Senior Water Specialist

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VPU Context: Globally, the World Bank Group finances water development through projects, policy lending and technical assistance building on the new World Bank Group Strategy and the related Water Strategy Implemmentation Plan which focuses on three pillars: Water for People, Water for Food, and Water for the Planet. The Water GP is housed within the Planet Vertical, which brings together the cross-cutting sectors of Water with Agriculture, Environment, Social Inclusion, and Urban and Disaster Risk Management. The Water Global Practice therefore operates in the fields of sustaining water resources, delivering services (both in water in agriculture as in water supply and sanitation) and building resilience, the Water Global Practice (GP) also seeks to ensure that water issues are effectively addressed across all related sub-sectors, such as agriculture (ensuring sustainable water availability for irrigation), climate change and disaster risk management, and energy (hydropower).

Unit Context: The West and Central Africa Region, the hiring unit (SAWW1) is responsible for ensuring the translation of the World Bank’s Africa Regional Strategy and the Water Global Practice’s Water Security Strategy into practical results relevant to 13 countries. Specifically, the unit supports the definition and achievement of these results through analytical, policy, and investment activities. The unit has a staffing complement of 21 water professionals, with an active portfolio of over $2.6 Billion,11 investment projects, 2 Programs for Results, Advisory Services and Analytics and contribution to Development Policy Financing. Duties and accountabilities: Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following tasks: Strategies, Planning and Policies: · Assist in the process of formulation of country sector strategies in the whole water sector (WSS, WRM, Irrigation, Reforms). Participate in reviews of different sector policies, legal and regulatory frameworks for the water and sanitation sector; · Assist in the identification and preparation of projects; · Liaise with and support teams from other GPs of the World Bank (e.g., human development, urban, environment, energy, agriculture) with the aim of ensuring that water-related issues are addressed consistently across various programs in the Bank; · Participate in policy dialogue, together with other development partners, with key stakeholders in the country; · As appropriate, with the Bank team, advise government counterparts on policy, institutional, and technical matters associated with the Bank’s water program; and · Prepare reports, summaries, briefs and talking points on water-related projects and programs, business plans and strategies. Project’s implementation · Monitor closely the implementation of the Project · Participate in the design, preparation and implementation of water activities in Chad/Mali which will include incorporating key cross-cutting issues such as gender and climate change; · Participate and assist multidisciplinary supervision missions covering all phases of the project cycle; · Identify implementation issues related to projects/programs in the sector; · Work closely with client institutions to support effective implementation of WB supported programs; · Maintain effective relationships with relevant governmental, non-governmental, donors and other stakeholders; · Carry out the planning and organization of workshops on Bank procedures and deliverables; and · Encourage clients to use disruptive technology and ICT to speed up project implementation. Institutional and analytical work · Support the design, preparation and implementation of sector strategies, studies, analytical work, policy work, and advisory activities; · Stay informed on the status of the water sector and its institutions, as well as relevant donors, private sector and NGO initiatives; · Participate in and eventually lead task teams for production of analytical studies and preparation and implementation support to investment and policy-oriented projects; · Identify and share with client, relevant expertise and examples within and outside the World Bank; and · Identify and support water sector links to the Bank’s country strategy and the work of other sectoral tea