Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank Group

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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Urban Specialist

Job No.: req32681
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Employment Type: Full time
Sector: Urban
Grade: GG
Term duration: 3 years 0 months

Description
The “Urban, Resilience and Land” (URL) Global Practice:

• Urbanization is occurring at an unprecedented pace. Cities generate 80% of global GDP and are key to job creation and the pursuit of shared prosperity. Yet one billion city residents live in slums today, and by 2030 one billion new migrants will arrive in cities. 
• This concentration of people and assets will exacerbate risk exposure to adverse natural events and climate change, which affects the poor disproportionately. 
• The absence of secure land tenure underpins deprivation and is a major source of conflict in the urban and rural space. One and a half billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence. 
• In the absence of services, participative planning and responsive institutions, these trends will result in increased poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability and violence. Finally, avoiding a 4-degree warmer world requires drastically reducing the carbon footprint of cities.
• The WBG is in a unique position to support national and sub-national clients to: harness urbanization and enable effective land management in support of both growth and poverty reduction; foster social inclusion of marginalized groups; support the responsiveness and fiscal, financial, and management capacities of local governments – cities, municipalities, and rural districts – to deliver local infrastructure and decentralized services; strengthen resilience and risk management related to natural disasters; reduce conflict and violence; scale-up access to finance for sub-national governments; and reduce the carbon footprint of cities. 
• The WBG brings a combination of lending ($7-8 billion in annual lending to cities), analytical and advisory services (e.g., social inclusion flagship, urbanization reviews, Sendai dialogue), its growing portfolio of reimbursable advisory services, its convening power (e.g., understanding risk and the land conferences), its leveraging capacity (e.g., guarantees and risk mitigation), and its ability to work with the private sector to tackle the challenges at scale and to effect.
• The URL GP covers a wide gamut: (i) developing green, inclusive and resilient cities; (ii) enhancing urban and rural development through supporting and managing the urban-rural transition, assisting local development through developing land tenure, management and information systems; and (iii) assisting in disaster risk management through issues of risk assessment, risk reduction (including flood management, urban drainage, coastal management, and retrofitting of infrastructure), disaster preparedness (including hydromet services, early warning systems, and civil defense), risk financing (including Cat DDO), and resilient reconstruction (including post-disaster damage and loss assessment).

Regional and Unit Context

• Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa is occurring at an unprecedented pace. The share of Africans living in urban areas is projected to grow from 38 percent in 2016 to almost 60 percent by 2040, translating to an additional 40,000 new urban citizens every day until 2040. 
• The region’s urbanization rate, one of the highest in the world, can lead to economic growth, transformation and poverty. However, many cities in Africa still have not fully captured the benefits of urbanization and poorly managed urbanization have exacerbated existing infrastructure challenges, resulting in increased inequality, urban poverty, proliferation of informal settlements and vulnerability to hazards. 
• Adverse natural events present a serious obstacle for achieving sustainable social and economic development, particularly in vulnerable regions as Sub-Saharan Africa. 
• Disaster affects the poor most severely; unplanned human settlements, unsafe building practices, high population densities, economic growth, and accumulations of assets in risk prone areas has dramatically increased exposure to hazards and increased disaster loss. Climate changed has the potential to significantly worsen the situation.
• To this end, the AFW Urban, Resilience and Land Units brings together a wide range of important and interrelated development and financing instruments to support national and sub-national clients to: harness urbanization and enable effective land management in support of both growth and poverty reduction; foster social inclusion of marginalized groups; 
• Support the responsiveness and fiscal, financial, and management capacities of local governments – cities, municipalities, and rural districts – to deliver local infrastructure and decentralized services; 
• Strengthen resilience and disaster risk management related to natural disasters; reduce conflict and violence; scale-up access to finance for sub-national governments; and reduce the carbon footprint of cities.

Position Context

• The West Africa sub-region harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile. 
• This creates a huge development challenge which compounded with other natural shocks like floods and droughts, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future. 
• The WBG’s experience in Africa offers important source of insight, drawing on an array of lessons learned from multi-sector operations in FCV or disaster-conflict nexus situations.
• The AFW Urban, Resilience and Land Units (IAWU4) brings together a wide range of important and interrelated development and financing instruments to support national and sub-national clients to: harness urbanization and enable effective land management in support of both growth and poverty reduction; foster social inclusion of marginalized groups; support the responsiveness and fiscal, financial, and management capacities of local governments – cities, municipalities, and rural districts – to deliver local infrastructure and decentralized services; strengthen resilience and disaster risk management related to natural hazards; reduce conflict and violence; scale-up access to finance for sub-national governments; and reduce the carbon footprint of cities.
• IAWU4 Unit is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Senior Urban Specialist (GG). The Senior Urban Specialist will be based in Abuja, Nigeria and will report to the IAWU4 Practice Manager based in Accra. 
• He/She will work on the Urban 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, engagements across various global practices, and support the further development of the urban programs through a range of Bank instruments and engagement modalities. 
• Given the multi-GP nature of the urban agenda, the Senior Urban 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 Senior Urban Specialist’s responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Lead engagement in Urban sector through existing country program and provide technical support towards the promotion and implementation of the Urban resilience agenda, including through participation in our dialogue with clients and CMU.
• Provide technical and thought leadership on Urban strategy development and portfolio management, including in maintaining engagement with a range of stakeholders within the Bank, and with clients and development partners in Nigeria.
• Participate in, co-lead, and lead task operational and analytical activities including preparation and implementation support towards lending operations and development and implementation of cutting-edge analytical instruments and knowledge products.
• Lead and contribute to regional and country level policy dialogue and just-in-time advisory work in climate resilience and adaptation, and urban resilience including cross-sectoral engagements such as Country Partnership Framework, CCDR and other CMU-led activities.
• Work closely with national and sub-national clients to respond to Urban challenges through analytical work and lending operations, particularly in the areas of flood resilience, land, municipal finance, solid waste management, urban planning among others.
• Help adapt global good practice to local context and advise government counterpart and Bank teams on matters related to green, resilient and inclusive urban development.
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards; evaluate studies and sector-related project documentation.
• Manage 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.
• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the URL Global Practice, the GSGs, and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the World Bank.
• Provide coaching mentoring on-the-job to junior team members, extended term consultants and junior professionals in the unit; and
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced University Degree (Masters) in a field relevant to Urban Development, such Urban or Regional Planning, Economics, Geography, Municipal Finance, Infrastructure Engineering, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field.
• At least eight years of relevant experience in urban development program or urban infrastructure development, integrated multi sector operations.
• Understanding of fragile and low-capacity context.
• Supporting/providing leadership on stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership skills leading complex operations, sector policy and engagement strategies, and analytical works.
• Demonstrated experience of bringing global knowledge, best practice international experience and fit for purpose innovation into operations and sector engagements.
• Strong motivation to work in the urban, DRM, and land fields and ability to work flexibly and independently on a range of assignments, adjusting to and prioritizing a variety of complex evolving tasks.
• Demonstrated relationship management skills with internal stakeholders (CMUs, PGs), external clients, and development partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to lead teams and function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• High energy and demonstrated interest and experience in achieving impact through operational and analytical work.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner and deliver complex concepts and messages orally in an understandable and compelling manner.
• Excellent and effective command of English in verbal and written forms required.

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
24th April, 2025; 11:59pm UTC.

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

Note

• If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, they will retain their Regular or Open-Ended appointment.
• If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Term appointment that expires later than the end date of this appointment, they will retain the duration of their current Term appointment.