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UNIT CONTEXT

The World Bank Group (WBG) supports the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and is committed to working towards accomplishing the initiative’s three goals by 2030: i) universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels; ii) doubling the share of the world’s energy supplied by renewable sources from 18 percent to 36 percent, and iii) doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. As part of the Infrastructure Practice Group, the Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies, ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries, strengthen policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractives sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

 The Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA) at the World Bank serves 21 client countries with a total population of about 335 million, with the vast majority living in middle-income economies, except for Djibouti and Yemen.  Since the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011, the Middle East and North Africa region has been in an unprecedented period of flux. Most countries in the region have experienced considerable political and social changes as well as significant economic volatility. The region is currently at a crossroads, where transformational gains built on the ideals of the Arab Spring could be realized, or where fragility and instability could become the long-term norm.

In some countries of the MNA region, the political space has opened up, paving the way for inclusive governance. Other countries, however, have witnessed significant political instability and increased social divisions following the events of 2011. Furthermore, in countries such as Syria and Iraq, this instability has boiled over into violent conflicts that have effectively destabilized the region with massive outflows of refugees, exerting pressure on states with limited means and already weakened public services. On the other hand, most resource-rich states throughout the region have been relatively stable, although they continue to face significant medium- and long-term structural challenges.

The Energy unit for MNA, which comprises more than 20 staff manages a diverse portfolio of active projects across 18 client countries, as well as numerous knowledge products, supporting: (a) reforms to improve energy services and promote the long term financial sustainability of the energy sector, for instance through pricing incentives; (b) the enhancement of service delivery including the development of national and regional electricity and gas markets, as well as reliable transmission and distribution systems, and (c) the diversification of generation mix, including the scale up of renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.  The Unit has a strong engagement in development policy operations in the MNA region where energy and related reforms are key components/pillars of the economic reform agenda, and works closely with other donors active in the region, including the European donors and the Arab Funds.  Finally, the region increasingly offers advisory services that address emerging issues in both the power and the oil and gas sectors.

The World Bank seeks to recruit an Energy Specialist to join the MNA Energy Team in Tunis, with special focus on supporting the development and implementation of the Bank energy program in Tunisia. The Energy Specialist would work on electric utility reforms, electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects, mid- and downstream natural gas projects; renewable energy and technical assistance in both electricity and gas sectors.

The MNA Energy team is a key contributor to the WBG strategy for “Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) with the objective to help countries maximize their development resources by drawing on private financing and sustainable private sector solutions. The Energy Specialist will support the team in applying MFD principles and working towards achievement of development objectives.

The Energy Specialist will report to the Practice Manager of the MNA Energy Unit (IMNE1) and will work, as an integral part of the Maghreb energy team, in support of preparation, appraisal and supervision of investment projects and key analytical products. The Energy Specialist will be based in the Tunis office of the World Bank and would work alongside a group of professionals based in Washington DC, Rabat and throughout the region.

The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:

Technical Support to Lending and Non-Lending Programs:

• Support the preparation and supervision of investment operations in the energy sector – including in energy efficiency and renewable energy, public-private partnership investments in infrastructure projects; and reforms with the aim to enhance quality, efficiency and pro-poor focus and accelerate implementation; 
• Provide inputs to operational products/outputs for sector and country briefings, analytical and advisory reports and studies; provide technical support to various project teams working on utility reform, transmission and distribution, renewable energy; energy efficiency, and other programs within the MNA Energy portfolio, and potentially other regional energy programs, with particular focus on current and prospective engagements in Tunisia;
• Carry out research efforts and support analytical products related to sustainable energy use, such as strategy papers, market assessments, policy and program reviews, emerging lessons and good practices.; and
• Participate in energy sector strategy development and policy dialogue.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in engineering, energy planning/economics, business administration, finance or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;
• At least five years of relevant experience in the energy sector, with demonstrated ability to engage credibly on a range of issues in the energy sector in developing countries;
• Experience in energy sector development projects, such as e.g. energy sector technologies, energy policy and utility reforms, and rural electrification.;
• Knowledge of energy policies, technologies, or strategies, and institutions, and the ability to contribute to policy dialogue with clients and stakeholders;
• Experience working with the Ministry of Energy and/or STEG is a plus;
• Knowledge of electric and gas utility reforms or renewable energy integration would be a plus;
• Some understanding of the roles each WBG institution and its relationship to Energy & Extractives;
• Ability to find relevant information/data and examine similar policy questions in multiple regions;
• Working knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Oil & Gas; Mining; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies;

• Working understanding of how Energy/Extractives thematic business lines and their financing fit together in a country development context;
• Awareness of WBG Climate Change commitments and knowledge of the climate co-benefits methodology;
• An ability to efficiently manage many activities simultaneously, a flair for problem-solving and an ability to self-navigate through complex bureaucratic environments;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
• Good written and oral communication skills in English (required), French (required) and Arabic (desired), including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients.

 WBG COMPETENCIES

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.