Job Description
Devex is assisting the World Bank Group with their search for a Senior Public Sector Specialist for the Africa unit of the Public Service and Performance Department of Governance Global Practice (GGODR) to support their devolution program.
This is a full-time position based at Nairobi, Kenya, with the successful candidate being contracted on a three-year basis. Candidates may be residents of any country, but must be nationals of Sub-Saharan African countries.
The Governance Global Practice (GGODR) brings together professionals in procurement, financial management, taxation, public management, regulatory policy, transparency, digital governance, law and development, anticorruption, and social accountability to develop innovative, integrated solutions to pernicious institutional problems. The practice utilizes a problem-driven, diagnostic approach, combining global comparative knowledge of reform successes and failures with keen understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities of developing countries.
ROLE
The Senior Public Sector Specialist will report to the Cluster Leader and the Practice Manager of the Public Service and Performance Department of the Africa region for all technical related matters. S/he will lead tasks and further develop programs on local government finance, fiscal decentralization and local taxation in Kenya and broader engagement on selected countries in East Africa, in particular with regard to public sector governance reforms.
S/he will also lead and participate in the operational, analytical and advisory activities of the Department and provide inputs and support to other GPs based on need/request for his/her expertise. S/he will work closely with and support the Cluster Leader for a group of CMUs that includes Kenya.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Public Sector Specialist will undertake the following tasks:
- Developing an innovative and strategic work program on fiscal decentralization, taxation and selected thematic areas of public sector governance that responds to clients emerging needs and positions the World Bank as an intellectual leader and recognized source of solutions Kenya and in the region.
- Work as integral member of the Kenya devolution team and lead engagements on local government development and fiscal decentralization, local taxation/revenue management and significantly contribute to the Bank’s program of support to devolution, working in close collaboration with the GGP, CMUs and with other GP teams.
- Collaborating with other sector experts and supporting the design and the implementation of lending and non-lending products in Kenya and selected countries in the region with the aim of ensuring that governance issues are effectively addressed. This will include preparation of (and participation to) regular supervision missions, day-to-day supervision of technical consultants, procurement, project reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
- Leading and/or providing technical inputs to analytic work and advisory services, and/or supervising the preparation of Economic and Sector Work (ESW) and other relevant technical reports to clients (e.g. analysis, findings, and policy recommendations), in close collaboration with the relevant Country Management Units (CMUs) and the relevant Program Leaders, the Governance Cluster Leaders, relevant TTLs and sector experts within and outside the Bank.
- Contributing to knowledge management and dissemination in the area of economic and public sector governance, in close collaboration with colleagues and experts across the Global Practices, the CMUs and other development partners active.
- Contributing to the development agenda and GGODR leadership in knowledge generation through publication high quality analytical pieces.
- Mentor junior and new staff.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate will be a professional with solid operational and technical experience on public sector analytical and operational work, with strong focus on local government development and fiscal decentralization and local taxation.
Technical Skills and Experience:
- A minimum of Master’s Degree in international development, public policy and administration, economics, public finance or other related field.
- At least 8 years of relevant professional experience, including management and implementation of substantive analytical and operational tasks on public sector and economic governance reforms, including local government and fiscal decentralization. Familiarity with Bank lending instruments (including IPF, PforR, DPL and TF) will be an asset.
- First-hand analytic and operational experience in a low income country setting, fragile states or transition context with particular focus on local government development / decentralization and local government finance and revenue administration.
- A senior technical expert in local government development/decentralization and finance (including inter-governmental fiscal relations) and at least one of the following areas:
- (a) Reform of administrative system and related institutional development;
- (b) public sector performance, monitoring & evaluation, oversight;
- (c) public expenditure management;
- (d) fiscal transparency and open government (including citizen engagements and parliamentary oversight).
- Cutting edge knowledge of ‘best practices’, trends, and emerging lessons in local government development/decentralization and finance and overall public sector governance reforms, and experience in developing ‘best fit’ solutions adapting knowledge to client needs and local context.
- A track record of publications relevant to the work of the department.
- Preferably good knowledge and experience in fragile and post-conflict countries.
- Demonstrable ability to design, manage and deliver analytical work of high quality standards on public sector governance reforms and local government development and finance; evidence of publications will be preferable.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) required.
To be considered for this position, please click “Apply Now” below. So that we may best assess your skills and experience in relation to this opportunity, please submit a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience for this position.
