Program Assistant

THE WORLD BANK GROUP
Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2014, the WBG committed $65.6 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $22.2 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: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). IBRD and IDA are commonly known as the World Bank, which is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and – as of July 1, 2014 – has introduced fourteen Global Practices (GPs) as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas (CCSAs) to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.
GLOBAL PRACTICES & CROSS-CUTTING SOLUTIONS AREAS
The 14 GPs are: Agriculture; Education; Energy and Extractives; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance and Markets; Governance; Health, Nutrition and Population; Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management; Poverty; Social Protection and Labor; Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience; Trade and Competitiveness; Transport and ICT; and Water. The 5 CCSAs are: Climate Change; Fragility, Conflict and Violence; Gender; Jobs; and Public-Private Partnerships. The new operating model is part of a broader internal reform aimed at delivering the best of the World Bank Group to our clients, so that together we can achieve the twin goals of (1) ending extreme poverty by 2030, and (2) promote shared prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population in every developing country.
THE “SOCIAL, URBAN, RURAL AND RESILIENCE” (SURR) GLOBAL PRACTICE
Urbanization is occurring at an unprecedented pace. Cities generate 80% of global GDP and are key to job creation and the pursuit of shared prosperity. Yet one billion city residents live in slums today, and by 2030 one billion new migrants will arrive in cities. This concentration of people and assets will exacerbate risk exposure to adverse natural events and climate change, which affects the poor disproportionately. The absence of secure land tenure underpins deprivation and is a major source of conflict in the urban and rural space. One and a half billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence. In the absence of services, participative planning and responsive institutions, these trends will result in increased poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability and violence. Finally, avoiding a 4-degree warmer world requires drastically reducing the carbon footprint of cities.
The WBG is in a unique position to support national and sub-national clients to: harness urbanization and enable effective land management in support of both growth and poverty reduction; foster social inclusion of marginalized groups; support the responsiveness and fiscal, financial, and management capacities of local governments – cities, municipalities, and rural districts – to deliver local infrastructure and decentralized services; strengthen resilience and risk management related to natural disasters; reduce conflict and violence; scale-up access to finance for sub-national governments; and reduce the carbon footprint of cities. The WBG brings a combination of lending ($7-8 billion in annual lending to cities), analytical and advisory services (e.g., social inclusion flagship, urbanization reviews, Sendai dialogue), its growing portfolio of reimbursable advisory services, its convening power (e.g., understanding risk and the land conferences), its leveraging capacity (e.g., guarantees and risk mitigation), and its ability to work with the private sector to tackle the challenges at scale and to effect.
The SURR GP covers a wide gamut: (i) developing green, inclusive and resilient cities; (ii) addressing the social inclusion of the poor, vulnerable and excluded groups through accountable institutions, and ensuring compliance with social safeguards; (iii) enhancing urban and rural development through supporting and managing the urban-rural transition, assisting local development through developing land tenure, management and information systems; and (iv) assisting in disaster risk management through issues of risk assessment, risk reduction (including flood management, urban drainage, coastal management, and retrofitting of infrastructure), disaster preparedness (including hydromet services, early warning systems, and civil defense), risk financing (including CAT-DDO), and resilient reconstruction (including post-disaster damage and loss assessment). A key responsibility of the GP is to provide professional expertise and operational support to other GPs to implement the WBG social policies (the WB’s safeguard policies and the IFC’s Performance Standards) to deliver sustainable development results that ensure that any adverse impacts of WBG interventions are limited and mitigated.
The World Bank’s work in urban development aims to build sustainable cities and communities through an urbanization process that is inclusive, resilient, productive, and livable, in line with the World Bank’s goals to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. World Bank-supported operations and technical assistance contributes to the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal No.11 to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
The Bank’s urban development work is structured around three main pillars:
A. Strengthening city finances, planning, and governance systems;
B. Improving different dimensions of living conditions for people – infrastructure services, tenure, housing, and neighborhoods; and
C. Supporting urban transformation through improved urban and land-use planning, management, and implementation of integrated investments in infrastructure and service delivery in a manner that can improve urban space and impact city form over the long run, through reducing sprawl and enhancing livability, resilience, and productivity.
