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ย Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 over 130 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, visit www.worldbank.org
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The South Asia Region Context
The South Asia Region comprises eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the worldโs poorest, with 216 million people living below $1.9/day.ย
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The South Asia Region:ย https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar ย
The Infrastructure Practice Group
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The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. It comprises Energy and Extractives (EEX), Transport, Digital Development, and Infrastructure Finance, Public Private Partnerships and Guarantees (IPG). The core values guiding our work include our passion for sustainable poverty reduction, our willingness to put the needs of the client at the center of all our activities, and our honesty and integrity as a common currency.
The Global Transport Practice is advancing the global dialogue on the future of transportation through influential programs such as the Sustainable Mobility for All initiative and the Global Road Safety Facility. The Practice hosts very active Global Solution Groups on the following cross-cutting topics: Urban Mobility; Transport Connectivity and Regional Integration; Transport Infrastructure Management and Finance; Transport Economics, Policy and Data; and Green, Inclusive and Safe Transport. To execute its work program, the Transport Global Practice has established important partnerships inside and outside the WBG, including with other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
The SAR Transport Units
The World Bank is the largest provider of development financing for transport globally, with a strong focus on climate-smart transport systems. With the commitment to support the client countries in providing safe, clean, efficient, and inclusive mobilityโeverywhere, for everyone, the Bankโs transport portfolio currently includes 172 active projects with $34.1 billion in commitments, representing about 11% of World Bank lending. The two SAR Transport Units combined have an active portfolio of 28 lending operations with total commitments of about USD 8.2 billion, 5 ongoing Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) and an average of 5-8 new lending deliveries per FY. SAR Transport team focuses on green, resilient, inclusive, efficient, and safe development of the transport sector in SAR. The portfolio is evolving to match the high urbanization of the region, and includes trade and logistics, rural roads and highways, urban mobility, rail and waterways, and road safety. It focuses increasingly on leveraging private capital to bring additional resources to SAR clients, working with IFC and MIGA and providing Bank Guarantees.
SAR Transport is also a key contributor to engagements led by other Global Practices, most recently in response to policy reform Development Policy Operations and disaster response operations. It has a large regional integration agenda and works closely with the Regional Integration team in SAR to deliver connectivity, trade, and logistics services. It contributes to, and learns from, the global knowledge and best practices in the Global Transport Department and other regional transport units.
The hiring unit ISAT1 is one of the two units of SAR Transport primarily focusing on operations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The unit has about 21 Staff and is largely decentralized in the country offices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary duties of the assignment will be to:ย
โข The selected candidates will be working closely with a broader railway and multimodal transport team in the region to advance the regional agenda. More specifically, lead the rail policy dialogue in ISAT1 countries with clear perspective of supporting SAR regional railway development strategy in the context of the broader multimodal logistics and urban mobility agendas.ย
โข The selected candidate will focus on (i) reform of industry structure, governance, and regulation, (ii) funding and financing of investments and services; and (iii) decarbonization of urban mobility and logistics; climate resilience; (iv) regional connectivity; and (iv) development of services inclusive for all genders, income levels and citizens with disabilities.ย
โข Forge strong client relationships based on mutual respect and trust and play a key role in generating new business for the Bank in collaboration with relevant Country management units.ย ย
โข Lead the design and implementation of cutting-edge rail logistics and mobility projects. Provide advice on alternative financing instruments (including structuring and leveraging of private sector participation, government-to-government financing and use of guarantees) for advancing operations in the region.
โข Lead the implementation of complex projects in selected countries with immediate pipeline, including but not limited to, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Lead and/or participate in ground-breaking or mid-term review missions and provide advice in developing innovative practical approaches to difficult policy and operational issues.
โข Lead the development of innovative and context-appropriate ASA. Contribute to the professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the GP, facilitating, and organizing intra/inter-sectoral knowledge dissemination event to debate and exchanges ideas on key sectoral issues.
โข Maintain close collaboration with the Transport Global Unit, be the thought leader and lead knowledge products and their disseminations on railway related topics.
โข Mentor less experienced staff and TTLs on robust project design and project implementation challenges. Contribute to the design of professional and operational training.
โข Support knowledge sharing in formulation and implementation of policy and institutional reforms and capacity building initiatives in the transport sector in cooperation with responsible entities at the central and sub-national levels, and, as relevant, with other partners.
โข Develop collaboration and partnerships among governments and the World Bank and other development partners in the sector.
โข Stay engaged with the broader country teams and projects (particularly those in other related GPs) to enhance the advice on cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues in support of the agendas related to social inclusiveness, climate change, and country competitiveness.
Selection Criteria
This position requires sectoral depth in the transport practice to operate at the senior GG-level and breadth of infrastructure and integrative skills to undertake the expected thematic leadership role. The successful candidate must meet the Transport GP criteria for GG roles:ย
โข Masterโs degree in relevant field (such as advanced university degree in Engineering, preferably in Railway Engineering, Rail Infrastructure and Financing, Electrical and Electronics Engineering etc.)ย
โข Substantial professional experience in railway sector (at least 7 years in railway operations in public or private sectors) and in the Bank or other MDB groups (at least 5 years in operations), with a demonstrated track record in operational and analytic work.
โข Extensive knowledge and experience in the rail sector on key issues including (i) reform of industry structure, governance, and regulation, (ii) funding and financing of investments and services including through co-financing among bilateral and multilateral development agencies, private sector participation, and government-to-government arrangements; (iii) decarbonization of urban mobility and logistics; climate resilience; (iv) regional connectivity; and (iv) development of inclusive services.
โข Experience in private sector participation (PSP) in railways and with World Bank instruments that support PSP such as guarantees.ย
โข Experience with climate finance and opportunities for rail.ย
โข Proven strategic skills and ability to work in teams across sector lines, with external clients and development partners.
โข Demonstrated track record of successful business development activities, particularly for lending operations, and experienced in complex transport program and project supervision.ย
โข Demonstrated project/program management skills and aptitude to lead teams, and ability to promote client/beneficiary participation to ensure implementation and long-term sustainability of project/programs.ย ย
โข Ability to effectively communicate with senior authorities on complex policy issues.
โข Demonstrated capacity to understand the political economy and local context.
โข Demonstrated client orientation through identifying and evaluating emerging opportunities aligned with WBG strategy, and challenging others to remove barriers and to deliver beyond client expectations.
โข Demonstrated achievement of results โ through building a culture that consistently delivers high-quality products and services to clients and through engaging others in implementing strategies that have long-term impact.
โข Demonstrated leadership in teamwork and inclusion to support collaboration and working across boundaries, and ensuring diverse talent and capability is mobilized across Global Practices.
โข Excellent inter-personal skills, ability to constructively solve conflict situations and proven ability to lead from behind.
โข Demonstrated clear and concise oral and written communication skills.
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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