We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

Overview of Unit 

Transport in the Africa Region has a large and diversity portfolio of about 54 projects under implementation, with an aggregate value of about US$ 8.9 billion. This portfolio is increasing by 5-10 projects per year, with a slightly smaller number closing over the same period. The record replenishment for IDA20, together with the greater focus on fragile states, gender equality, transformational projects, greater private sector participation, and climate change, is leading to a further increase in both the diversity and scale of the portfolio. The Transport program in Africa is split between four units covering (a) Francophone and Lusophone West Africa and Gambia, (b) East Africa, (c) Southern Africa, and (d) Central Africa, and anglophone West Africa except Gambia.

In the IAWT3 unit, the World Bank serves 9 client countries. Clients range from lower middle-income countries such as Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria with high demand for infrastructure programs, to fragile and low-income IDA countries such as Central African Republic and Sierra Leone. Areas of particular interest for the transport sector in these countries include rural transport for agricultural productivity; urban mobility to improve functioning of urban areas and improving accessibility to jobs and social services by the poorer segments of the population; regional integration corridors for facilitating trade and reducing logistics costs; investments in ports, railway, and air transport, for improving connectivity within and across countries; PPPs to bring in efficiencies in the provision of infrastructure and services; and road safety interventions to reduce the high number of traffic fatalities in the client countries.

IAWT3 is hiring a Transport Specialist (Locally Recruited Staff), with outstanding technical skills and knowledge of transport sector and prior direct project management experience—preferably in Africa—to join the WB Country Office in Abuja, Nigeria. She/He will report to the IAWT3 Practice Manager, Transport. Her/his work-program will be identified by the Practice Manager and adjusted based on the business needs. She/he will be expected to work closely with the Infrastructure Program Leader, and IAWT3 transport teams. She/he will also actively participate in IAWT3 unit discussions and the Nigeria Country Management Unit (CMU) discussions. She/he will also liaise and work on cross cutting solutions area, as relevant, and ensure appropriate collaboration and partnership between Governments, the World Bank Group, and other international and bilateral organizations involved in transport in Nigeria.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Contribute to the transport program—including, operations, technical studies, analytics and advisory services—in Nigeria with special focus on urban transport, rural roads, federal roads and regional integration (logistics and trade facilitation), and private sector participation.
• Manage, as Task Team co-Leader, or contribute as member to the supervision of transport projects in Nigeria covering the core elements of planning, design, procurement, construction, contract management, maintenance, and operations, while paying close attention to the design and monitoring the implementation of safeguards and other cross-cutting issues, including climate change/resilience considerations, gender dimensions, and opportunities for expanding the incorporation of the private sector in the financing and/or provision of transport infrastructure and services.
• Under the guidance of the Transport Practice Manager and the Infrastructure PG Program Leader, support the technical dialogue in the transport sector with the authorities of the Government of Nigeria.
• Contribute to the preparation of Country Climate and Development Reports, Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, etc. The Transport Specialist will also prepare/contribute to the preparation of technical notes, reports and sectoral briefs.
• Prepare trust fund applications and seek other funding to support the transport program.
• Support the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in a selected number of thematic technical groups and participating in drafting selected technical notes in collaboration with other Global practices to enhance the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and expanding the existing knowledge base.
• Stay abreast of recent developments in the transport sector world-wide, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position.

The Transport Specialist will be based in the Abuja Country Office, on a 2-year appointment, renewable based on performance and business need.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (minimum of Master’s degree) in Civil Engineering, Transport Planning or similar.
• At least 5 years of relevant transport experience including knowledge creation or investment project design/management in transport. This can include project preparation and project supervision, transport sector analytics and institutional reforms, and related technical assistance.
• Experience of working on similar programs in developing countries (including middle-income countries), in activities financed by the World Bank or other financing/ government organizations, or in a contractor or consultant capacity would be a plus.
• Thorough understanding of the transport sector in Nigeria is essential.
• Proven ability to build client relationships involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated analytical skills as applied to common problems in the transport sector.
• Strong organizational skills, as well as ability to prioritize task and ensure timely delivery under pressure.
• Operational experience with sound knowledge of World Bank operational guidelines and procedures is a plus.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and ability to work in teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues in a straightforward manner.
• Written and oral fluency in English is required. 

WBG COMPETENCIES

• 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.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
• Integrative skills – Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas
• Policy dialogue skills – anticipate needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners
• Transport policy, strategy and institutions – Solid understanding of transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Operational Project Management – demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of transport project management tools and methodologies,
• Project design for impact and sustainability – contributes to the design of projects and programs, based on an understanding of the country and sector context
• Team leadership – leads teams to achieve challenging outcomes, providing a role model and enhancing the team-leadership skills of team members.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All others will be offered a 2-year term appointment. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.