Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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, please visit
www.worldbank.org.The Governance Global Practice (GGP) brings together professionals in procurement, financial management, taxation, regulatory policy, transparency, digital governance, law and development, anticorruption, and social accountability to develop innovative, integrated solutions to pernicious institutional problems.
The GGP utilizes a problem-driven diagnostic approach, combining global comparative knowledge of reform successes and failures with keen understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities of developing countries. The GGP engages on core and cross cutting themes including Public Financial Management (PFM); Subnational/decentralization; State Owned Enterprises/Corporate Governance; Tax Administration; Fiduciary Assurance; Public Institutions; GOVTECH, Anticorruption, Open Government and Political Economy.
Public Finance and Procurement (EGVPF) Global Unit
The EGVPF Global Unit is responsible for issues related to Public Financial and Investment Management, procurement, standards and codes around transparent financial management in public and private sectors, corporate governance, state-owned enterprises, corporate financial reporting, tax administration and domestic resource mobilization, and fiduciary assurance. The Unit leads the global engagement program on addressing those challenges of climate change for which fiscal policies and PFM systems are an important component of the appropriate policy response.
The candidate will report to the Practice Manager of the Global Governance Unit responsible for the Public Finance and Procurement for all technical and human resource-related matters.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
The world is at a critical juncture where environmental sustainability has become a central concern for governments, companies, and individuals alike. As climate change accelerates and natural resources become increasingly scarce, the need for sustainable practices in all sectors is paramount. Green Public Procurement (GPP) has emerged as a powerful policy tool for governments to lead the way to low-carbon development pathways.
The candidate will contribute to a wide range of work on green public procurement. S/he will build collaborative relationships with colleagues across the World Bank, as well as with key institutions, authorities, and other international partners while ensuring that the World Bank continues to fulfil its mandate.
S/he will join teams dedicated to working on public procurement for development (P4D) and help drive the agenda. Specifically, s/he needs to:
1. Comprehend the importance of green public procurement as an instrument to achieve climate mitigation and net zero goals.
2. Understand the different ways governments and institutions define green public procurement, and its linkages with other strategic procurement topics.
3. Identify opportunities to introduce green criteria in the public procurement cycle.
4. Design practical approaches to advance GPP policy and practice in different countries contexts with varying priorities and economic profiles.
The Governance Specialist will be expected to:
• Demonstrate solid understanding of enabling framework for GPP and apply his/her experience and expertise to WB projects and analytics as assigned, including providing relevant, practical advice to project teams and senior government officials on contemporary practices.
• Contribute to the thought leadership for and delivery of the GGP’s procurement for development workstream in collaboration with other colleagues, including the development and delivery of Climate Change Institutional Assessments.
• Working specifically on the interface between climate change policy, public finance policy and procurement systems, contribute towards both research and practical guidance for clients and task teams on how public procurement can drive climate action.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with the constituent parts of the Prosperity Vertical and GGP units, CMUs, client countries and Development partners for business development. The latter involves supporting the Manager to liaise with donors and establish and/or maintain coordination and collaboration arrangements.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of capacity building curricula for GPP Training Program, including agenda setting, creating presentations and course materials, and delivering training.
• Support regional task teams in selected strategic engagements in the GPP engagement, with a specific focus on climate public finance policy and PFM.
• Provide technical inputs to analytic works and reports (conduct analysis, report findings, and develop policy recommendations), in close collaboration with the relevant TTLs and sector experts within and outside the Bank.
• Mentor staff in the P4D workstream and the wider GGP as needed.
• Participate in global and regional events.
• Undertake other analytical and administrative duties as may be assigned by the Practice Manager.
Selection Criteria
• An advanced degree (master’s/PhD) in economics, public policy, finance, or a related field.
• Proven research interests in procurement as well as a strong track record of academic and policy-relevant publications on these issues.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or regional levels.
• Relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas will be an advantage:
o Understanding of climate change policies, strategies, institutions, finance, governance, and regulations is a bonus.
o Experience in climate responsive PFM, including budgeting, public investment management, procurement and sustainability reporting.
• Strong interpersonal, communications and writing skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with member country authorities.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.