Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialist Job #: req32659 Organization: World Bank Sector: Infrastructure Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Nairobi,Kenya and Singapore, Singapore Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French Closing Date: 4/18/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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ย 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.ย The World Bank consists of two entities โ the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).ย It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries.ย 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.ย For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Infrastructure Vice Presidency
Globally, one billion people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 685 million people lack electricity, and nearly 4 billion people lack internet access.ย Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor.ย The Infrastructure (INF) Vice Presidency within the World Bank is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.ย It currently consists of four global departments: Energy & Extractives (EEX); Transport (TRA); Urban, Resilience and Land (URL), and Global Infrastructure Finance Department.ย It oversees the Bank's work across energy and transport sectors, urban development, as well as efforts to promote energy transition, low-carbon transportation, livable cities, disaster risk resilience, land management, and quality infrastructure services through public-private partnerships.ย Infrastructure represents around $110 billion of the Bankโs portfolio.ย For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure
Infrastructure Finance Department (IFD)
As part of the Infrastructure VPU, the Infrastructure Finance Department brings together the World Bankโs cross-sector infrastructure finance, PPP structuring, and analytics skills, as well as the Trust Funds and Financial Intermediary Funds that support those areas of development across the WBG. With these human and financial resources, IFP helps WBG teams and client countries improve the quality and affordability of service delivery through sound infrastructure policies and investment programs; strong enabling environments; and bankable projects. We build our support around knowledge, tools, and experience that support informed choices on the role and value of the private sector in financing and delivering infrastructure, while deploying financial structures and instruments that sustainably manage, mitigate and reduce risk.ย
The IFD department provides, in collaboration with the World Bank Global Practices, IFC and MIGA, across the infrastructure investment cycle: (i) upstream through advice on strategic prioritization and planning for infrastructure investment programs, support for policy and regulatory strengthening, and institutional capacity building; (ii) midstream through project identification, preparation and structuring, including analysis of the most appropriate contracting and financing modes; and (iii) downstream by structuring alternative options to public finance and by deploying financial instruments of the World Bank while ensuring financial and technical sustainability of appropriate financial solutions.ย
Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)
The Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) was created in 2014 as a G20 initiative. The GIFโs overarching goal of increasing private sector infrastructure investment in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) is predicated on two objectives: (1) bringing to market bankable, quality infrastructure programs and projects in EMDEs and (2) expanding the market for private infrastructure finance in EMDEs. Through its upstream advisory window, the GIF tackles head-on the dearth of bankable, sustainable infrastructure pipelines in EMDEs through the provision of end-to-end transaction advisory services to governments, including both funding and technical expertise of the GIF team. To complement its upstream advisory window, the GIF is designing a downstream financing window to provide a tailored suite of risk mitigation products to mobilize greater levels of private investment in developing country infrastructure. A financial intermediary fund housed at the World Bank, the GIF is a partnership program that works with multilateral development banks that are the GIFโs Technical Partners.
In addition to providing advisory services and the downstream financing window under development, the GIFโs global collaboration platform integrates efforts to boost private investment in EMDE infrastructure and enables collective action among a wide range of partners โ donors, development finance institutions, EMDE governments, and infrastructure-related initiatives and associations as well as private sector investors and lenders (Advisory Partners).ย As a global collaboration platform, the GIF draws on its partners and hosts knowledge-sharing fora that hone-in on best practices, lessons learnt, and other topics germane to EMDE infrastructure, as well as showcase deep dives into different EMDE markets and infrastructure sub-sectors. The GIF Management Unit is responsible for assessing the technical support needs of projects/programs, recommending on the allocation of the resources of the GIF, and functioning as a coordinating body. The Management Unit is comprised of a small, high-performing team based in Washington, DC, Singapore and Tokyo. The GIF contributes to the operations of its member MDBs. GIF staff have a mix of project finance, infrastructure economics, regulatory and sectoral skills and work with governments and Technical Partners to identify gaps, financial and regulatory needs for investments, assess project risks, and leverage the role of Advisory Partners.ย
GIF Management Unit Responsibilitiesย
The staff of the GIF Management Unit (MU) undertake the following core responsibilities:
โข Pipeline Development and Project Preparation โ work with GIFโs Technical Partners including the World Bank Group, and in response to country requests, to identify and develop a pipeline of infrastructure programs and projects to mobilize private participation, evaluating needs in project preparation, transaction support and financial structuring, and assessing market-readiness, government commitment, and project feasibility.ย Technical Partner teams, which lead GIF-funded activities, are supported by GIF staff specializing in PPP design, technical and financial feasibility assessment, and regulation of infrastructure.
