World Bank Kenya: Senior Development Officer

Job Background / General description:

Improving the Investment Climate in Africa is one of three core priorities of the IFC strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Investment Climate Advisory Services in Africa are implemented jointly by IFC’s Private Enterprise Partnership for Africa (PEP Africa) and the Investment Climate Department of the World Bank Group (CIC). PEP Africa is the Regional Advisory Services facility for IFC in Africa. This joint Investment Climate Advisory Services team in Africa comprises staff based in the hub offices of Nairobi, Dakar and Johannesburg and across the continent, working with a team of product specialists in Washington DC and Istanbul. Some of these staff are mapped to CIC, others to PEP Africa and they work together as a single Investment Climate Team, drawing on the expertise and experience of both units. The team’s objective is for Africa to become the world region producing the most investment climate reforms. Trade logistics has been identified as a core thematic area for the Investment Climate agenda that has direct implications for competitiveness and productivity of developing countries. The Trade Logistics product focuses on helping developing economies in improving performance indicators such as time and cost to import and export through targeted technical assistance on simplifying and harmonizing trade procedures, including documentation, customs and inspections performance, and related polices and regulations and their enforcement. This Product is being developed into a standardized and scalable product which is being rolled out in partnership with IFC Facilities, relevant WB units (e.g. infrastructure, trade), and other agencies and with donor support. Trade logistics pilots are already implemented in the Africa, Latin America and other regions. IFC is seeking to hire a highly motivated Senior Private Sector Development Specialist to join the dynamic team to help with developing and rolling out of the trade logistics product in Africa, requiring a mix of technical, operational and research skills with a strong policy focus. It is expected that a significant part of the staff’s duties will focus on the Trade Logistics component of the Kenya Investment Climate Programs (KICP). KICP is a broad, multi-year based investment climate program closely linked to the ongoing efforts to streamline trade and regulatory requirements within the East Africa Community (EAC). Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.

Job #	110064
Job Title	Sr Private Sector Development Off.- Trade Logistics
Job Family	Private Sector Development
Location	Nairobi, Kenya
Appointment	Local Hire
Closing Date	25-Jan-2011
Language Requirements	English [Essential]

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Senior Private Sector Development Specialist position reports to the Africa Manager for Investment Climate, based in Nairobi and to the Trade Logistics Global Product Leader based in Washington DC) and assists with the following duties:

Lead and /or participate in the implementation of the Trade Logistics projects in African countries.

Lead and/or participate in implementing the regional East African Community trade logistics work, in particular as carried out under the Rwanda and Kenya Investment Climate Programs. Tasks would include, but not limited to: preparation and coordination of diagnostics and implementation activities, liaison with client and development partners; and provision of technical leadership on selected aspects of the trade activities.

Lead and/or participate in policy dialogue with governments, donor agencies, private sector organizations, as well as communicating with the media.

Have principal responsibility for organizing events (workshops, conferences) in the region.

Collaborate closely with the IC Country Program Coordinators through which various Trade Logistics activities in Africa will be coordinated

Have principal responsibility for organizing events (workshops, conferences) in the region.

Provide technical and coordination lead in rapid response advisory work in the Africa region.

Proactively assist with rolling out the Trade Logistics product in collaboration with the HQ team.

Contribute original work to knowledge management, research and analysis of selected policy and regulatory issues in support of the Trade Logistics advisory work, such as helping to generate and disseminate best practice case studies, databases and other materials in relevant trade logistics themes.

Selection Criteria:

Advanced degree in economics, public policy, business economics, or equivalent.

At least 8 years of experience in trade-related fields (8-12 is preferred); experience in trade facilitation and logistics would be preferred.

Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex projects and reports.

Strong analytical skills and experience pertaining to business environment issues; demonstrated understanding and experience of substantive issues in international development, with emphasis on regulatory and institutional economics related to trade facilitation.

Demonstrated experience and ability to translate policy recommendations into implementation; demonstrated record of innovative and strategic advisory work, advising the public sector on policy / regulatory reform; practical understanding of the political economy of regulatory reform

Well-developed interpersonal and teamwork skills; ability to operate effectively as a task leader and member; initiative, persistence and a positive attitude;

Ability to deal sensitively in multicultural environments and to build effective working relations with local and international partners in the private sector, in the academic community, civil society and with client governments;

Fluent in English, with excellent interpersonal, verbal communication and writing skills. Demonstrated experience in writing effective reports and communicating in public; fluency in French is desired;

Willingness to travel within Africa and internationally.

Field experience particularly in Africa is desired

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