[ref. h55354822] Senior Urban Transport Specialist - GG

World Bank Group

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.

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.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Overview of Unit

The Transport program in Africa is split between four units covering (a) Francophone and Lusophone West Africa and Gambia, (b) East Africa, (c) Southern Africa, and (d) Central Africa, and anglophone West Africa except Gambia (IAWT3).

Areas of particular interest for the transport sector in these countries include rural transport for agricultural productivity; urban mobility (particularly Bus Rapid Transit systems) to improve functioning of urban areas and improving accessibility to jobs and social services by the poorer segments of the population; regional integration corridors for facilitating trade and reducing logistics costs; investments in ports, railway, and air transport, for improving connectivity within and across countries; PPPs to bring in efficiencies in the provision of infrastructure and services; and road safety interventions to reduce the high number of traffic fatalities in the client countries.

IAWT3 is seeking a Senior Urban Transport Specialist to support the transport team in the design, implementation, supervision, and operation of the urban transport portfolio in Nigeria (primarily) as well as Ghana and other countries in Western and Central Africa.

If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment and current term. All others will be offered a four-year term appointment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Other cities in West and Central Africa also have needs for improved urban mobility. The transport portfolio in the set of countries also includes rural roads projects as well as corridor approaches and multisector projects involving urban, agriculture and social inclusion components.

The successful candidate will thus need to have a strong profile and in-depth experience in urban transport and be able to handle both broad and deep technical demands around urban transport. The assignment includes:

• Lead the preparation and implementation of Nigeria urban mobility engagement (ASA), with a nationwide scope but focus on a few states including Lagos;
• Lead and/or co-lead the design of a programmatic approach building on the ASA across the country, focusing on complementary policies, financing and capacities required to establish this approach;
• As a team member or co-TTL, support the design, preparation and implementation of urban transport projects elsewhere in the region including in Ghana;
• Lead and manage advisory and analytical activities on international best practices for the planning and provision of urban transport infrastructure and public transport services, including economic evaluation, cost efficiency, technical and financial feasibility, implementation planning and sustainability;
• Support the Practice Manager, the Regional Director in further developing and/or revising transport strategies;
• Engage with, advise and provide guidance to clients in designing and advancing sector policy and institutional reforms and capacity building programs in urban transport, seeking to develop capacity in the implementing entities to plan, develop, and manage transport projects under their jurisdiction;
• Participate in the policy dialogue under the guidance of the CMUs, the Practice Manager, the Program Leaders with external stakeholders and development partners in AFW;
• Advise government counterparts on technical matters associated with urban transport projects, the formulation of policy, and measures to strengthen institutional arrangements;
• Facilitate project implementation including providing procurement and contract management support and advice to project implementing agencies;
• Provide support to improve the quality of urban transport projects in general, through peer reviews, technical advice, and quality assurance;
• Participate in cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of policy notes, Country Partnership Frameworks, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, and research and policy development activities on the topics/sections pertaining to the transport, urban development, trade and competitiveness, and environment sectors;
• Support the World Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating actively in the Global Solutions Group on Urban Mobility and drafting of technical notes, and supporting cutting-edge work in collaboration with other global practices to enhance knowledge creation and dissemination, and expanding the existing knowledge base;
• Represent the World Bank at public events relevant to the sector.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications

Technical Competencies

The position calls for a highly-motivated individual who is able to lead teams and work with little supervision. The successful candidate shall have a master's degree or equivalent in transport planning/transport economics/transport engineering, finance, urban planning or other related disciplines, with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience in (a) developing and implementing public transport service plans that include establishing and reorganizing networks; (b) negotiating services contracts in relation to urban mobility (c) implementing complementary road, traffic management and non-motorized transport plans; (d) regulating informal and conventional public transport modes; (e) implementing multimodal public transport systems through physical, fare, and operational integration; and (f) mitigating demand and sustainability risks during public transport start-up and operational phases. Other specific skills include:

• Strong technical and operational skills as evidenced by a proven track record in working on policy institutional, financing, and with an understanding and ability to work on contract management, and social and environmental requirements for the sector;
• Proven ability to lead tasks/projects and to function effectively as team leader or team member of multi-disciplinary teams, mentor staff, and resolve conflicts constructively;
• Strong client and communications skills, with proven experience in providing quality policy and project advice to national and sub-national government clients on urban transport and mobility issues, and interest in transferring knowledge;
• Ability to identify and develop potential areas for future World Bank urban transport sector initiatives based on client consultation and analysis;
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English; French preferred ;
• Willingness to undertake extensive travel in Nigeria, Ghana and West and Central Africa

• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients' 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.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.

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Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)