ET Consultant

ET Consultant Job #: req32688 Organization: World Bank Sector: Operations Grade: EC1 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Middle East and North Africa Required Language(s): English, Arabic Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/22/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

 Description

The Middle East and North Africa Region Vice-Presidency (MNA) serves a population of 355 million living in 20 countries. There are five Country Departments (CMUs) in the regional vice-presidency, one of which manages relations and work program in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The mission of MNA is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. The MNA Region attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment, based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, client service, and professional excellence.
As part of Middle East and North Africa (MNA)strategy to integrate and enhance the value of all its client services, Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) are an integral part of the regional work program, particularly in high- and middle-income country. RAS activities are closely aligned with mainstream Analytic and Advisory Activities (AAA) management practices to enhance quality, while preserving the close collaboration with clients. The region is experiencing a strong growth in demand for reimbursable services in the GCC as well as in other MNA countries, and in client interest to using multi-year business frameworks to plan complex activities in various sectors. 
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Country Department (MNC05) facilitates the provision of Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. RAS activities focus on areas of core World Bank competence and expertise where the Bank readily mobilizes knowledge, best practice, and deep experience in policy formulation and implementation.  RAS program in GCC countries covers all three GP clusters - Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions; Human Development; and Sustainable Development – as well as Cross-Cutting Solution Areas, including Gender and Jobs. Capacity building is an integral component of all services to the GCC countries. The GCC RAS program also covers advisory services provided to the GCC Secretariat General on GCC cross-country issues, including in the transport and environment sectors. As the name implies, all costs of RAS services are reimbursed by client countries to the Bank. In FY17, the GCC RAS program revenue was close to US$37 million.
The World Bank Country Office in Abu Dhabi manages relations with the Government of the United Arab Emirates and other stakeholders. The Country Office oversees the Reimbursable Advisory Services program in the UAE. To manage its administrative affairs, monitor the Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) in the UAE, the development and delivery of partnerships and knowledge activities, MNC05 is looking for a high performing, energetic, self-motivated, and flexible individual with demonstrated dependability and dedication to teamwork. 
Roles & Responsibility:
Under the guidance of the Resident Representative (RR), her/his specific duties include the following: 
1.Portfolio Monitoring and Implementation including Budget and Billing:
• Prepare materials for periodic portfolio reviews and country team meetings, in coordination with the RR and CMU• Review and screen relevant outputs/ reports for consistency with the country RAS program, in coordination with the RR.• Work closely with the RR to undertake portfolio monitoring, analyzing operational data and providing regular and ad-hoc reports to the management on the status of the country programs and deliverables; status of mid-year reviews, etc.• Coordinate with Resource Management staff to ensure accuracy of the data in the institutional information systems; identify issues and raise concerns with regards to the overall portfolio quality.• Contribute to specific operational activities at all stages of the project design and implementation, including participation in the development of the concept notes, facilitating communication between the Bank’s task teams and counterpart agencies, follow up on agreements, reviewing budget planning, monitoring use of funds and assisting with client billing.• Conduct follow-up discussions with client representatives on selected problems and issues identified by the TTLs and task teams, in coordination with the RR.• Analyze projects at completion, comparing actual results with those projected at the concept note stage.
2.Client/ Country Relations:
• Undertake research and analytical tasks on specific country issues, maintain informational databases in order to assist the TTLs and task teams with regular country monitoring notes and updates; • draft sections of briefing materials on the status of the country program and project issues for the WBG Annual and Spring Meetings, as well as for management visits and other purposes; •   Interact with country and task team members, and the respective government agencies in the formulation and implementation of documents related to strategic cooperation with the government; •   For visiting missions, support the practice group (PG) teams by participating in meetings with government agencies and maintaining records of meetings to ensure consistency with aide-memoires and other correspondence with the government, in coordination with the RR.•   Provide backup duties for those PGs lacking OT coverage in countries by participating in dialogue with clients, joining kick-off/ wrap-up meetings, and informing the OT member responsible for the PG of the main messages and conclusions.•   The analyst may be expected to travel to other GCC countries, when key missions and meetings are taking place.•   Perform other tasks as reasonably requested by the RR.
3. Country Office Duties: country-level reporting; coordinating country-level portfolio review, CO guidelines, etc. help with Country Engagement Framework reporting, liaising with authorities, etc.

Selection Criteria

Education/Experience
• Master’s degree in economics, business, project management, international development, or related field or equivalent and 2 years of experience.
Competencies
• Data Collection and Management - Ensures data relevance and quality through appropriate selection of data sources and sound collection and management. Develops appropriate strategies for dealing with data quality issues. Effectively uses software and systems in support of work;• Program Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders;• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs;• Strong interpersonal skills - Behavioral competencies that facilitate dialogue with country partners and country teams, including listening skills, training and capacity development skills, and ability to adapt advice to the local institutional realities;• Commitment to teamwork, knowledge-sharing, and ability to influence across organizational boundaries. Creates a team climate of practical and innovative action, facilitating collaboration between stakeholders.• Lead and innovate - Brings new and different insights. • Deliver Results for Clients - Contributes to delivery of results for clients on complex issues. • Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates within team and across boundaries. • Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Actively contributes to and readily applies WBG’s body of knowledge for internal and/or external client solutions. • Make Smart Decisions - Leverages available data and makes timely decisions.• Strong knowledge of the UAE political economy and institutions. • English and Arabic fluency.

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.

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