developing countries with in-depth knowledge and experience in one area of governance and public sector, and with adequate knowledge and understanding of other areas of public sector management/governance (e.g. public financial management, public investment management, revenue mobilization and tax administration, public procurement, public administration and civil service reform, state-owned enterprises, and service delivery, etc.).

Specifically, the successful candidate will be selected on the basis of the following competencies

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sector areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sector work in lending and non-lending operations.
General Governance and Public Sector Knowledge and Experience - Has the ability to lead production of projects and/or major studies on areas key to public sector.
Written and Verbal Communication - Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).
Excellent writing and verbal communications skills.
Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

OTHER SELECTION CRITERIA

Advanced degree in public policy and administration, economics, political science, finance, or other related field.
At least 8 years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated skills in addressing governance challenges in developing countries.
Experience gained through operational or analytical work in public sector management and one or more of the following areas: public financial management, performance management, revenue mobilization and tax administration, expenditure management, public investment management, or corporate governance of state owned enterprises.
Demonstrated experience in Bank financing (preparation and supervision) and knowledge instruments applied to public sector would be a firm advantage.
Experience in the design and/or implementation of identification systems, e-ID enabled services and Financial Management Information System (FMIS) development will be an advantage.
Experience in policy dialogue.
Work experience in IDA countries and/or fragile states a plus.
Knowledge of result-based lending instruments a plus.
Strong team player with the ability to work effectively with the Bangladesh team and other colleagues across countries.