Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Digital Vice Presidency
Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through:
• Building digital infrastructure and data platforms (including AI, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure).
• Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity and data protection & privacy.
• Developing ICT sectors and supporting digital entrepreneurship, skills, and jobs.
• Implementing digital government services that improve accountability and transparency.
• Supporting the Vice presidencies of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of their clients, and in leveraging digital solutions, including building client sectoral digital capacity, defining sectoral specific AI strategies, and designing sectoral AI solutions.
• Coordinating the operationalization of the digital Global Challenge Program as well as cross-GP efforts of achieving the new Corporate Scorecard digital indicators.
The World Bank’s Digital Vice Presidency is seeking a dedicated and innovative professional to advance our mission of leveraging artificial intelligence, digital skills, and ICT to drive equitable growth and create impactful solutions, particularly in fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) contexts.
As a Digital Transformation Specialist, you will work across three critical areas:
1. AI Infrastructure and Solutions: Help bridge the digital divide by promoting equitable access to AI infrastructure and solutions. Your work will contribute to ensuring that AI technology benefits all, especially underserved and communities by supporting clients and operational teams to promote the development of AI read infrastructure, fit-for-purpose regulation, and AI solutions to promote the widespread adoption of AI in low-and-middle-income countries.
2. ICT Industry and Digital Skills: Support increased economic growth and creation of digital jobs by encouraging investment in ICT industry, developing initiatives to develop digital skills and enhance knowledge, supporting the development of the enabling environment for ICT firms, and contributing to the development of local ICT markets.
3. Digital Development and Inclusion in Contexts Affected by Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV): Lead efforts to extend the reach of digital infrastructure, skills, and tools in FCV countries. You will identify best practice, contribute to the design of digital solutions tailored to FCV contexts, support operational teams working in FCV context with technical inputs, oversee results, and coordinate with various stakeholders to ensure impactful and context-sensitive digital interventions.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Lead Analytical and Knowledge Work: Conduct and lead analytical and knowledge work, including creating good practice guides for operations, developing case studies, developing global toolkits and analytical reports, and performing literature reviews related to ICT, AI & FCV.
• Provide Thought Leadership and Support for Development of Business Line Strategies: in coordination with business line leads, project teams and relevant colleagues, lead the development of DT’s approach to FCV including development of the value proposition to internal clients and engagement with external partners. Contribute to the development of the strategies for DTs business lines on ICT Industry and Digital Jobs and AI.
• Provide Technical Support to Operational Teams: Offer technical support for project design, and implementation to increase the integration of AI and ICT best practices and lessons learned across the portfolio, as well as supporting project teams to help digital development and transformation operations in FCV contexts both adapt to the context and contribute to sustainable improvements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations to promote digital transformation for development driven by AI, ICT and digital jobs.
• Conduct and Oversee Research and Analysis: Perform thorough research and analysis on regulatory issues, including legal and ethical implications, to inform policy development and oversee and perform quality assurance on the research and analytical work of consultants on relevant topics.
• Support Corporate Tasks: Assist with various corporate responsibilities, including IDA and Corporate Scorecard coordination and reporting, providing technical inputs related to the Global Challenge Program, and preparing senior management talking points and briefing notes.
• Support Donor Coordination and Reporting: Facilitate donor coordination and reporting and engage in building and maintaining strong networks and partnerships both internally and externally, with the aim of sharing knowledge and enhancing global advocacy.
• Coordinate Knowledge and Communications Efforts: Manage knowledge and communications efforts, including organizing and managing webinar series, drafting blogs, producing other communications outputs as needed, and overseeing the AI Newsletter and Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) sessions to disseminate key insights and updates.
• Capacity Building: Design and conduct workshops, training sessions, and other capacity-building activities to enhance the understanding and implementation of AI among stakeholders.
• Represent DT and the World Bank at fora and events: on the Bank’s behalf, attend and contribute to relevant events and fora in the areas of ICT, AI and Digital Transformation in FCV.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree in economics, digital development, technology policy, international development, or other related field, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills at the intersection of digital development, emerging technologies, digital skills and ICT industry including the ability to simplify complex issues & think innovatively.
• Operational experience working in and on contexts affected by FCV and a sound understanding of, and experience applying, key concepts related to FCV.
• Prior experience with World Bank corporate support and strategy, as well as country management, including the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, while delivering high quality outputs.
• Prior experience with World Bank operations—especially leading analytical work, supporting client dialogue, designing inclusive interventions, developing indicators, and supporting project implementation.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear, easily understandable, and effective manner.
• Driven, self-starter who can proactively solve problems constructively and effectively and with professionalism.
• High degree of discretion, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong attention-to-detail, creative problem-solving, and coordination/logistics skills.
• Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multi-disciplinary teams and resolve disagreements constructively.
• Working proficiency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages including French and Arabic is advantageous.
Required Competencies
• Integrative Skills: Integrating divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project/program/strategy.
• Internal and External Client Engagement: An ability to independently coordinate and engage with stakeholders from various parts of WBG, including IFC and MIGA, during the course of assisting team with operational design and implementation.
• Bank Instruments, Policies, and Procedures, and Ability to Proactively Apply Them: Solid operational experience, including as a TTL/co-TTL Bank lending and non-lending products. Solid knowledge of operational policies and procedures and ability to apply them in the different context, advise teams to resolve the bottlenecks, and find pragmatic operational solutions. An ability to exercise high standards in quality assurance of documents at different stages of project cycle. An ability to review and advice country products.
• Portfolio Management and Results Monitoring and Evaluation: An ability to independently monitor portfolio and pipeline and provide signals to management when the program goes off track. Preparing and leading country/GP portfolio reviews. An ability to monitor IBRD financing as well as IDA utilization. An ability to design, advice and implement results frameworks. Providing key inputs in business planning/MoU exercises.
• Operational Knowledge Sharing: An ability to design and consolidate core content of operational learning programs, and deliver presentations, trainings and BBLs on various topics. Mentoring junior colleagues in all aspects of operations.
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.