Urban Resilience Specialist at the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group - Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Urban Resilience Specialist

Job Number: req31356
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Term duration: 3 years 0 months
Sector: Urban

Position Context

• IAWU4 Unit is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Urban Resilience Specialist (GF).
• The Urban Resilience Specialist will be based in Abuja, Nigeria and will report to the IAWU4 Practice Manager based in Accra.
• He/She will work across the Urban and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) program in the area of urban development and infrastructure, with a particular focus on Nigeria.
• He/She will be expected to provide technical support in operational and analytical tasks, including but not limited to the preparation and implementation of lending operations, operational and analytical projects, contribute to teams within the unit and beyond, support cross sectoral and multi-sectoral urban development, DRM and infrastructure engagements across various global practices, and support the further development and implementation of the urban, DRM and resilience programs through a range of Bank instruments and engagement modalities.
• Given the multi-GP nature of the urban agenda, the Urban Resilience Specialist is expected to demonstrate the highest collaborative competencies, working with colleagues across the range of technical areas within the unit and, equally importantly, from other Global Practices.

Roles and Responsibilities
The Urban Resilience Specialist’s responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Provide substantive contributions to engagement in Urban Development and Disaster Risk Management through existing country programs and provide technical support towards the promotion and implementation of the urban and resilience agenda, including through participation in the Bank’s dialogue with clients.
• Support project supervision for Urban/DRM investment operations, including reviewing Terms of Reference (TORs), specifications and bidding documents, and lead supervision missions and the preparation of internal report documentation.
• Supporting/providing leadership on stakeholder engagement.
• Provide operational support to government counterparts and implementing agencies by, identifying potential problems and advising on required actions as well as overall project/program implementation.
• Provide technical and substantive inputs to analytical activities as part of the Urban and DRM program in AFW, including implementation of cutting-edge analytical instruments and knowledge products.
• Conduct spatial/economic/statistical analysis, desk reviews, and data interpretations on urban related issues, including urban management, finance and services; reviews and interprets data.
• Support task team leaders on coordination of stakeholders in the URL activities, including development partners, government institutions, and civil society for better implementation of the Government’s urban sector and land reform program.
• Support the task team leaders in the management of Trust Fund (TF) activities including preparation and review of grant proposals, consultation on technical issues, preparation of progress reports, project briefings, disbursements and quality control of deliverables.
• Contribute to business development in the urban development, DRM, infrastructure, and resilience areas by identifying key opportunities and priority areas for engagement and by conceptualizing, preparing and implementing urban solutions both in the operational and analytical realms.
• Support the urban and DRM team members on sector dialogue and provide inputs to technical notes, synthesize comments, and help prepare review meeting packages; assist with dissemination of findings, including drafting briefing notes, talking points, power point presentations as well as coordinating workshops.
• Participate in missions and provide technical inputs, project briefs, aide memoirs, and other materials as part of The World Bank internal documentation.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced university Degree (Master or PhD) in a field relevant to urban development such as Urban Planning, Public Policy, Economics, Civil Engineering, Hydrology or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in the urban, urban drainage/drainage sectors or in a related infrastructure field (either with a government’s authority, contractor(s), design or supervision consultant(s), or development institutions) with demonstrated ability to work on: (a) infrastructure design or planning; (b) civil works contract management and execution; (c) urban resilience policies; and (c) economic, social, and environmental impact of infrastructure investments;
• Experience in working either with the World Bank, or on programs financed by other development partners, multilateral or bilateral organizations;
• Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English and a demonstrated ability to produce quality documents and analytical reports;
• Work experience in Nigeria and familiarity with the issues and problems of the Urban and Disaster risk management sectors in Nigeria are desirable;
• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geo-spatial analysis desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams (with virtual teams located in different countries), and with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries.
• Good project management skills, an ability to work effectively on multiple activities simultaneously, strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to self-navigate, with minimal support, through complex bureaucratic environments; and
• Knowledge of key developments in related sectors and on cross-cutting issues affecting the performance of the sectors, such as: environmental and social impacts, gender equality, climate change, or poverty reduction.

WBG Core Competencies:

• Drive for Results - Takes personal responsibility for producing high quality work, identifying and informing of risks, and delivering results for clients
• Lead and Innovate - Brings new and different insight; applies critical thinking to current approaches, identifies areas for improvement and tries new solutions that drive results
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Keeps others fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency and displays a sense of mutuality and respect.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Actively contributes to and readily applies WBG’s body of knowledge for internal and/or external client solutions
• Make Smart Decisions - Leverages available data and makes timely decision; seeks and analyzes facts, data and lessons of past experience to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work.

Application Closing Date
2nd February, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This requisition is open to WBG staff as well as External candidates.