Urban Specialist - World Bank

The urban development and disaster risk management portfolio in the Africa Region is large, diverse and rapidly growing. The portfolio comprises of 33 ongoing lending projects currently under supervision, 16 under preparation with Board delivery dates in FY15 and FY16, and a large number of AAA activities under preparation and Trust Funds under execution. A large pipeline is also envisaged over the coming period, as urbanization becomes an increasing priority for the Africa continent, so that urbanization can lead to growth and high productivity, while contributing significantly to poverty alleviation and shared prosperity. The portfolio under supervision is roughly equally divided between West and Central Africa (AFR-WCA) and East and Southern Africa (AFR-ESA - the hiring unit for this position).

The large part of the existing portfolio is structured in three principal business lines: (a) engagement with metropolitan regions and strategic/primary cities, which covers planning, finance, governance, land use, urban transport and service delivery, job creation, competitiveness and economic development, as well as major urban infrastructure; (b) engagement with systems of cities and wholesale approaches to support secondary cities, including through an increasing series of PforR operations that encompass planning, service land, core infrastructure, governance, management systems, finance and revenues, and urban services; and (c) slum upgrading including basic services, infrastructure, housing, land (and land tenure security) as well as the informal sector. In addition, three emerging business lines are witnessing increasing demand and Bank interventions: (d) resilience and urban environment; (e) urbanization and economic growth policies; and (f) decentralization. 

The lending portfolio is being built and scaled up on the back of a major programmatic AAA program over the 2014-2018 period, which is intended to strengthen the availability of urban data and analytics. This program includes a large number of Urbanization Reviews including 7 underway and several more planned, a spatial development research program covering 10 primary African cities, analytics in housing and urban environment, and planned analytical work on economic development in cities, and a major flagship on urbanization planned for 2015. This is supplemented by several NLTAs and a growing RAS business line including a major program in South Africa. 

The staff in the WCA and ESA units comprises of both field office-based and Washington DC-based staff. A seamless integration and coordination between the WCA and ESA teams and operation as one overall unit is critical to the success of the delivery of the GP’s work program in Africa and globally, and ensuring overall global knowledge and expertise flow for the benefit of the WBG’s clients. 

In Kenya, the World Bank has a vibrant urban portfolio including the Kenya Informal Settlements and Improvement Program (KISIP), the Kenya Municipal Program (KMP), and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Project (NAMSIP) under implementation and an operation in support of the devolution process under preparation. Similarly, there is an urbanization review in the final stages of preparation, which will be instrumental to inform urban lending There is also a growing demand for support to secondary cities as part of a new generation of projects in support of local governments in the context of devolution and an expansion of support to slum/informal settlement upgrading as part of a comprehensive approach involving housing and land. Technical assistance in the areas of metropolitan governance, urban land management, and urban crime and violence (in the context of slum upgrading) is also needed in response to key development challenges and Government priorities. There is also a vibrant urban program in the sub-region especially in Rwanda.

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 3 year term appointment.

Responsibilities

The selected urban specialist will work mainly on the Kenya urban portfolio including both the operational and analytical activities, as well as be available for providing support as may be needed to selected urban activities in the sub-region drawing on the staff’s areas of expertise, and ensure coordination with the DRM/resilience portfolio in Kenya as might be needed. The consultant will work in the areas of housing, land, slum upgrading, municipal service delivery, and urban infrastructure. In this role the candidate: 

•  Carries out responsibilities for a variety of operational tasks including lending, technical assistance and policy advisory work, e.g. technical analyses, design of technical assistance interventions, participation in loan negotiations, etc and take on the lead of specific activities as requested.

•  Employs appropriate methodologies for handling simple and complex procurement tasks and/or issues

•  Participates in developing and implementing practice strategy and assists in country-specific policy work.

•  Participates in missions in area of specialization; provides technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope, technology, costs, etc.; prepares terms of reference for project- or sector-related work.

•  Works independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior specialists.

•  Performs regular reviews of financial/fiduciary, technical, safeguards, budgetary issues, and prepare relevant reports and updates on implementation progress as part of Bank teams. 

•  Makes regular and as needed field visits to address issues, consult stakeholders and review project and activity implementation. 

•  Provides guidance and hands-on support to implementing agencies and management units, assisting them in monitoring project progress, procurement processing, preparing and maintaining essential documentation for these processes. Identify potential problems and advise on required actions. 

•  Provides continuous feedback to the CMU on urban and local government issues and report on progress to relevant partners within Government and among Development Partners. 

•  Participates in the review of technical documents throughout the various stages of procurement of project financed services, goods, and works; and manage and monitor disbursement and safeguard implementation

•  Works closely with other GPs and the CMU on issues of mutual interest, such as decentralization, and to provide support on projects and initiatives led by other GPs and the CMU (such as SCDs, CPS).

Selection criteria:

•  Master's degree in urban planning/development, engineering, economics/finance or related field with 5 years experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

•  Past experience in lending operations/investment projects in urban issues in the areas of focus - housing, land, slum upgrading, municipal service delivery, and urban infrastructure.

•  Past experience in analytical products in urban issues in the areas of focus – urbanization, housing, land, slum upgrading, municipal service delivery, and urban infrastructure.

•  Past experience in policy dialogue in complex urban issues such as land management, housing subsidies, slum upgrading, etc, would be an asset. 

•  Written and spoken fluency in English is a must. 

Competencies:  Please add as/if required

•  Integrative Skills. - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.

•  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.

•  Urban Policy, Strategy, and Institutions - Familiarity with urban policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.

•  Urban Services Delivery - Foundational knowledge of urban services delivery, with ability to apply to operations and analytical work.

•   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.

•  Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making – Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

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