Senior Urban Specialist Job #: req34969 Organization: World Bank Sector: Urban Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Niamey,Niger Required Language(s): English, French Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/3/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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 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, visit www.worldbank.org.
CONTEXT
Western and Central Africa (AFW) RegionWe need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, constraining Africa to only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. This is further exacerbated by conflict, food insecurity, rapid population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change, threatening to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been achieved over the past decades.
In Western and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 315 projects totaling more than $62.4 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation, urban development all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, it is estimated that about 87% of the worldโs extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
Infrastructure Vice Presidencyย 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. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Vice Presidency within the World Bank is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. The Vice Presidency currently consists of four global practices (GPs): Energy & Extractives (EEX); Transport (TRA); Urban, Resilience and Land (URL), and Infrastructure Finance Practice (IFP). It oversees the World 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. Infrastructure represents around $110 billion of the Bankโs portfolio.ย ย
The โUrban, Resilience and Landโ (URL) Global Practice
Urbanization is occurring at an unprecedented pace. Cities generate 80% of global GDP and are key to job creation and the pursuit of shared prosperity. Yet one billion city residents live in slums today, and by 2030 one billion new migrants will arrive in cities. This concentration of people and assets will exacerbate risk exposure to adverse natural events and climate change, which affects the poor disproportionately.ย The absence of secure land tenure underpins deprivation and is a major source of conflict in the urban and rural space. One and a half billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence. In the absence of services, participative planning and responsive institutions, these trends will result in increased poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability and violence. Finally, avoiding a 4-degree warmer world requires drastically reducing the carbon footprint of cities.
The URL Global Practice covers a wide gamut of issues including: (i) supporting the development of green, inclusive, resilient and productive cities, including harnessing urbanization to contribute to growth and poverty reduction, and strengthening local governmentsโ capacity to plan, finance and deliver services and infrastructure investments; (ii) promoting efficient, well-coordinated spatial and territorial development processes including strengthening rural-urban linkages and developing lagging regions; (iii) strengthening disaster risk management policies, institutions and regulations and mainstreaming resilience across development sectors including risk assessment and mapping, risk reduction (including urban flood management, stormwater drainage, coastal management, and retrofitting of infrastructure), disaster preparedness (including hydromet services, early warning systems, and civil defense), risk financing (including CatDDO), and resilient reconstruction and recovery (including post-disaster damage and needs assessment); (iv) post-conflict reconstruction and recovery; (v)ย strengthening land tenure, management and information systems; and (vi) supporting the development of national and sub-national spatial data infrastructure and supporting the development of geospatial information.ย
The position in Niger
The URL unit in West Africa (IAWU1) has a large work program encompassing project loans and grants, advisory and analytical services, and active partnerships supporting a wide range of engagements. In Niger, IAWU1 is supporting, among others: (i) integrated flood risk management, (ii) systemic and institutional improvements of urban planning , disaster risk management (DRM) and resilience (across sectors) through policy actions and reforms, (iii) solid waste management in support of the circular economy to reduce waste and create local jobs, (iv) disaster preparedness (including early warning systems and civil protection) and disaster risk financing.
ย
IAWU1 seeks to recruit a highly qualified and motivated Senior Urban/Infrastructure Specialist with strong experience in resilient infrastructure, the urban and spatial planning, urban services management, municipal governance and finance, land management and administration, and urban upgrading. Demonstrated experience effectively operating in fragile and conflict affected countries and knowledge of municipal infrastructure engineering operation is highly desired. Lead and/or participate in task teams to deliver lending operations, prepare analytical and advisory activities, and develop new business opportunities in URL sector. Lead and/or contribute to the urban development policy dialogues and provide just-in-time advisory work in business development and policy reform.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will be based in Niamey, Niger, reporting to the Practice Manager, IAWU1. (S)he will be expected to work closely with country units in Niger and task teams across the region.ย In particular, (s)he will focus on the following specific areas:
โข ย Lead and/or co-lead the Bankโs URL agenda in Niger, and possibly in others in Sahel countries. This would involve day-to-day management of our relationships with internal stakeholders (including CMUs), local and national government authorities, and development partners at the policy and operational level;
โข ย Lead and/or participate in task teams to prepare and supervise lending operations, prepare analytical and advisory activities, and develop new business opportunities in URL sectors;
โข ย Lead and/or contribute to the urban development and land policy dialogues in Niger and provide just-in-time advisory work in business development and policy reform, and ensuring comprehensive integration of the urban, resilience, land, and territorial development agendas, as appropriate;
โข ย Lead and/or contribute to executing necessary analytics to prepare new operations in direct response to the countryโs natural hazards, including flood and drought hazard mapping and risk assessment, the quality control and supervision of external consultants and technical specialists work as well as developing targeted Terms of Reference;
โข ย Lead and/or contribute to cross-sectoral engagements such as Sustainable Development Practice Group works, Systematic Country Diagnostic and Country Partnership Framework and other CMU-led activities;
โข ย Help adapt global good practice to local context and advise government counterpart and Bank teams on matters related to green, resilient and inclusive urban development;
โข ย Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards; evaluate studies and sector-related project documentation.
โข ย Provide guidance to government counterparts and implementing agencies by identifying potential problems and advising on required actions as well as overall project/program implementation;
โข ย Manage Trust Fund (TF) activities including preparation and review of grant proposals, consultation on technical issues, preparation of progress reports, project briefings, disbursements and quality control of deliverables;
โข ย Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the URL Global Practice, the GSGs, and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the World Bank;
โข ย Provide coaching mentoring on-the-job to junior team members, extended term consultants and junior professionals in the unit; and
โข ย Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Practice Manager.ย
Selection Criteria
โข Advanced degree (Masters level or higher) in engineering, urban development, economics, finance or a related discipline relevant to the urban development sector.โข Minimum 8 years of specific professional experience in one or more of infrastructure sectors, including urban development, transport or water and sanitation, with demonstrated ability to work on at least three of the following areas: (a) development of urban policy and planning instruments, and territorial development; (b) policy, institutional and financing aspects of urban services and strategies to encourage private sector participation in the delivery and management of urban infrastructure and services; (c) flood risk management policies and investments; (d) decentralization reforms and support to local governments; and (e) procurement and contract management.โข Operational experience in the preparation and implementation of investment projects.โข Experience working on complex urban risk programs involving multi-stakeholder coordination.โข Demonstrated leadership skills leading complex operations, sector policy and engagement strategies, and analytical works, including in FCV settings.โข Demonstrated experience of bringing global knowledge, best practice international experience and fit for purpose innovation into operations and sector engagements.ย โข Strong motivation to work in the urban, DRM, and land fields and ability to work flexibly and independently on a range of assignments, adjusting to and prioritizing a variety of complex evolving tasks;ย โข Demonstrated relationship management skills with internal stakeholders (CMUs, PGs), external clients, and development partners;โข Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to lead teams and function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team;โข Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate succinctly, and in a well-structured manner complex message on a variety of topics to a wide range of audiences, including to the Board.โข Strong teamwork spirit including an open and collegial work style and a high level of energy;โข Proven track record of delivery of high-quality outputs while working under pressure, in a multi-sector environment, and within tight deadlines.โข Knowledge of World Bank operational policies, practices, and procedures is an asset.โข Personal ownership, responsibility, and accountability for timely responses to requests; ability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed results, and to proactively remove obstacles to execution and success.โข Outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in both English and French; strong problem-solving abilities; and strategic, innovative thinking for balanced solutions to complex development challenges, with a client-focused approach.โข Strong teamwork spirit and demonstrated ability to work across practices and in cross-thematic teams.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
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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