Education Specialists at the World Bank Group

The World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group, is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.

In 2015, the World Bank Group launched a recruitment mission to attract Sub Saharan African professionals to its work force. The initiative was the first of its kind for the institution and resulted in numerous hires into business areas such as Education, Health, Development Economics, Information Technology Systems, Social Urban/Rural & Resilience and Governance. The World Bank Group continues its commitment to hiring Sub-Saharan African professionals and announces its latest recruitment mission to again attract highly qualified Sub-Saharan African professionals who are looking for an exciting career, where their effort will contribute to the institution's goal of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity.

Applications are invited for the position below:

Job Title: Education Specialist

Location: Africa
Area: Development Finance

Job Summary

• Are you a passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children in the world’s poorest countries? The Global Partnership for Education would like to hear from you.
• The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) works with 65 developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, the most vulnerable and those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
• GPE mobilizes financing for education and supports developing countries to build effective education systems founded on evidence-based planning and policies.
• Established in 2002 as the Education For All Fast Track Initiative, the Global Partnership has evolved into an independently governed partnership of governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, private sector and foundations. The Board of Directors is GPE's governing body, sets its policies and strategies and approves all funding. Since its inception in 2002, GPE has allocated approximately $4.4 billion in education grants to developing countries.
• With about 78 staff, the GPE Secretariat is hosted by the World Bank in Washington, D.C. As a consequence of the partnership taking a greater leadership role in achieving international development goals in education, the Secretariat is developing its capacity to support country-level processes and meet expectations from the partnership’s stakeholders to achieve concrete results and education outcomes for children in developing countries.
• The successful candidate will be part of GPE’s Strategy, Policy, and Performance Team, reporting to GPE’s Chief Technical Officer and Director of Strategy, Policy, and Performance.
• GPE is committed to achieving diversity in terms of race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

Duties and Accountabilities

• The successful candidate will assist GPE’s Senior Education Specialist (Systems and Planning) on a broad range of issues related to education sector policy, monitoring and management including: Education Sector Analysis, planning concepts and techniques, plan implementation & monitoring mechanisms, EMIS, education sector costs and financing/public financial management, effective sector dialogue, system strengthening and related capacity development, and results based financing.

In particular and in relation to the areas listed above s/he will:

• Support the development of technical guidelines, methodologies and methods for purposes relative to country advisory, GPE results framework monitoring, and global engagement
• Provide technical assistance to support GPE related in-country processes including those needed for the operationalization of GPE’s funding for education sector analyses and plans and education program implementation grants (including the requirements of GPE’s results based financing model)
• Perform relevant qualitative and quantitative analysis to contribute to the development of policy briefs, technical reports, and other GPE knowledge products including flagship studies
• Support capacity development exercises throughout the Partnership and within the Secretariat
• Provide project management and overall guidance, direction, and technical support to the Planning and Finance cross- team and facilitate work collaboration within SPP and across the Secretariat.

Additionally it is expected that (s)he will:

• Represent SPP in certain Secretariat meetings and tasks
• Support SPP to prepare materials for presentations and follow up actions
• Contribute content to the GPE web site
• Undertake periodic mission travel to support country level work
• Contribute to other tasks as needed.
• The Education Specialist is accountable for performing the responsibilities, modeling the behaviors and maintaining the technical competencies (listed below) in his or her capacity as a member of the GPE Strategy, Policy and Performance Team. Accountability means being answerable for managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives and compliance with GPE policies and procedures.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Education Sciences, Political Science, Economics of Education, Development Studies, or a related discipline; with supporting skills in both quantitative and qualitative analysis
• At least five years of prior experience in educational policies, planning, and management as well as in capacity development programs
• At least 3 years’ experience working in a developing country with relevant hands-on experiences in supporting education policy development, implementation, and monitoring at sector level including successful experience in supporting policy dialogue
• Must have specialized expertise in at least one of the following areas: education sector analysis, education sector planning including techniques for sector simulation and resource projections, Education Management Information Systems, education costs and financing issues
• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Knowledge and application of social science or economic sciences research methods is desired
• Familiarity with education data and information derived from both administrative sources and household surveys
• Proficiency in English, fluency in French highly desired
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing.

Competencies:

• Knowledge and Experience of Education in developing countries- Demonstrates relevant experience in the field of education policy and policy implementation
• Policy Analysis - Demonstrates substantive working or functional proficiency level sufficient to apply this competency to all tasks requiring the competency including those with significant challenges
• 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.

Recruitment Timeline
End of July - September 2016 - Review applications and update application status to candidates
August - September 2016 - Contact all shortlisted candidates and conduct interviews in Washington, D.C. and locations in Africa

Application Closing Date
7th August, 2016.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Shortlisted candidates may be contacted as early as August 2016 for interviews which may be conducted in Washington, D.C. or locations in Africa. Interviews will be conducted through September 2016. Based on the availability of interviewers and candidates some interviews may be conducted virtually.
• Candidates who have previously submitted applications through the Recruitment Drive for African Nationals in 2015 must submit a new application to be considered for opportunities in this year's campaign. We apologize that we are unable to consider previously submitted applications.