Duties and Accountabilities

Burundi Local Champions Initiative

• Lead the implementation of the Burundi Local Champions IP, including oversight of the technical assistance; client relationship management; supporting access to finance solutions; maintaining relationships with Investment Officers to review the cohort and investment opportunities; identifying local business service providers and designing a capacity building module as part of the LCI next phase.
• Identify opportunities to scale the Burundi LCI work in conjunction with the WB SME and agribusiness focused activities and to build the second LCI cohort.
• Work with the thematic leads for conflict sensitivity and forced displacement to identify any opportunities to integrate these activities into the project.

DRC Local Champions Initiative

• Undertake the mapping, screening and champion selection in the selected region, building on the business development activities and studies undertaken by the IFC and WB country office and focusing on potential SMEs that could either be direct clients or part of value chain development.
• Analyze industry value chains and procurement patterns to determine linkage opportunities.
• Identify gaps in capacity, quality, or compliance that limit supplier participation in key value chains.
• Develop selection criteria and processes for SME participation in the program.
• Lead the design and delivery of the implementation plan for the LCI project in conjunction with industry teams and the Country Office.
• Work with the thematic leads for conflict sensitivity and forced displacement to identify any opportunities to integrate these activities into the project.
• Prepare all necessary project documentation for internal IFC approval processes. Coordinate internal consultations and ensure validation from key stakeholders to secure buy-in and guide the project through decision meetings. Develop detailed workplans, budgets, and procure roadmaps. Identify resource needs, including staff time and consulting support, and coordinate with relevant teams to ensure availability and financial compliance ahead of implementation.

Sao Tome and Zimbabwe

• Supporting the delivery of the FCS lens into core WBG analytics with the support of the FCS Thematic lead on conflict sensitivity.
• Delivering on any diagnostic and scoping work deemed viable and appropriate in these markets.

General requirements (both countries)

• Work closely with the Country Management Unit (CMU) to enable delivery of the program and to engage with Development Partners in country to identify additional sources of support.
• Coordinate technical assistance providers, trainers, and consultants delivering program components.
• Ensure regular and ad‑hoc updating of project documentation in line with IFC approval processes. Continuously carry out all activities required at any stage of project implementation, including consultations, stakeholder validation, ongoing updates to workplans, budgets, procurement processes, and staffing plans, to reflect evolving requirements.
• Track program outputs and outcomes, including SME participation rates, contract awards, and capacity improvements.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and databases.
• Lead the project supervision processes \and contribute to donor reporting and the broader LCI impact narrative as required.
  • Capture lessons learned, case studies, and best practices for replication in other IFC projects.
• Develop lessons learned, knowledge tools and case studies for the wider LCI team.
• Map out strategic IBRD/IDA efforts in FCS to define a common ground for LCI collaboration, and Identify synergies with WBG FCV teams
• Interact with internal and external counterparts to understand how LCI can better support job creation.
  Selection Criteria

Requisite skills include but are not limited to the following:

• Master’s degree in a related field and at least 10 years of relevant experience. Related fields of education include business, law, finance, public administration or economics or an area of expertise specific to a sector, subject matter, or industry specialty. Relevant experience could include a proven track record in business consulting or investment banking, or operational experience in the sector or technical or professional field.
• Strong experience and proven knowledge of managing the delivery of both IFC and IBRD/IDA solutions/advisory projects, preferably in fragile contexts. CAE experience and/or Investment experience is a plus.
• Knowledge and experience of working in francophone African countries. Experience in a FCS country is a plus.
• Ability to identify opportunities in changing circumstances and energize others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG’s values and mission.
• Critical thinker with solid understanding of WBG’s/IFC’s vision, and other relevant business variables to assess and recommend opportunities, while articulating potential implications and consequences of various approaches.
• Exhibit a deep understanding and respect for cultural, social, and political complexities in demanding environments.
• Understanding of the AFI program and the World Bank Group’s Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) Strategy.
• Experience with local economic development programs and operational implementation including designing and implementing development programs in Africa.
• Knowledge of the investment, advisory and upstream process in IFC, through working with advisory, upstream and/or investment teams or completion of the IFC credit course.
• Self-starter, mature and flexible personality; able to work in a multicultural, fast-paced team environment.
• A team player with outstanding people management skills, ability to work with colleagues from different teams who are not reporting to him/her and achieve outstanding results while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining strong client service orientation.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills working with data using standard office software.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.