Junior Professional Associate – Social Protection

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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, please visit www.worldbank.org

Junior Professional Associates – Program Description

The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet.

We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/careers/jpa

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:

• Be 32 years of age or younger
• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Be fluent in English

The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank’s Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.

Positions may be in any of the World Bank’s offices worldwide.

Specific Unit Description – Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ)

The Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) Global Practice (GP) of the World Bank delivers operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help individuals and families manage risk, cope with chronic/transitional poverty, and access better livelihoods and jobs. These include:
• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of programs delivering social safety nets/social assistance in the form of cash transfers, public works programs, and fee waivers.
• Advisory and analytical services on design and delivery of contributory transfers (including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability and survivor benefits), and their fiscal sustainability (including budget support for transitions).
• Analysis, design and delivery of labor market and youth employment programs (with a focus on supply side interventions and intermediation policies), as well as policy advice on labor market regulations and interventions.
• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of integrated social protection delivery systems (e.g., payments, identification, registries, systems assessments) as underpinnings of effective social programs that can help cope with climatic shocks or underpin fiscal reforms.
The SPJ GP has a large portfolio in Ethiopia, which includes flagship safety net and jobs programs in the form of the Strengthen Ethiopia’s Adaptive Safety Net Project (SEASN), and the Urban Productive Safety Net Project (UPSNP).

The SEASN and UPSNJP were created as social protection mechanisms with a strong focus on productive inclusion. Today, they support 9.7 million beneficiaries in cities and the poorest regions of the country. Their focus is increasingly on livelihood and micro-entrepreneurship development, as well as on jobs for youth, particularly in urban areas.

The World Bank as well as multiple development partners are supporting the Government’s efforts to implement and improve the effectiveness of the projects to strengthen self- and wage employment for the poor. The projects – through their public works – make an important contribution to addressing the effects of climate change through sub-projects supporting water and waste management, land rehabilitation, reforestation, flood protection and urban and rural agriculture. Youth employment features prominently in the SPJ agenda, as well as support for public employment services linked to a new labor market information system. The SPJ team in Ethiopia supports numerous ministries (Ministries Finance, Agriculture, Urban Development, Labor and Skills, Women and Social Affairs, etc.) in this agenda and collaborates with many development partners, all ready to support the important reform agenda that the Government of Ethiopia is envisioning for its social protection and jobs agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Task Team Leaders /Co-Task Team Leaders with implementation support for the Ethiopia Strengthening Ethiopia’s Adaptive Safety Net (SEASN) and Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs (UPSNJP) programs currently under implementation as well as the preparation of possible new operations.
• Support the implementation of the livelihoods and economic inclusion agenda of both UPSNJP and SEASN.
• Support on the Jobs and Youth Employment agenda, enhancing linkages and integration across components and programs.
• Promote digital innovations in the rural and urban Productive Safety Net Programs and support the roll out of the national ID system through safety nets.
• Contribute to and promote’ Climate smart livelihoods’ agenda in the projects.
• Contribute to analytical work on key aspects of the livelihood and economic inclusion interventions of the programs as and when required, including drafting proposals and ToRs for additional support.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen human capital development through SPJ including women’s empowerment opportunities, early childhood development approaches and linkages with the education and health sectors.
• Support the implementation of Trust Fund activities.
• Engage and liaise with government stakeholders at Federal and city level, especially with the Project Coordination Office (PCU) of the UPSNJP.
• Participate in and contribute to knowledge sharing activities with the government and development partners, especially on social protection adapting evidence and resources from other countries where relevant.
• Engage in South-South learning and training as required.
• Support coordination and complementarity with the broader SPJ engagement in Africa and beyond.

Selection Criteria

• Graduate degree and minimum of master’s level qualification in economics, social policy or related sector
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in jobs, skills, livelihoods programs and interventions
• Knowledge of the social protection and jobs agenda including productive inclusion and youth employment
• Strong analytical skills and proven ability to conduct and oversee policy relevant research, translate theory into practical applications, and adapt professional knowledge and technical skills to analyze, diagnose and propose solutions to policy issues and challenges
• Ability to convey analysis in easily communicable and compelling fashion, and on often short turnaround times. Demonstrated ability to capture knowledge and communicate main messages in knowledge briefs and policy notes, as well as power point presentations for high level audiences
• Experience in delivering results in challenging and low-capacity contexts including in Africa would be an asset
• Proven pro-active engagement, forward looking and independent thinking, as well as initiative that leads to results
• Ability to maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, judgement, and proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision
• Proven track record of multi-tasking, managing competing demands and effectively time-managing tasks
• Willingness to work and live in an FCV country

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.