Senior Energy Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group (WBG) 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Infrastructure Practice Group, which includes energy, transport, and urban sectors, is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure.

Eastern and Southern Africa

Home to about half a billion of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters.

The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for Africa is a better future for the world.

Energy in Eastern and Southern Africa

The Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) of the WBG is made up of more than 300 professionals, a lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. The EEX GP focuses on: providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast growing economies and to ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries; and, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractive sectors for public benefit.  There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four Units across two regions of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) as well as Western and Central Africa. The position is supporting the East Africa unit (IAEE1).

Assisting the government with policy reforms to attract investments in generation and renewable energy along with the promotion of the regional energy trade in the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), modernizing the electricity network for the needs of a modern economy and increasing energy access are among the key areas of the Bank’s deepening engagement in the sector. To accelerate the access to modern and affordable Energy services, the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched the Mission 300 initiative, aiming at providing electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

The target was announced jointly by President Banga of the WBG, and President Adesina of the AfDB at the Spring Meetings in April 2024, with the WBG committing to delivering electricity access to 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, with African Development Bank adding 50 million people.

In the AFE region, the target is primarily supported by the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program, using a Multi-Phase Approach (MPA). ASCENT is an ambitious multi-billion program aimed at providing clean energy access to 100 million people across up to 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, approved in November 2023 with an IDA envelope of US$5 billion. While the main focus is on electricity access, the program will also leverage synergies with clean cooking to accelerate adoption of clean cooking solutions in the region. The Program will also employ cross-sectoral approaches to electrify productive uses and important social infrastructure, such as schools and health facilities. This is done through a combination of mutually reinforcing country projects and regional platforms.  

This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya where the IAEE1 Practice Manager, Somalia Country Manager, and the Country Management Unit (CMU) is located. The World Bank’s on-going energy portfolio in Somalia includes support for distributed renewable energy projects; network development and grid distribution including last mile electrification; support for off-grid stand-alone solar systems for households and communities; technical assistance and capacity building of sector institutions; and interconnection with neighboring countries as part of the efforts to make Somalia connected to the regional EAPP electricity network. As a member of the Somalia energy team, the selected candidate is expected to co-lead the design and implementation part of the on-going and future World Bank support in energy in AFE in general and in Somalia in particular. 

The AFE energy department (IAEE1) is seeking a Senior Energy Specialist to serve as the country coordinator and Task Team Leader for World Bank’s Somalia portfolio of projects. This will include leading the work on power sector reform including supporting the development of a well-regulated and efficient Energy Services Industry and implementation of plans to expand the access to affordable, reliable energy for all, aligned with the objectives of the WBG/AfDB Mission 300. This will require strong public-private partnership (PPP) policies and support programs as Somalia lack a public utility and sector regulations are in early stages of development and implementation. The position will also include support to the team working on Regional Power trade, including Regional Energy Transmission, Trade and Decarbonization Project – Eastern Africa (RETRADE-EAST), and new interconnections between Somalia and Ethiopia. The role also includes to define and deliver timely and impactful analytics to support the program in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa Region.

The selected candidate will participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations with the aim to enhance quality and accelerate implementation and will play an active role in Bank’s policy dialogue with the authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders on strategic energy issues and implementation of ongoing energy sector reforms. The selected candidate will also lead teams, provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on operational, policy dialogue and analytical activities.

The person selected is expected to be highly skilled and motivated. He/she will possess technical breadth in energy policy, private sector distribution utilities, electricity access and have documented experience operating in Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) settings.

The AFR Energy team is a key contributor towards the WBG strategy for “Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) with the objective to help countries maximize their development resources by drawing on private financing and sustainable private sector solutions. The selected candidate is expected to actively seek opportunities to apply MFD principles in our work program and build a strong internal WBG partnership with IFC and MIGA, as well as network with private sector partners that can contribute to the achievement of our development objectives

Reporting:  The Senior Energy Specialist will be reporting to the IAEE1 Practice Manager.

Other responsibilities will include technical support to lending and non-lending programs:

• Lead or co-lead energy sector strategy development and policy dialogue.
• Lead the development of new lending, preparation and supervision of investment operations in the energy sector with the aim to enhance quality, efficiency and pro-poor focus and accelerate implementation.
• Lead the preparation of analytical and advisory reports and studies on utility reform, transmission and distribution, renewable energy, climate change, energy efficiency, and potentially other regional energy programs, as well as inputs to report management.
• Lead the drafting and inputs for sector and country briefings, analytical and advisory reports and studies on utility reform, transmission and distribution, renewable energy; energy efficiency, and other programs within the AFR Energy portfolio.
• Support the AFE regional energy programs, particularly the Ethiopia-Somalia Interconnector and other potential regional projects under the EAPP.
• Assume an active role in the Somalia World Bank Country team, including in collaboration with other sector teams, with the aim to ensure adequate and appropriate integration of relevant aspects of the energy development agenda in core Bank products, including the country partnership framework, strategic country diagnostic, country economic memorandum, etc.
• Participate in the dialogue with relevant representatives of the private sector to keep abreast with issues related to the business investment climate and identify possible areas of collaboration through PPPs.
• Develop strong working relationships with the staff of other donor and financing agencies and co-operate with them in the preparation and supervision of projects.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in engineering, energy planning/economics, business administration, or equivalent areas relevant for energy sector development;
• At least 8 years of combined relevant experience in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with demonstrated track record of successful engagement with relevant development programs and projects;
• Demonstrates proven understanding of energy policies, technologies or strategies, private sector participation, utility reform, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytical work;
• Experience developing and implementing national electricity access programs;
• Experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and stakeholders, including private sector;
• Experience working on/with World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in lending and non-lending operations is desirable;
• Demonstrates active listening skills and the ability to influence the audience (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers);
• Demonstrated experience of working across institutional boundaries;
• An excellent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities would be advantageous;
• Experience working with large global teams, to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision is required;
• High level of motivation, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, able to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients; and
• Demonstrates strong understanding and able to translate technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.

For information about WBG Core Competencies, please visit: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O.

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World Bank Group Core Competencies

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