Junior Professional Associate

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. 

The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet.

We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. 

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:

• Be 32 years of age or younger
• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Be fluent in English

The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank’s Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.

Positions may be in any of the World Bank’s offices worldwide.

Specific Unit Description – IAWT3

• Transport in the Africa Region has a large and diversity portfolio of about 54 projects under implementation, with an aggregate value of about US$ 8.9 billion. This portfolio is increasing by 5-10 projects per year, with a slightly smaller number closing over the same period. The record replenishment for IDA20, together with the greater focus on fragile states, gender equality, transformational projects, greater private sector participation, and climate change, is leading to a further increase in both the diversity and scale of the portfolio. The Transport program in Africa is split between four units covering (a) francophone and Lusophone West Africa+ the Gambia (b) East Africa, (c) Southern Africa, and (d) Central Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. IAWT3 is the unit covering these latter countries, and has a portfolio comprising rural transport, urban mobility and multimodal corridor projects.
• The JPA will work on the Nigeria engagement which is led by a senior international specialist based in Abuja with the support of other specialists in the region and local specialists in Abuja. The main current lending relates to the Rural Access and Marketing Project. Areas of particular interest for the transport sector 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

• IAWT3 is hiring a JPA with outstanding technical skills and knowledge of transport issues, and prior direct project management experience—preferably in Africa—to join the WB Paris Office to support the Nigeria country team. She/He will report to the IAWT4 Practice Manager, Transport.

The JPA will : 

• Support the Task Team Leader, or contribute as member to the supervision of other transport projects in Nigeria covering the core elements of planning, design, procurement, construction, contract management, maintenance, and operations, while paying close attention to the design and monitoring the implementation of safeguards and other cross-cutting issues, including climate change/resilience considerations, gender dimensions, and opportunities for expanding the incorporation of the private sector in the financing and/or provision of transport infrastructure and services. One particular focus will be the management of the many contracts implemented by 19 states under the RAAMP project, which require constant update and to verify works execution.
• Under the guidance of the Transport GP Practice Manager and the Infrastructure PG Program Leader, prepare elements for the technical dialogue in the transport sector with the authorities of the Government of Nigeria, with a particular focus on rural roads and urban mobility.
• Manage or contribute to selected analytical studies, particularly on issues related to rural roads, urban mobility, financing options, asset maintenance and operations, climate resilience, impact evaluation, and generally best practices in the investment, management and delivery of infrastructure and services.
• Contribute to cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Country Partnership Framework (CPF), Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), policy notes, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, and research and policy development activities on the relevant topics/sections pertaining to transport and trade and competitiveness.
• Support the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in a selected number of thematic technical groups and participating in drafting selected technical notes in collaboration with other Global practices to enhance the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and expanding the existing knowledge base.
• Stay abreast of recent developments in the transport sector world-wide, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (Masters level or higher) in engineering, economics, finance, urban transport planning or other discipline relevant to the transport sector.
• Minimum 2 years of proven practical experience in transport, and general experience in broader transport issues, with demonstrated ability to work on at least three of the following areas: (a) development of transport policy and planning instruments; (b) policy, institutional and financing aspects of urban mobility and the strategies to encourage private sector participation in the delivery of transport infrastructure or services; (c) road/urban mobility investment prioritization; (d) transport asset management; and (e) procurement and contract management.
• Experience of working on similar programs in developing countries (including middle-income countries), in activities financed by the World Bank or other financing/ government organizations, or in a contractor or consultant capacity would be a plus.
• Proven ability to build client relationships involving multiple stakeholders;
• Demonstrated familiarity and comfort with quantitative methods;
• High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues in a straightforward manner;
• Written and oral fluency in English and French are required.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28692&site=1