Program Assistant

Program Assistant Job #: req33415 Organization: World Bank Sector: General Services Grade: GC Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Cotonou,Benin Required Language(s): French Preferred Language(s): English Closing Date: 7/2/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, www.worldbank.org
COUNTRY CONTEXT
—the Abidjan-Lagos and Cotonou-Niamey corridors—makes this West African country an important commercial and tourism hub. Benin has a 121-kilometer-long coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo. Benin’s economy still relies on agriculture and formal and informal re-export and transit trade with Nigeria. Growth remained strong in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, bolstered by rising industrial and agricultural production, along with resilient services. Inflation has been contained, and the fiscal deficit is expected to continue declining to 3.7 percent of GDP in 2024. Benin’s macroeconomic performance improved significantly over the last years, supported by a robust track record of reform implementation. Growth has been resilient and inflation moderate despite various shocks, including climate, trade disruption and security challenges. However, sustained growth has not translated into rapid poverty reduction. Poverty declined by 2.3 percentage points between 2018 and 2021 (from38.5 percent to 36.2 percent) with strong regional disparities, as this decrease was largely driven by growth in consumption in rural areas with the Donga in the North-west experiencing the largest increase in poverty (+5.1 percentage points) and the Plateau in the South-east experiencing the largest decline (-8.6 percentage points) while the Littoral (Cotonou city) stagnated (-.6 percentage points).
The World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework with Benin, which is aligned with the government’s development plan (PAG), covers the 2018-2023 period and is structured around three areas: 
* Structural transformation of the economy to promote competitiveness and productivity. * Investing in human capital * Enhancing resilience and reducing climate-related vulnerabilities.  A new CPF covering FY24 to FY30 is under preparation to be delivered in FY25Q3 capitalizing on the Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and Country Climate Diagnostic Report delivered in December 2023. On July 10, 2024, the World Bank financed 25 operations in Benin: 17 national projects and 8 regional projects valued at $2.8 billion (grants and loans included) funded by IDA. In May 2024, Benin became eligible to access the Prevention and Resilience Allocation of IDA to support the implementation of its Prevention and Resilience Program (PREP) against the growing risks and impacts of fragility, violence and conflicts in its Northern regions stemming from the spillover of the Sahel crisis. There is a growing shift in the country towards result-based/PforR operations. More on the Benin country: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/benin  
Duties & Responsibility 
The Program Assistant duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 
Operational and administrative support:
The selected candidate will be assigned to support a set of sectors, as well as for tasks associated to the Unit’s overall work program for which ad-hoc support may be needed from time to time. The Program Assistant will be expected to:
• Work on interpreting existing operational procedures and processes, independently determine which should be used, and apply these appropriately.• Extensively coordinate with other World Bank Group (WBG) units, and frequently liaison with team members regardless of location, and with external counterparts.• Provide primary assistance in the implementation of the unit's work program, including some specialized support in a specific area(s), e.g. task management, procurement, database management, knowledge management, information technology, etc.• Work regularly and substantially in more than one language, to include translating/drafting a variety of standard documents, applying effective proofreading and grammar skills in English.• Identify and resolve diverse issues/problems as they arise, while following and independently applying existing procedures and processes.• Suggest ways to enhance work organization and effectiveness.• Exercise quality enhancement function for project and other documents by ensuring adherence to departmental, Vice-President Unit (VPU) and institutional guidelines.• Participate in developing project/product timelines, using appropriate software.• Attend meetings, draft minutes, and ensure timely clearance and distribution.• Serve as an information resource on status of project/products (e.g. procurement, disbursement, audit, trust fund/co-financing, and legal issues) and draft a variety of standard project-related correspondences.• Monitor task budget/trust funds for specific projects on behalf of the team.• Undertake ad hoc inquiries in standard and non-standard databases, retrieves, manipulates and presents data.• Participate in mission field work as required.• Coordinate schedules taking priorities into account, monitor changes, and communicate the information to appropriate staff, inside and outside the immediate work unit, including officials outside the WBG.• Assist in preparation and logistical planning for various events, e.g. conferences, workshops, negotiations, etc.• Maintain current distribution lists, phone/address lists of project/product contacts, and distribute documents for the team.• Maintain up-to-date work unit project and other files (both paper and electronic).• Responsible for submitting travel requests, following up on approvals, and arranging bookings through designated office travel agent.• Mentor less experienced staff.• Undertake ad-hoc assignments and provide support to other staff in the unit as required.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior experience in administration assistance in multi-national or international organization is preferred. • Proficient English skills (verbal and written), including the ability to draft routine correspondence and edit materials using accurate grammar, punctuation and style.
Effective time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work requirements and anticipate next steps, and to follow through on team priorities in the absence of the team leader and respond to requests for information• Ability to retrieve reference materials from various sources (e.g. databases or other filing systems, Internet, etc.)• Demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness.• Proven ability to build relationship and interact positively with senior counterparts in the public and private sectors.• Committed team player with good inter-personal skills and ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.• Ability to produce high-quality work under pressure.
Competencies   
• Technology and systems knowledge - Demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience working with Microsoft office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). Has ability and willingness to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills as technology.• Project and task management - Exhibits good organizational, problem-solving skills and ability to work competently with minimal supervision. Demonstrates attention to detail and quality. Has ability to manage multiple tasks and complete tasks within agreed schedule.• Institutional policies, processes, and procedures - Demonstrates knowledge of own department's programs and products, knows key players, understands own role. Displays understanding of WB Job Details policies and procedures relevant to the area of assigned responsibilities and is able to apply/implement them.• Versatility and adaptability - Demonstrates flexibility and is receptive to the implementation of new solutions. Is willing to stretch own capability. Demonstrates motivation to avail and adapt oneself to effecting change.• Client Orientation - Exhibits positive and professional client service attitude; is able to understand clients' needs and complete them professionally.• Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results and has the personal organization to do so.• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Has good knowledge of official unit's language(s). Able to write clearly, edit and proofread draft communications. Able learn and share knowledge/information across the unit.• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Able to manage information and support retention and disposition of information and records. Can search, report, and deliver basic information from various sources and independently respond to basic inquiries
Applications should be sent in English.