Private Sector Specialist Job #: req35605 Organization: World Bank Sector: Financial Sector Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Addis Ababa,Ethiopia Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Amharic Closing Date: 3/3/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities โ the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visitย www.worldbank.org.
The Finance, Competitiveness and Investment (FCI) Global Practice combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector led growth and help create markets in client countries.ย FCIโs core lines of business are: (a) Financial Stability & Integrity; (b) Financial Inclusion, Infrastructure & Access; (c) Firm Capabilities & Innovation; (d) Long-Term Finance; (e) Climate & Risk Management; (f) Markets and Technology; and (g) Investment and Competition. For more information, please visitย https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fciย Eastern and Southern Africa: 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.ย
The World Bankโs Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,300 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities: Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies, Building the Digital Economy, Institutions more Efficient and Accountable, Investing in People, Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption, addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent. The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people.This position is based in Addis Ababa with a primary focus on Ethiopia. This position offers an opportunity to be an integral part of the Bankโs important engagement in Ethiopia and represent FCI in a key role in this engagement with significant professional exposure in an important IDA country.
Country Context:
The Ethiopian government has embarked on significant economic and financial reforms to tackle long-standing structural issues, including debt, inflation, unemployment, and low productivity. The Home-Grown Economic Reform Program (HGER), launched in 2019 has successfully addressed these challenges, resulting in significant economic growth, with an average GDP growth rate of 7.1% from 2019 to 2023. The recently approved second phase of the Homegrown Economic Reform Program (HGER 20) focuses on four main pillars: establishing a robust macroeconomic framework, enhancing investment and trade competitiveness, increasing productive capacity, and improving public sector efficiency. The overarching aim is to foster private sector-led growth and job creation while achieving high economic growth and maintaining low inflation.
The reform measures in Ethiopia are designed to address foreign exchange distortions, strengthen the financial sector, control inflation, and improve tax revenue, government investment efficiency, and debt sustainability. These efforts aim to create a modern, competitive economic system while enhancing the business environment and creating space for the private sector to be a driver for growth. Significant development cooperation and negotiations have been undertaken to implement the Home-Grown Economic Reform program, aligning with national interests and improving citizens' livelihoods. Supported by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the program focuses on correcting foreign exchange issues, modernizing monetary policy, increasing domestic income, and fostering a stable and inclusive financial sector. The initiative also emphasizes climate change adaptation and food sovereignty. By strengthening local institutions and engaging stakeholders, the reform program seeks to leverage new development finance opportunities and bolster private sector development, with the objective of delivering substantial economic benefits to the people of Ethiopia.
FCI has a deep and robust engagement in Ethiopia, covering both private and financial sector development aspects. The Bank has recently approved a large IPF operation in the amount of $700 million that anchors the financial sector dialogue and is designed to support the modernization and development of the Banking sector in Ethiopia and is continuing its commitment to develop the private sector in Ethiopia with new lending operations. Moreover, the Bank has been providing technical assistance on a wide variety of areas supporting the development of the financial sector and private sector and FCIโs engagement in Ethiopia is cross cutting with strong collaboration across PGโs, including with Economic Policy, Agriculture, Environment, SPJ, Transport and Poverty GPs.ย
This is a local recruitment for a Private Sector Specialist in Addis Ababa to be part of the Ethiopia FCI program and focus on supporting the development of the private sector lending and ASA program in the East Africa unit (EAEF1). The Private Sector Specialist reports to the Regional Practice Manager (EAEF1) for Finance, Competitiveness and Investment and the chosen candidate will be expected to work independently and support lending, Analytical and Advisory Services (ASAs) and other technical assistance activities.ย
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
โข Work closely and under the guidance of the Senior Private Sector specialist(s) based in Addis and Washington.
โข Support the policy dialogue with key Ministries/counterparts on issues related to private sector, covering areas including but not limited to, investment climate, trade, productivity growth, green competitiveness, entrepreneurship growth and SME support.ย
โข Facilitate business-to-government dialogue on policy issues that impact the private sector.
โข Contribute to or lead specific operational activities at all stages of the project cycle for advisory services and analytics (ASA) and Lending Operations, including participation in the design and development of specific project components, and supporting the implementation of ongoing FCI projects/activities.
โข Work closely with the FCI team, country economists and the country management unit (CMU) to ensure the integration of relevant private sector issues in country strategies, the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), work programs and country policy dialogue and engagement.
โข Prepare written contributions, perform quality research and analytical tasks on a wide range of operational, country and sector issues, providing expert interpretation of information/data, identifying key pertinent issues and recommending targeted actions/solutions.
โข Promote synergies across project teams, providing support through troubleshooting, anticipating problems and solving them.ย โข Coordinate and work with the IFC as needed on relevant diagnostics, advisory work and operational activities.
โข Build and maintain partnerships with the donor community and facilitate/participate in formal and informal meetings with key development partners, civil society and other stakeholders.
Selection Criteria
This position requires a Private Sector Specialist with broad experience on improving productivity and economic competitiveness. The position also requires a sound understanding of the challenges facing the private sector in the Ethiopia and excellent client relationship experience. He/she will also have demonstrated experience delivering results on the ground with prior work experience with international organizations or donors.ย The following qualifications are required:
โข Masters level or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the areas of business, management, economics, finance, entrepreneurship or related discipline.
โข Solid knowledge and experience in the one or more topic areas covered by the program, including: business environment and investment climate, investment policy and promotion, competitive industries and sectors, SME upgrading and productivity, entrepreneurship including digital platforms and access to finance, industrial policy, access to markets, competition policy, and trade.ย โข Experience in designing and implementing lending operations and leading core analytical ASAs focused on private sector development is desired.
โข Familiarity with World Bank Group products, policies and procedures, as well as Trust Funds.
โข Excellent writing and presentation skills in English and use of Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, Power Point and others).
โข Work experience in Ethiopia and the broader Africa region would be an added advantage.ย โข Possess strong internal and external client engagement skills and ability to collaborate and work across boundaries.
โข Ability to work collaboratively with IFC, development partners and across the Prosperity vertical on key analytical and lending operations.
โข Professional maturity and the ability to build relationships and inspire confidence in senior country officials.