• Job Description

  Req#: req25821

  Senior Digital Development Specialist

  Job #:	req25821
  Organization:	World Bank
  Sector:	Digital Development
  Grade:	GG
  Term Duration:	4 years 0 months
  Recruitment Type:	International Recruitment
  Location:	Washington, DC,United States
  Required Language(s):	English
  Preferred Language(s):
  Closing Date:	2/6/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

  Description

  Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

  The Infrastructure Practice Group

  Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 2.7 billion people lack internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

  The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

  Digital Development Global Practice

  The Digital Development Global Practice plays a critical role in enabling the achievement of the World Bank’s Twin Goals of ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Digital technologies are transforming firms, governments, and people’s lives; and with the digital economy growing at a rate significantly higher than that of the global economy, it offers emerging economies a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional paths for development through digital solutions.

  Collaborating across technical, geographic. and institutional boundaries, the Digital Development team helps design and deliver ICT-enhanced solutions to a diverse range of clients. The team supports clients through: (i) through advisory assistance to establish policy and regulatory environments that allow the widespread use of technology and create a trust environment; (ii) lending operations that build infrastructure to connect the unconnected or enable digital public infrastructure and other government shared platforms (digital identification, data sharing platforms, etc.).

  For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment

  The IDD06 unit is responsible for the Digital Development programs in the South Asia region, which includes a diverse range of activities across investment programs, advisory, and analytics.

  IDD06 is seeking to recruit a Senior Digital Development Specialist to be based in Washington D.C. to contribute to Digital Development’s work in the South Asia region. The candidate will demonstrate strong sector knowledge, combined with extensive experience of client engagement on the development of digital economy and digital government. The selected candidate will report to the Practice Manager for IDD06.

  Duties and Responsibilities:
  
  The Senior Digital Development Specialist will be responsible for the following:
  
  • Lead and contribute to the design, preparation and supervision of World Bank Group digital development related investment and policy reform programs, with a particular emphasis on one or more areas of focus -- stimulating development of digital connectivity infrastructure through leveraging private sector investments and strengthening regulations, facilitating development of digital data infrastructure, digital public infrastructure (DPI) and key use cases services, and promoting development of digital skills and innovation.
  • Provide technical expertise and inputs to practice group colleagues and government clients on policy and regulatory issues to promote competition, private sector investment and innovation in the digital economy sector with the aim to digitally enable people, businesses, and governments.
  • Lead operational work (knowledge products, technical assistance, lending, supervision); interact with clients at the policy and senior management levels.
  • Provide technical support and input to practice group colleagues and government clients in areas of digital solutions, including in infrastructure, health/education, social protection, and jobs.
  • Advise clients on strategies, best practices, and design of programs to develop the foundations of their digital economies. This may include participating in complex technical assistance activities and providing just-in-time technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for the digital transformation sector and wider digital economy and digital services delivery within governments.
  • Participate in complex technical assistance activities and provide ad hoc technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for the development of the digital economy in client countries, including development of National ICT/Digital Economy Policy and Strategy documents.
  • Develop innovative and practical approaches to solving difficult policy and operational issues for selected high priority telecommunications, ICT, or digital economy related activities, notably around market opening and regulation.
  • Provide technical expertise and advice on a range of ICT policy and regulatory issues to promote competition, investment, innovation, and job creation in the telecoms sector with the aim to boost affordability, service quality, and access to digital connectivity by citizens, businesses, and governments and to stimulate the downstream development of value-added digital services.
  • Generate 'think pieces', 'best practice' papers and blog articles for web publication; handle complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues in the sectors; lead the development of proposals; lead the interface with member governments and agencies in resolving implementation issues. Prepare and supervise publication of best practice notes and reports on policy and regulation in the digital economy.
  • Provide technical expertise and advice on policy, institutional reform, project development and execution to support the digitization of public administration and public services delivery in client countries.
  • Liaise and provide guidance to colleagues working in other sectors (including agriculture, education, energy, financial services, health, transport, etc.) on how to leverage digital technologies to improve public service delivery and efficiency in the respective sectors and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in those sectors by private sector actors.
  • Work independently under general direction of the unit manager, in collaboration with other team members, and guide and mentor junior staff.
  • Represent IDD06 and the Bank at regulatory and other fora and events, as well as liaise in the above areas with key external and internal partners (including those in energy, financial services, private sector advisory services, transport, and water) on ICT/Digital Economy policy and regulatory matters and playing a leadership role in related fora.

  Selection Criteria

  • Master's degree in telecommunications, engineering, law, economics, public policy or related field with a minimum of eight years of experience in Digital Development/Digital Economy policy and regulation and/or Digital Development/Digital Economy project design and implementation, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead discussions in the area of digital development at the highest policy levels and to communicate with senior authorities on complex policy issues.
  • Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including ability to think strategically and innovatively about the role of digital technologies for socio-economic development and for transformation in other sectors of the economy.
  • Proven and robust expertise digital infrastructure policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations. Proven expertise on new areas such as digital regulation, governance of data and platforms, cybersecurity, data protection etc. is an added advantage.
  • Strong understanding of dependency and relationship of modern digital infrastructure and enabling regulatory environment with digital business models, platforms, solutions, and services.
  • Demonstrates strong understanding of the legal, policy, regulatory and institutional aspects of digital transformation and the digital transformation ecosystem for investments and private sector engagement.
  • Proven experience advising governments or regulatory agencies on priority sector reforms issues and regulatory interventions in broadband infrastructure (fixed and mobile), conducting dialogue with regulators, and ability to develop best practice on regulation.
  • Excellent analytical and statistical skills, in data and evidence-based reforms, using metrics and indicators to determine numeric reform targets, take stock of developments over time, and use data driven results monitoring as an instrument to advance reforms. Combines a broad grasp of the relevant theory and principles and of involved practices and precedent.
  • Demonstrates a strong understanding of one or more of the following topics: data governance policies, strategies, and institutions; digital public infrastructure and technology 'stacks'; and data hosting infrastructure and cloud computing for governments.
  • Strong technical and operational skills as evidenced in a proven track record in the delivery of project operations within the Bank (investment project financing, development policy lending, multi-sector operations) or similar type of products for other entities.
  • Strong client engagement skills, taking responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or project success.
  • Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in appropriate language to clients, the international development community, academia, and internal working groups.
  • Excellent presentation skills, using charts, graphs, and other data presentation techniques appropriately to communicate data, technical information, or complex concepts to non-specialists.
  • Strong drive for results, taking personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results.
  • Strong business judgment and analytical decision making, analyzing facts and data to support sound and logical business decisions.
  • Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multicultural, multidisciplinary teams, mentor staff, and resolve conflicts constructively.
  • Willingness and ability to travel.
  • Proficiency in English is essential.

  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.

  Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC , including our values and inspiring stories.

• About the company

  The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.

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