โข Portfolio management โ The MU is responsible monitor operational portfolio to ensure high quality and timely delivery of the portfolio by Technical Partners, ensuring prompt reimbursement of fees when due.ย ย
โข Trust Fund Management โ The MU is responsible for managing the resources of the GIF; planning, implementing and reporting on uses of funds; developing and adjusting the business plans and operating procedures according to the evolving needs of the Governing Council; and responding to the audit and information requests of the Governing Council.ย ย
โข Partnership Coordination โ Coordinates relations with the GIFโs Funding, Technical, and Advisory Partners, as well as other partners and initiatives in the emerging market infrastructure finance ecosystem.ย
โข Quality Assurance and PPP/Private Finance Knowledge โ Sharing best practices and latest approaches on PPP design are applied to each GIF project, and that the lessons learned are broadly disseminated.ย Convening Advisory Partners and support the G20 Infrastructure Working Group to advance knowledge and market analysis of financing of infrastructure, leads efforts related to the development of PPP pipelines, and undertakes highly targeted analytical work related to the development of infrastructure as an asset class.
The unit is looking for Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialists to deliver the core functions of the GIF MU and lead regional portfolios delivery. Candidates are sought for the following:
1) Position based in Nairobi to lead the delivery of the Sub-Saharan Africa portfolio
2) Position based in Singapore to lead delivery of the Asia portfolio
Candidate should indicate their preferred location(s) and demonstrate relevant regional experience in their applications.ย
Duties and Accountabilities:
โข Lead business development efforts related to prepare and implement the regional portfolios, including engaging with relevant regional Technical Partners involved in sustainable, low-carbon, resilient and inclusive infrastructure.ย
โข Coordinate with World Bank Group counterparts in IFC, the World Bank Global Practices, MIGA, to identify and define opportunities for private participation and private capital mobilization in infrastructure in WBG operations.ย ย
โข Lead the project screening, advising and assisting Technical Partnership in application preparation, operation process, and implementation; prepare GIF lead and application documents and present them at the GIF project review meeting.
โข Assure that best practices and latest approaches on public-private capital design and mobilization are applied to each GIF project, and that lessons learned from GIF approaches at the platform and project levels are captured, returned to the GIF and made widely available.ย ย
โข Oversee the portfolio management to ensure sound implementation and timely and accurate project impact reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the GIF projects and program.
โข Lead relationship management with relevant regional Technical Partners and other key regional stakeholders.ย
โข Represent the GIF in key events and conferences related to infrastructure project preparation
โข Contribute to the planning and execution of GIF Governing Council and Private sector Advisory Council meetings and promotion of GIF activities to advisory partners.
โข Contribute to knowledge, research and analytical work, dissemination related to GIFโs knowledge programs. Supporting Communications and dissemination activities.
โข Contribute to the management of the GIF in financial and operation reporting, donor and partner relations, and meeting preparation.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs degree or equivalent in economics, finance, engineering, management, policy or a related field.
โข A minimum of eight years of relevant experience in the field of private infrastructure project preparation, finance, regulation or PPPs with demonstrated ability to engage on a range of issues in developing countries including advice on both program and project preparation and development.
โข Project management and/or operational experience within of the World Bank/IFC or other MDB (technical partners to GIF).ย
โข Demonstration of a strong track record of working in emerging markets and developing economies and relevant regional experience for the specific position the candidate is applying for.ย
โข Extensive experience in infrastructure finance, preparation, structuring and tendering of PPP and privately financed infrastructure projects from commercial banks, MDBs/DFIs, government or the private sector.ย ย
โข Solid and broad understanding of PPP policy, institutions and implementation and the practical application of this to develop programs and projects.ย
โข Track record of achievements in collaboration with public development banks and other development partners in the field of infrastructure project development or finance, including in PPPs and other forms of private capital mobilization (such as blended finance).
โข Experience with Trust Fund operations and Grant Processing is a plus.
โข Recognized by peers and/or managers for providing high quality, pragmatic advice to clients on public-private infrastructure finance and/or making significant contributions to analytical work and knowledge products in those fields.
โข Ability to develop sound, senior-level partnership relationships with public sector, private sector, academic, civil society and development institutions in both donor and client countries.
โข Experience in contributing to well-recognized knowledge products on public-private infrastructure finance.
โข Client focus and commitment to results.
โข A strong team player with diplomacy and strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment.
โข Ability to work independently and under pressure and tight time constraints.
โข Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and presentation skills.ย
โข Proficiency in French desirable.
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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