Job # 120926
Job Title Urban Specialist
Job Family Urban Development
Location Pretoria, South Africa
Appointment Local Hire
Closing Date 30-Apr-2012
Language Requirements English [Essential]
Appointment Type
Background / General description
Regional Context
Urban /Local Government Strategy
For the first time in history more than half the world’s people live in cities. Over 90 percent of urban growth is occurring in the developing world, adding an estimated 70 million new residents to urban areas each year. During the next two decades, the urban population of the world’s two poorest regions—South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa—is expected to double. The new strategy also inaugurates the Decade of the City, a decade that will be remembered for recognizing cities at the core of growth and human development. Never before has there been so much interest in the urban agenda: city associations, citywide programs, city university and private sector partnerships. In developing countries, cities often provide the first opportunity for elected officials to meet their constituents, governments to collect taxes, taxpayers to demand efficient services, investors to start new businesses. This is where collective voices are heard and accountability matters.
Southern Africa—comprised of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland—is home to approximately 55 million people. With the exception of Lesotho, all countries are IBRD clients. Work in these middle income countries has been gaining momentum in the recent years and is currently the largest IBRD program in the Africa Region. These MICs have recorded many great achievements but, despite political stability and impressive economic growth, they continue to face major development deficits primarily in the social sectors and have the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates. Addressing the urban development challenge in these countries – and particularly in South Africa – is among the most pressing items on the development agenda.
South Africa is the only large middle income country in Sub-Saharan Africa and an economic power house on the continent, exerting international and regional influence as member of G20 and BRICS. Yet, its average income hides extreme differences in incomes, wealth and human development outcomes despite radical pro-poor spending shifts. Jobs, skills, education quality remain urgent policy issues along with plans for health sector reform and the role of extensive social grants. Service delivery continues to be a source of popular discontent.
Local Context
Within the Sustainable Development Network of the Africa Region of the Bank, AFTUW is seeking to recruit an Urban Specialist with proven operational and analytical experience to help deliver its program of activities with a focus on policy engagement and operational work in Southern Africa. The Urban Specialist will be based in the World Bank country office in Pretoria, South Africa and will work on both investment projects and analytical and advisory work and will support ongoing dialogue with client governments in the sub-region. The Urban Specialist will report to the Sector Manager based in Washington, and will work day-to-day with the SDN Sector leader based in Pretoria. He/she will also work closely with the World Bank’s Country Management Unit and other colleagues based in Southern Africa.
Note: A potential candidate has been identified and intends to apply for this position. However, this remains a competitive process and interested candidates are encouraged to apply.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities
1.Undertaking analytic activities on urban sector issues.
2.Supporting Bank Group staff mission leaders and contributing as a team member to operational activities, technical assistance activities and economic and sector work, including preparation of major components of reports.
3.Providing informed technical or policy advice and contributing as a team member to operations, including preparation of major components of reports.
4.Engaging directly and at a high level with national and sub-national clients in policy dialogue, the provision of technical assistance and advisory services and in the context of the Bank’s evolving portfolio.
5.Developing and deepening engagements in the core areas of AFTUW business, e.g. on issues of local infrastructure finance, spatial development, or housing issues.
6.Supervising consultants and technical specialists in the process of their work to ensure consistency with Bank guidelines and to build best practices.
7.Working fluidly across sectors, networks and institutions in the delivery of operational and economic and sector work products.
Selection Criteria
1.Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
2.Strong analytical skills and a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
3.Broad-based work experience and a thorough knowledge of urban sector issues.
4.Ability to develop, analyze and articulate issues.
5.Ability to diagnose problems and propose reliable solutions.
6.A deep knowledge of the institutional, regulatory, and technical aspects of the urban sector in key southern African countries, particularly South Africa.
7.Experience in providing high quality policy guidance to clients on urban sector policy issues including local infrastructure finance, spatial development, housing, and related fields.
8.Ability to engage national and sub-national clients in the provision of technical assistance and advisory services.
9.Ability to work across a range of relevant sectors including water and sanitation, transport, energy, and private sector development.
10.Ability to work independently, requiring only general guidance on complex issues
11.Strong oral and written skills in English and the demonstrated ability to produce high quality analytical reports.
Candidates for this position must have demonstrated leadership qualities, technical/professional excellence, strong initiative, ability to manage risks, and excellent interpersonal skills. The incumbent needs to be able to interact effectively with clients, Bank teams and managers, and international partners to find practical solutions to problems, and to facilitate results on the ground.
Apply to:
http://extjobs.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64273552&piPK=64273556&theSitePK=1058433&JobNo=120926
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