Energy Specialist - World Bank Group

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Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We 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. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 350 projects totaling more than $38 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s 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.

Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries build back better after COVID.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

UNIT CONTEXT

The Energy & Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank Group is made up of more than 300 professionals, a lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. The EEX GP focuses on: providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and, strengthening 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 Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of East and Southern Africa and newly created VPU of West and Central Africa. The position for locally recruited Energy Specialist is based in Accra, Ghana, with the primary work focus on the energy sector portfolio within the Ghana, but also providing limited cross support to Liberia on technical review of key procurement packages.

The Bank is engaged in all aspects of the electricity sector – generation, transmission, distribution, rural electrification and off-grid– through development policy financing, program for results, investment financing support, technical assistance and guarantee operations. The Ghana Energy Sector country program includes a variety of on-going and planned lending operations along with ambitious knowledge and analytical agenda. The lending operations involve various WB lending instruments such as investment project financing, guarantees for public private partnerships, program for results, and technical assistance.  In addition, the team manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector.  

Duties & Accountabilities

IAWE4 seeks a Energy Specialist based in Accra, Ghana to support the Africa Energy program’s strategic, advisory, and operational work. Specifically, it is expected that the selected candidate will be providing technical and engineering support to teams on project preparation and implementation, including policy and analytical work to be carried out as part of overall energy program, supporting donor coordination and liaising with local and international counterparts (including the private sector), as necessary.  

The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:

• Lead technical engineering work for Projects of the Ghana Energy Sector Portfolio especially with Electricity Company of Ghana’s distribution segments of revenue protection plan and key investments;
• Work as core team member on Ghana program for results for implementation support of Ghana’s Energy Sector Recovery Program;
• Be part of analytical work on technical issues of project implementation plans, interaction with the Ghana regulator PURC on key technical aspects of regulation based on experience in similar situations;
• Create partnerships with Ghana stakeholders as well as donors on design and implementation of energy sector interventions;
• Supporting the team leaders on Liberia energy program on dialogue with Liberia Electricity Corporation on technical design and review of projects on urban distribution and energy access including grid and off grid applications;
• Actively participate in overseeing World Bank-supported energy country program in Ghana with the aim to enhance quality and pro-poor focus and accelerate implementation;
• Develop and maintain close relationships with local public and private stakeholders, support policy dialogue and keep abreast of developments in the energy sector.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum education level is Master’s Degree as follows: a Bachelor degree in engineering with at least two years of experience on technical/ engineering aspects of distribution sector (including off grid applications) of power sector is essential and a Masters’ level degree in energy planning, finance, economics, business administration or equivalent area;
• At least 5 years of total relevant experience in the energy sector with demonstrated ability to engage credibly on a range of issues in the energy sector in different regions;
• Prior experience of having worked in Ghana power sector based in Ghana for at least two years is essential requirement;
• Operational experience in recent technological advancements and business models;
• Operational experience in the following areas is highly desirable: energy policy and tariff regulation analysis and advisory, utility regulation, power market development and regional integration, off-grid electrification, gas-to-power Value Chain, project development and execution, utility commercialization and project finance;
• Hands-on project management experience, an ability to efficiently manage many activities simultaneously, a flair for problem-solving and an ability to self-navigate through complex bureaucratic environments;
• Problem solving and solution driven approach backed by a passion for development challenges;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, passion for development, ability to work 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;
• Ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients;

Required Professional Competencies:

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Integrative Skills – Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.
• Energy Sector Technologies – Direct experience with depth in at least one area: power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, energy efficiency, etc.
• Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Familiarity with energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses client’s 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

WBG Core Competencies

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the WBG and brings differing ideas to the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions – Recommends and takes decisive action.

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.

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