Energy Specialist Job #: req35064 Organization: World Bank Sector: Infrastructure Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Nairobi,Kenya Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/15/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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, visit www.worldbank.org.
Eastern and Southern Africa Region:ย
Home to about half a billion of Africaโs people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the worldโs richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters. The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for Africa is a better future for the world.ย
The World Bank is assisting the government with policy reforms to attract investments in generation and renewable energy along with the promotion of the regional energy trade in the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), modernizing the electricity network for the needs of a modern economy and increasing energy access are among the key areas of the Bankโs deepening engagement in the sector. To accelerate the access to modern and affordable Energy services, the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched the Mission 300 initiative, aiming at providing electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.ย
The target was announced jointly by President Banga of the WBG, and President Adesina of the AfDB at the Spring Meetings in April 2024, with the WBG committing to delivering electricity access to 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, with African Development Bank adding 50 million people. The initiative was fully endorsed by African Heads of State at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam in January 2025.ย
In the AFE region, the target is primarily supported by the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program, using a Multi-Phase Approach (MPA). ASCENT is an ambitious multi-billion program aimed at providing clean energy access to 100 million people across up to 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, approved in November 2023 with an IDA envelope of US$5 billion. While the focus is on electricity access, the program will also leverage synergies with clean cooking to accelerate adoption of clean cooking solutions in the region. The Program will also employ cross-sectoral approaches to electrify productive uses and important social infrastructure, such as schools and health facilities. This is done through a combination of mutually reinforcing country projects and regional platforms.ย
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya where the East Africa unit (IAEE1) Practice Manager, and the Kenya Country Management Unit (CMU) are located. The World Bankโs on-going energy portfolio in Kenya includes a comprehensive MPA and an off-grid solar access project aiming to support Kenyaโs ambitious sector reform goals to achieve universal electricity access and a 100 percent clean power mix by 2030, as detailed in the Kenya National Energy Compact that was launched in October 2025. It comprises expanding generation capacity and investing in competitive infrastructure, increasing regional integration, promoting distributed renewable energy and clean cooking solutions, incentivizing private sector participation, and ensuring financially viable utilities and reliable services. As a member of the Kenya energy team, the selected candidate is expected to co-lead the design and implementation of part of the on-going and future World Bank support in energy in AFE in general and in Kenya in particular.
Infrastructure Practice Group Context:
The Infrastructure Practice Group, which includes energy, transport, and urban sectors, is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.ย
Energy and Extractives Context:ย
The Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) of the WBG is made up of more than 300 professionals. The EEX GP focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractive sectors for public benefit.ย The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) as well as Western and Central Africa. The position is supporting the East Africa unit (IAEE1).
Duties and accountabilities:ย
The Energy Specialist will work on investment projects, analytical work and policy guidance across a range of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a particular focus on Kenya. The selected candidate will have the following key responsibilities:
โข As part of project teams, prepare, appraise, negotiate and supervise energy projects;
โข Remain up-to-date with relevant developments in the country and analytical work in the sector;
โข Initiate/participate in analytical and strategic work pertaining to energy sector in East Africa in general and Kenya in particular including work led by IAEE1 and those that are led by other practice groups but requiring input from energy staff;
โข Support the unitโs analytical agenda on improving energy access and services in Sub-Saharan Africa;
โข Coordinate and follow up with government counterparts and consultants, provide high-quality research and analytical support, including drafting policy notes related to energy;
โข Contribute to policy dialogue on energy issues and interactions with the client and partners, and alert management (both country and sector) to issues requiring attention;
โข Assume an active role in the Kenya energy team with the aim to ensure adequate and appropriate integration of relevant aspects of the energy development agenda in core Bank products, including the country partnership framework, strategic country diagnostic, country economic memorandum etc.;
โข Participate in collaborative and coordination efforts with other donors and partners to optimize complementarities with Bank supported projects and program;ย
โข Participate in the dialogue with relevant representatives of the private sector to keep abreast of issues related to the business investment climate and identify possible areas of collaboration through public-private-partnerships;ย
โข Draft and provide timely contributions to project documents, project implementation and project completion reports;
โข Support the preparation, completion and follow-up of official missions including the drafting of aide memoires and official correspondence; and
โข Draft and provide timely inputs to sector briefings and policy notes.
Selection Criteria
โข Master's degree in engineering, energy planning/economics, sustainable energy, business administration, or equivalent areas relevant for energy sector development;
โข At least 5 years of experience in the energy sector in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with track record of strong performance;
โข Understanding of energy policies, regulations, technologies or strategies, private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work;ย
โข Experience in energy access and sector reforms and experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa;
โข Experience in working in the off-grid energy in Sub-Saharan Africa will be considered an added advantage;ย
โข Experience in working in World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending and non-lending operations is desirable;
โข Ability to think strategically, work independently, and multi-task complex projects effectively;
โข Ability to develop, analyze and articulate project issues and to diagnose problems and propose reliable solutions;
โข Interest and experience in preparing and organizing high-level technical workshops and meetings;
โข Active listening skills, excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence the audience and build positive relationships with clients, different partners and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with disperse teams located in different countries;
โข Excellent oral and written communications skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues at different levels of the organization and in a multi-cultural environment;
โข Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level;
โข Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipate needs and requests in the field and conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners; and
โข Integrative Skills - Understand relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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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