These pillars are in turn organized under six business lines:
1. Cities and economic growth
2. Urban poverty and inclusion
3. Municipal infrastructure and services
4. Affordable housing and land
5. Urban management, finance, and governance
6. Cities and urban environment
REGIONAL/COUNTRY CONTEXT
The Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA) at the World Bank serves 21 client countries with a total population of about 335 million. Clients range from upper middle income countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which are more interested in the Bank’s Reimbursable Technical Assistance, analytical and advisory services; to IBRD middle income countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Morocco, and two IDA countries, Yemen and Djibouti where more traditional Bank services are required. Hence the range of needs for advice, support and cross-fertilization of experiences is wide and challenging. The MNA Social, Urban and Disaster Risk Management Unit (MNA SUR) consists of 30 team members including in four country offices (Cairo, Sanaa, Riyadh and Jerusalem). The portfolio comprises a diverse set of projects under supervision and has an active lending pipeline which is poised for further growth.
In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the MNA Region is undergoing radical transformations with impacts throughout the Region. Given the ongoing fragility and conflict in the region, the World Bank Group has prepared a new regional strategy for the Middle East and North Africa. Instead of taking conflict and violence as given and working around it, this new strategy, entitled – “Economic and Social Inclusion for Peace and Stability in the Middle East and North Africa: A New Strategy for the World Bank Group” – puts the goal of promoting peace and social stability in the MENA region at its center. The strategy is built around four pillars (“the 4 R’s”) that respond to both the underlying causes of conflict and violence as well as the urgent consequences though development interventions that foster inclusion and shared prosperity. The four pillars of the strategy are as follows:
A. Renewing the social contract – to generate a new development model that is built on greater citizen trust; more effective protection of the poor and vulnerable; inclusive and accountable service delivery; and a stronger private sector that can create jobs and opportunities for MENA’s youth;
B. Regional cooperation – particularly around regional public goods and sectors such as education, water, and energy so as to foster greater trust and collaboration across MENA countries;
C. Resilience – to refugee and migration shocks by promoting the welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities by focusing on building trust and building their assets; and
D. Reconstruction and recovery – through a dynamic approach that brings in external partners, leverages large scale financing, and move beyond humanitarian response to longer-term development wherever and whenever conflict subsides.
In implementing this strategy, the WBG will rely heavily on both deepening and expanding partnerships with national, regional, and global actors.
On the basis of the above, the MNA GSURR Team works across a complex institutional environment, in partnership with many different units within the Bank given the cross-cutting nature of urban, social and resilience issues. The span of work of GSURR extends to all active clients in the region, and across a variety of financial and technical assistance support. This includes IBRD/ IDA financial and technical assistance to client countries, as well as the provision of Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) from the Bank to the GCC countries.
The thematic work of the MNA unit of the Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Practice cover an active portfolio of over $1.5 billion, a growing pipeline for lending, and a large RAS and TF program. The portfolio is growing to respond to the demands articulated by the MNA strategy, and covers a range of urban and social development programs, support to social safeguards and a growing risk management and resilient recovery agenda, given the vulnerability of most of MNA countries to a wide range of risks, including disasters, climate change, and most prominently, conflict.
GSURR (MNA) is seeking a Program Assistant to provide administrative support for the unit’s range of activities that serve a diverse stakeholder base. The ideal candidate will be an energetic and efficient professional, comfortable working in a team setting across a range of functions, who is highly familiar with Bank systems and operations and motivated to continue professional development in a positive team setting.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.


Duties and Accountabilities:

As a member of the team, the Program Assistant will provide a full range of administrative support to the teams of the department as needed. We are looking for a Program Assistant who is a result-oriented team player, adaptable to changing business needs and capable of contributing to the effectiveness GSURR. She/he should be highly motivated, and able to work independently after a bit of mentoring. She/he should be dynamic and resourceful with excellent organizational skills and have a proactive approach and strong attention to detail.
