Header

Operations Officer - Private Public Dialogue


Apply Online
Operations Officer - Private Public Dialogue- To Be Determined- 122296
Job #:122296
Title:Operations Officer - Private Public Dialogue
Job Stream:Private Sector Development
Location:To Be Determined
Closing Date:10/28/2012
Background / General description:
Improving the investment climate in Africa is one of three core priorities of the IFC/World Bank Group strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa. IFC manages the Investment Climate Advisory Services of the World Bank Group (IC program), which comprise staff based in the hub offices of Nairobi, Dakar and Johannesburg and across the continent, who work with a team of product specialists in Washington, DC and Istanbul. The Investment Climate Advisory Services have supporting Sub-Saharan African countries to design and implement investment climate reform programs nearly a decade, and have scaled up their efforts significantly in recent years. 

The programs assists client countries to implement a range of investment climate reforms, including economy-wide reforms of aspects of business regulation, supporting international trade and investment, regional integration as well as addressing obstacles to private sector investment in leading industries, such as agribusiness, infrastructure, tourism and health. The team’s objective is to support African countries’ efforts to create a positive investment climate to increase their competitiveness and private sector investment.

A key element of this work involves working with a broad range of stakeholders in client countries to generate consensus for sustainable reform, effectively communicating the benefits of well-crafted reforms, and facilitating productive stakeholder participation in reform processes and feedback in their implementation. These elements are increasingly built into all of our programs, which often including support to public-private dialogue (PPD) mechanisms to improve the investment climate. 

PPD tools are to be deployed by the IC practice to achieve the following objectives:

• Increased support for advisory services to address cross-cutting priorities such as inclusiveness including gender and MSME, the environmental and social agenda, and risk mitigation

• More representative voice and participation by extending our reach to communities, civil society organizations and other underserved actors 

• Heightened attention to the sustainability of our work and increased impact

Investment Climate Advisory for Africa is recruiting an Operations Officer to lead the development and implementation of PPD tools to support investment climate reforms in Africa. The position will be based in either Accra, Ghana or Dakar, Senegal.
Duties and Accountabilities:
• Be well versed with the global PPD strategy and support its implementation in Africa

• Assist project teams with stakeholder mapping process by sharing knowledge, tools, and providing input to consultant ToRs

• Assist and guide TTLs in designing and applying the right tools/dialogue platforms to support the flow of information and knowledge among stakeholders to support the implementation of investment climate reform programs in Africa

• Facilitate a wide range of stakeholders to effectively diagnose problems, identify priority issues/constraints and formulate sustainable policies to deliver project objectives

• Develop a road map of PPD and strategic communication plan to support investment climate reforms

• Develop a database of terms of reference for different activities and expertise to be deployed for PPD

• Develop a roster of consultants and experts to contribute to the PPD work in Africa

• Oversee and manage Africa PPD portfolio, Contribute to the development of PPD tools, and dissemination of knowledge for global usage

• Participate in scoping exercises, provide input to project teams on project concept notes, implementation plans, PPD M&E framework, project supervision reports etc

• Serve as a proxy to the Global PPD lead in approving/reviewing projects and supervision reports (in ASOP) for Africa

• Work across BLs, WBG units, and external partners to cross-collaborate on projects and KM development

• Serve as the key contact point in Africa for PPD beyond IC BL

• Monitor implementation and progress of PPD initiatives and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
Selection Criteria:
• Advanced Degree in Business, Law, Economics, Sociology, or related field

• Minimum 7 years experience in private sector development and/or business in developing markets. Experience in West Africa and in post-conflict countries is highly desirable; 

• Ability to learn quickly and manage multiple tasks simultaneously

• Experience in strategic communications is desired

• Sound experience in dealing with public and private sector institutions, including ensuring a balance set of interests 

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

• Strong project management skills

• Sensitivity to local political issues and context and demonstrated ability to manage complex engagements with multiple government, development partners, private sector and civil society stakeholders. 

• Experience in effectively leading teams and working under minimal supervision

Fluency in English and French required; Portuguese desirable.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.