Description
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The World Bank Group Inclusive Growth & Sustainable Finance Hub in Malaysia is seeking to recruit a private sector development specialist (PSS), to work as part of the Hub’s private sector development work program.
The Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice
The Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice (GP) combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector led growth and help create markets in client countries. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci
The Word Bank Group (WBG) serves 23 client countries in the East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) region, with a total population of about 2 billion people and a GNI per capita of about USD 3,862 (in constant 2010 USD). Clients span the lower- to upper-middle income range and include fragile states along with a number of small island economies in the Pacific. The EAP FCI team designs and implements a growing portfolio of innovative lending operations. We also design and implement cutting-edge advisory services and high-quality analytical work crafted to support policymakers in a broad range of issues related to financial sector development, strengthening competitiveness, and supporting innovation and productivity growth. EAP houses 3 important donor-funded hubs in Korea, Malaysia and Singapore that leverage partner resources to support both regional and global priorities/engagements.
Duties and Accountabilities
Reporting to the EEAF2 Practice Manager in Bangkok, and under the supervision of the FCI PSD country lead in Malaysia, the candidate will primarily focus on analytical support to deliver EAP FCI work program on private sector development, competitiveness, and sustainable/green growth. The Private Sector Specialist (PSS)/ET will thus be proficient in advisory services and analytics (ASAs) projects. The PSS/ET will also have the technical breadth to contribute to the knowledge generation and policy dialogue on a broad array of private sector sub-themes. This is particularly important relating to dynamics of firms’ productivity growth, innovation and technology adoption, access to finance, competition, business environment, investment policy, industrial policy, international trade, sustainability/green, and the digital economy. The PSS/ET will have demonstrated prior experience interacting with high level officials in government, the donor community, and/or the private sector.
The FCI team has a substantial cross-sectoral program of analytical and advisory work in Malaysia, which supports the World Bank Group’s private sector policy dialogue in the country. Key areas of focus are related to firm productivity, the digital economy, sustainable/green competitiveness, and international trade. Key tasks in the program include production of analytical outputs for policy dialogue and publications representing thought leadership on these areas of focus. As a member of the EAP FCI team, the incumbent will contribute to the FCI program working closely with the country office team of Malaysia and colleagues in FCI GP as well as other GPs.
The ETC is expected to carry out the following tasks:
- Contribute to major components related to the implementation of ongoing FCI ASA programs on private sector development with Malaysia and other EAP client countries. Work closely with the FCI team to ensure quality, impact, and coordination across tasks. Regularly monitor and facilitate the meeting of key results for ongoing projects.
- Contribute to the development of new FCI work programs on private sector development to meet client’s evolving needs in line with GP priorities. New work programs and projects may include ASAs, including knowledge products development, technical advice, technical conference/events, and other contributions.
- Provide informed technical or policy advice as well as conduct firm and industry level analysis for a variety of written products and related oral communications, including components of major reports, as well as other technical working papers for wider circulation. These may be delivered as stand-alone or as inputs to larger World Bank products such as global or regional flagship publications, other regional studies, country reports and sector strategies.
- Contribute to project documentation including concept notes, trust fund proposals, progress reports, outcome summaries, results monitoring and case studies.
- Engage actively with policymakers specially to develop and collaborate on work program development and analysis.
- Engage actively with the private sector, donors, and key development partners to report FCI program results to strengthen FCI’s regional footprint in private sector development topics.
The candidate will work closely with the Country PSD lead/coordinator, represent the FCI practice as required and be an active member of the Country team.
Selection Criteria
- A PhD or master’s degree in economics, public policy, technology policy, business administration, international development, or a closely related field with at least 5 years of demonstrated analytical and policy advice experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working on analysis and implementation of policy advice and programs. Particularly focused on analysis, design and implementation of policy, mechanisms/instruments and programs for innovation, small and medium enterprise development, international trade, investment policy, industrial policy, competition policy, digital economy, or sustainable/green competitiveness.
- Experience in conducting and influencing policy dialogue with(in) government and in working and forging partnerships with a diverse group of partners (governments, research community, donor community, private sector associations and regional organizations) is an advantage.
- Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills.
- Willingness to travel frequently, including participating in-the-field missions, sometimes as part of multi-disciplinary mission teams.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia, including the ability to summarize economic sector topics for non-specialist audiences.
- A strong interest in policy related work, with a desire to learn about issues related to sustainable private sector development, digital economy, and competitiveness.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including strong PowerPoint and Excel skills.
- Familiarity with Stata or other statistical software is a plus.
- Ability to multi-task, to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines and possessing a strong attention to detail.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
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