The Program Assistant will support GSURR MNA team and will report to GSURR MNA Practice Manager. Responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to the following:
• Provide administrative and operational support to task teams on all stages and aspects of project preparation and implementation according to institutional guidelines; including editing of documents, drafting decision notes and securing timely clearances. Solve non-routine problems creatively and resourcefully
• Organize meetings and events and assist in the preparation and logistical planning for various events, e.g. conferences, workshops, review meetings and negotiations.
• Monitor task budget/trust funds for specific projects on behalf of the team.
• Assist teams with administrative processing: process Admin Portal and econsult2 requests; follow up with the Chennai office on creation of contracts and payment requests; enter trip requests and trip cost statements for consultants, on exceptional basis, for staff; process visa issues. Draft and compile portions of operational, administrative and other documents, and other project related correspondence.
• Enhance quality of key documents, correspondence, outputs/reports.
• Support and work collaboratively with members of the immediate work team as well as with others in diverse work groups/teams/task forces, across Bank Group offices.
• Interpret existing procedures and processes and provide guidance to less experienced staff.
• Coordinate with Sr. Program Assistant, and serve as back up to other ACS as necessary
• Any other tasks assigned.
Scope
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
• Internal Contacts: Other VP Units, IFC and MIGA, other institutional units such as, but not limited to, CTR, FIN, GEF, RMC, TRE, etc., Staff in all locations, locally and internationally, Units providing cross-support
• External Contacts: Government Officials, Consultants, External Organization
providing cross-support
• External Contacts: Government Officials, Consultants, External Organization


Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria:
• High school diploma and at least 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Good knowledge of WB operations and systems.
• Strong leadership, team-building, time management, and workflow coordination skills.
• Self-starter who takes initiative, pays attention to details, is well organized, focused, and works with minimal supervision.
• Flexibility and wiliness to take up new tasks and drive to bring them to closure.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.
• Strong French language skills highly desirable.
Required Competencies:
Technology and systems knowledge
Has advanced knowledge of, and keeps up-to-date with systems, technology and databases relevant to functional area of assigned responsibilities. Demonstrates initiative and pro activity in learning and/or supporting implementation of emerging technology applications and systems relevant to effective work of the unit.
Project and task management
Displays good project management skills. Exhibits good understanding of unit’s priorities; is able to proactively negotiate with stakeholders and adjust own deliverables upon changing and competing priorities, remaining flexible and effective with a clear understanding of objectives to be achieved. Can organize, coordinate, and make priorities-based adjustments to work schedule of internal clients (e.g. manager), if the tasks fall in the area of assigned responsibility. Exhibits and promotes ownership and accountability of results and quality-oriented delivery, proactively anticipates and approaches issues. Demonstrates innovation and creativity, promotes process simplification and effectiveness. Able to mentor less experienced staff in task and time management.
Institutional policies, processes, and procedures
Displays an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the institutional vision, strategy, and priorities and how they affect unit’s products and programs and interaction with clients in relevant functional area. Able to act as an expert on relevant administrative and policy guidelines, procedures and practices, demonstrates up-to-date knowledge of a diverse range of products and/or services in the relevant functional area of assigned responsibilities; can independently interpret relevant policy application and guide others in complex situations within assigned area of functional responsibility.
Versatility and adaptability
Able to anticipate change in the business environment and accurately assess the need for new skills and knowledge. Able to facilitate and catalyze change where applicable. Demonstrates continued learning attitude, shows initiative in accepting new challenges and meeting critical needs within the unit/department/VPU. Encourages and supports others in their learning and change management efforts.
Deliver Results for Clients
Demonstrates initiative, independence and autonomy in addressing client needs in changing business contexts and environments. Has knowledge of department strategy, vision, and goals and can link them to those of the larger organization. Allocates and prioritizes resources according to areas of most urgent need and greatest impact for the client.
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries
Adopts a collaborative approach to improve overall effectiveness outside one’s department and displays an open, helpful attitude toward others. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Demonstrates understanding of and acts to incorporate multiple perspectives. Frames thinking/actions with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.