Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189-member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides grants, credits, loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to creditworthy middle-income and low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Department Introduction

The Country Management Unit (CMU) oversees the World Bank engagement in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. The Country Director is based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and works closely with the Country Managers for the Central African Republic, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Congo, and the CMU Operations Manager. The Operations Officer will be based in Yaounde, Cameroon, and report to the Operations Manager, working within the CMU team in Yaounde and in Washington DC.

Cameroon is a lower-middle income country, with an estimated population of 29 million. A country with vast natural resources, a relatively well-educated workforce, and centrally positioned within the region, Cameroon has the potential – if it embarks on an ambitious reform path – to transition to a high value, green, job-creating economy drawing on a more productive rural sector and a diverse and dynamic urban private sector. However, Cameroon has yet to fully capitalize on its abundant resources, and the number of people living in poverty has increased, now surpassing 10 million. Fragility, insecurity, and conflict afflict many parts of the country, in particular the Far North and the anglophone region (Southwest/Northwest). As such, the current economic model has yet to deliver on Cameroon’s ambition of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2035. The World Bank Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Cameroon (FY25-FY29) presents a program to lay the foundations for an inclusive economic transformation within a context of fragility, conflict, and violence amidst the growing impacts of climate change. The CPF supports the goals of the National Development Strategy 2030 – notably structural transformation of the economy. The CPF also embraces key dimensions of the World Bank Group Evolution Roadmap, with a focus on climate and fragility, mobilizing private capital, and achieving results at scale. The two High Level Outcomes – more and better jobs; and more effective and inclusive service delivery institutions – and their supporting objectives will aim for scale, with programs larger in size, with a gradual shift towards multi-phased and performance-based engagements.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/cameroon

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/07/23/new-country-partnership-framework-for-cameroon-to-focus-on-more-jobs-and-effective-service-delivery-for-all

Duties and Responsibilities

The key accountabilities of the Operations Officer are as follows:

Monitoring of Operational Quality

• Provide general operational support to the Country Office in the oversight of preparation and implementation of operations.
• Undertake routine monitoring of project implementation including review of Aide Memoires and Management letters, Implementation Status Reports (ISRs), monitoring disbursement and designated account balances, project readiness, and compliance with effectiveness and disbursement conditions.
• Participate in routine check-in meeting with project teams, prepare brief on project progress in advance, prepare summary of meetings, follow up with teams in implementation of agreed actions.

Portfolio Management

• Produce monthly portfolio dashboards, monitor portfolio performance including disbursements, results, and deliverables.
• Undertake periodic routine monitoring, including proactivity on problem projects, closing projects, Project Preparation Advances, ISRs due and other aspects of portfolio performance.
• Prepare reports which summarize program portfolio performance extracting information from analysis and presenting key messages for requisite audiences.
• Support effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) including providing analytical and written inputs into the Performance and Learning Review and Country Portfolio Program Reviews.
• Contribute to the writing and review of operational documents including Board packages, Implementation Completion Reports, and Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) products.

Team and Client Engagement

• Provide advice to operational teams on policies and procedures, and liaise with teams and clients on project performance and remedies.
• Prepare and lead regular monthly and other meetings with Project Implementation Units (PIUs) and Task Team Leaders (TTLs).
• Liaise with Geo-Enabling Initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) focal point on portfolio mapping.
• Play a key role in Country Portfolio Performance Review processes and Knowledge week with the Government and other Development Partners.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of the Action Plan for Country Portfolio Performance Reviews.
• Lead the drafting of briefs for meetings with authorities.
• Lead country background briefing documents for Spring and Annual Meetings and high-level country visits.
• Facilitate dialogue with a diversity of stakeholders and support the development of partnerships with them where relevant.
• Respond to Government clients’ queries regarding the World Bank portfolio and operational procedures by providing timely and helpful answers and/or directing them to relevant people/resources.
• Contribute to the country office’s Capacity Building Initiative including delivery of training to clients and staff.

Other tasks 

• Represent when needed the World Bank at meetings and events with development partners and the client.
• Provide any inputs needed to support Country office management. 

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, finance, business administration, social sciences, international development, or another field related to development).
• At least 5 years of experience working on socio-economic development (e.g. international organizations, academia, Government), with a solid operational track record. Prior experience in Cameroon and/or Central Africa is a strong advantage.
• Ability to carry out research and analytical tasks on a wide range of operational and regional/country issues, review and interpret information/data, identify trends and issues, and recommend actions/solutions.
• Capacity to work with tact and diplomacy with staff at all levels, often under tight time pressure.
• Proven ability to work both independently and in diverse teams, including with colleagues in country offices and head office, with minimal supervision and with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in English and French (both verbal and written).
• Excellent writing skills and capacity to prepare briefs/presentations using Word/PowerPoint.
• Full proficiency in data handling and ability to work quickly in MS Excel, particularly with creating data driven visuals and using advanced formulas.
For internal candidates:
• Excellent working knowledge and understanding of the WBG organization and its range of available financial instruments (e.g., IBRD loans, IDA credits and grants, trust funds).
• Good familiarity and ease of working with the Bank’s data and reporting systems, such as Operations Portal, Standard Reports, SAP, Business Intelligence, MyTF, Client Connection, etc.
• Good familiarity and understanding of Bank’s lending portfolio performance measurement and analytics.

Please read more on the COS competencies from the below link: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/hr/Documents/Career%20Management/Professional%20Family%20Mapping/COS_PFM_Criteria.pdf

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.

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