Description

Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

The Country Management Unit (CMU) for Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe (AFCE1) provides a range of financial, knowledge, and convening services to help address the countries’ most complex development issues. The CMU covers staff in the four country offices (CO) supported by an Anchor team based at Headquarters in Washington DC consisting of a Sr. Operations Officer (SOO) and a Country Program Assistant. The Country Director (CD) is based in Dar es Salaam, together with an Operations Manager, an Operations/Senior Operations Officer, and three Program Leaders (PL)/Sector Leaders (SL), coordinating and overseeing the AFCE1 CMU. The Country Managers (CM) for Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, manage the day-to-day operations of the program for the respective countries, with the assistance of a Sr. Operation Officer, an Operations Officer and an Operations Analyst respectively.

The AFCE1 CMU delivers analytics, studies and advisory (ASA) and lending services to Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which are all IDA countries. Zimbabwe is in arrears to IDA and IBRD. The four countries have high rate of poverty and rank among the lowest in the world on the Human Capital Index (HCI). As of the end September 2019, the portfolio is made up of 55 national operations, and 19 of them regional projects, amounting to a total IDA commitment of $6.9bn for national projects and $1.26bn for regional projects. The Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF) for Tanzania was presented to the Board in March 2018 and preparation of PLR should start soon. The Zambia CPF was discussed at the Board in FY19. The Malawi CPF is under preparation and an ISN is being considered for Zimbabwe. A Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSD) is being planned for Tanzania. There are currently 66 active ASAs mapped to AFCE1.

The CMU is looking for a highly skilled individual to operate as a Dar es Salaam-based Operations Officer (OO, level GF) and help in the implementation of our Tanzania program. The Operations Officer will report to the Operations Manager and work closely with Operations Analyst (based in Dar es Salaam) and the Senior Operations Officer (based in Washington DC), and with 3 Program Leaders (PL)/Sector Leaders (SLs), all of whom support the entire CMU program.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The Operations Officer (OO) position is based in the Tanzania Country Office with primary responsibility for supporting the Country Director and Operations Manager (OM) with respect to the performance of the existing Tanzania portfolio and ensuring its strategic alignment with the Country Partnership Framework (CPF). The OO supports the CD, OM and the Program Leaders to conduct country-specific monitoring and reporting on the existing lending and ASA portfolio, and to identify and resolve country-specific implementation issues. The OO maintains up-to-date information on portfolio performance (IDA, IBRD, ASA and trust funds) for Tanzania in close collaboration with the Operations Analyst based in Dar es Salaam and the Sr. Operations Officer based in Washington.

Specific duties include:

• Coordinate and lead the preparation of a Monthly Portfolio Report. The report monitors lending, non-lending activities, TF, and other key portfolio performance indicators.
• Monitor and facilitate timely delivery on various milestones during the project cycle, including with respect to project closing and reporting. 
• Support implementation by organizing its regular meetings with Global Practices (GPs), project task team leaders (TTLs) and Program Leaders to discuss and find solutions to the ongoing concerns and to anticipate potential future problems/bottlenecks. Follow-up with government on recommendations in close consultation with the CD, OM, and Program Leaders. Follow up on the Portfolio Action Plan as formulated in the Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), with special focus on portfolio-wide actions in the areas of FM, procurement, safeguards, and M&E.
• Review, and draft comments on Implementation Status Reports (ISRs) for the CD.
• Provide inputs to or prepare diverse operational products/outputs (e.g. country briefings, background reports, case studies, portfolio performance reviews, etc.).  Provide continuous case-by-case support to project task teams. Interact directly with the Program Leaders on daily work program issues and provide operational support for problem or risky operations. To the extent possible, participate in operational missions and meetings and assist teams in resolution of difficult issues.
• Carry out research and analytics on operations- and CMU work program-related issues.
• Liaise with the main government counterpart (Ministry of Finance and Planning) on operational matters.
• The OO works closely and mentors junior/ACS staff on issues of portfolio management and monitoring.
• The OO will provide support to the CMU management team.
• Review, comment on, and clear all out-going correspondence; manage in-coming correspondence.
• Support the CD and OM in the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and provide assistance in preparing the Performance and Learning Review (PLR) and CPF Completion Report, particularly regarding portfolio implementation.

This requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff (including short-term and extended-term consultants/ temporaries) as well as external candidates.

Selection Criteria

• MA/MS with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; a postgraduate qualification with a supplementary Business Administration will be an added advantage.
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare presentations.
• Good ability to research, collect, analyze data.
• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix environment.
• Good understanding of Bank policies, procedures, and system; or demonstrated ability to learn these quickly.
• Recognized by peers and/or managers for the ability to identify and pro-actively solve operational issues and problems.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the CMU's annual reporting, budgeting, and business planning.
• Ability to coordinate mechanisms to ensure efficient and effective procedures for routine workflow in the County office.
• Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Shares best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.