Digital Specialist โ Fragility, Conflict and Violence Job #: req34277 Organization: World Bank Sector: Digital Development Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French, Portuguese, or Arabic Closing Date: 9/22/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile?ย The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the worldโs greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visitย www.worldbank.org.
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and guides the World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical has the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation.
The Digital Economy and Society unit within the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Services department of the Digital Vice Presidency helps client countries turn digital access into meaningful human and economic outcomes. This includes working with sectors, such as education, health, agriculture, and social protection, to identify and scale digital solutions that improve service delivery, inclusion, and resilience. The unit also hosts two of four cross-cutting themes within the Digital VPU: Jobs and Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV). The cross-cutting themes are responsible for driving strategic corporate priorities across the Digital VPU. The FCV cross-cutting theme within the Digital VPU is led by the Digital in Fragile and Conflict Affected Situations (Digital in FCS) Program.
The mandate of the Digital in FCS program is two-fold. First, it aims to drive the development of FCV-sensitive solutions across the Digital VPUโs technical areas. Second, it acts as single point of contact within the WBG to increase the use of FCV-sensitive digital solutions in FCV contexts, including for forcibly displaced populations. It carries out these mandates by (i) generating evidence on the opportunities, risks, and good practices for digital in FCV contexts, (ii) providing operational support to regional teams on the design and implementation of WBG-financed projects with digital or digitally enabled activities in FCV contexts, (iii) enhancing awareness and developing capacity among WBG staff on the opportunities, risks, and good practices for digitalization in FCS, including through engagement with external partners, and (iv) supporting the institutionalization of solutions, policies, and programs to advance digitalization as a key priority in FCV context by contributing to corporate strategic initiatives.
With nearly 40 percent of the Digital VPU portfolio focused on areas affected by FCV, the Digital in FCS program addresses the need for a practical, cohesive, tailored, and strategic approach to digitalization in the 40 countries on the World Bank Group FCS list while also driving the Bankโs work to enhance connectivity, improve access to digital services, and create digital and digitally enable jobs for refugees, forcibly displaced, and stateless persons.
Finally, the Digital team in FCS program collaborates closely with the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, which leads overall strategic and advisory work on FCV within the WBG, complementing their expertise with digital-specific technical advice, knowledge, and tools that ensure Digital solutions are used in responsible and ethical ways to unlock better development outcomes in FCS.
Duties and accountabilities:ย The Digital Specialist โ Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) will help drive the development of FCV-sensitive solutions, policies, and programs that advance digitalization and accelerate development outcomes in contexts affected by FCV. The Digital specialist will also support lending and analytical projects with technical expertise on how to use digital solutions to mitigate drivers, risks and impacts of FCV, and unlock the opportunities, benefits, and risks of digitalization in FCV contexts. The position will report to the Practice Manager, Digital Economy and Society and collaborate closely with the Lead for the Digital in FCS program as well as with colleagues from across global and regional teams.
In close collaboration with the Lead for the Digital in FCS program, the Digital Specialist โ FCV will:
Key Responsibilities
Technical Inputs and Solution Assessment
Provide technical expertise on the development and integration of FCV-sensitive digital solutions, policies, and programs into World Bank operations in contexts affected by FCV that enable populations affected by FCV, including forcibly displaced persons, to access digital services and participate in the digital economy.Assess opportunities, risks, and potential unintended consequences of deploying solutions, policies, and programs to advance digitalization in FCV settings, ensuring that interventions do no harm.Analytical and Knowledge Work
Project and Operational Support
Provide operational support to regional and country teams in tailoring digital solutions, policies, and programs to FCV contexts and contribute to the preparation and implementation of Bank-financed projects and analytics in FCV contexts integrating those solutions, ensuring alignment with FCV-sensitive design principles.Capacity Building and Awareness
Contribute to the design and delivery of awareness-raising and capacity development initiatives that highlight best practices for tailoring solutions, policies, and programs to advance digitalization to FCV contexts, including workshops, webinars, and staff training.Engage with external partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors, to strengthen collaboration and disseminate knowledge on responsible and ethical digital use in FCV.Collaboration and Inclusion
Work closely with the Lead for the Digital in FCV program, Practice Manager, and global/regional teams to ensure close coordination across the Digital VPU as well as with the FCV Group and other Global Practices to align digital interventions with broader strategies and initiatives for FCV.Promote gender equality, youth inclusion, and accessibility for displaced and marginalized populations in digital strategies and projects in FCV contexts.
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in public policy, economics, law or a related relevant field.A minimum of 5 years of experience in digital economy or technology policy of which at least 2 yearsโ experience working on/in countries on the WBG FCS list, including to design, develop, and deploy digitally enabled solutions to drive development outcomes.Proven excellence in stakeholder engagement and diplomatic skills, including ability to identify synergies, spot win-win opportunities, and shape partnerships to capitalize on these.Excellent interpersonal skills, proven team orientation, proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively within and across institutional boundaries.Strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills, including ability to simplify complex issues, think innovatively about the role of emerging technology to drive economic and social development.Excellent writing and communication skills in English as demonstrated by a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear and effective manner to a non-technical audience.Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments, including significant work experience in developing countries.Strong ability to work independently.Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French, Portuguese, or Arabic is preferred.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency โ Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking โ Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability โ Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.
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.
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