Operations Officer

Following the Arab Spring, many Middle East and North Africa (MNA) countries have yet to implement the deep structural reforms necessary to achieve economic transformation necessary for sustainable, inclusive growth and jobs. In an era marked by rapid technological advances, MNA’s largely commodity-dependent economies run the risk of being left behind and unable to create the hundreds of millions of jobs necessary for its fast-growing and young population. At the same time, they continue to struggle with a set of complex challenges, from the direct and indirect social and economic costs of conflicts to extreme water scarcity and desertification to low growth, large public sector and high levels of debt. The MNA Region of the World Bank seeks to harness the tremendous potential of the region’s youth and women through a blended approach aimed at: (i) human capital; (ii) leveraging technology; and (iii) maximizing financing for development.

The MNA Region serves 20 countries, of which a number are active IBRD or IDA borrowers / recipients, while others are users of non-lending services, which the region provides on either a reimbursable or a non-reimbursable basis. The MNA Region also supports state and peace building in the West Bank and Gaza (WB&G) under the Trust Fund for Gaza and the West Bank (TFGWB), established in 1993.

The MNA Region attaches particular importance to creating a supportive work environment, based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, client service, and professional excellence. MNA staff are expected to be guided by these values as well as to possess the following attributes: (i) collegiality, creativity, resourcefulness; (ii) active listening and communications skills; (iii) intellectual and personal integrity and competence; (iv) willingness and ability to work in teams; and (v) commitment to clients. MNA has an open and respectful work environment that encourages diversity and teamwork.

Department Context

MNCA4 is the Anchor Unit of the West Bank & Gaza Country Management Unit (CMU). MNCA4 sits in Washington, DC, supporting the Jerusalem-based Country Director with program management, while collaborating closely with MNA Region and corporate units, also acting as a liaison to the WBG Executive Board.

The Bank’s program in WB&G assists economic development in the Palestinian territories. Since the establishment of the TFGWB in 1993, the Bank has financed projects worth more than US$1.5 billion through the TFGWB, supporting the macroeconomic & fiscal framework, public financial management, financial sector stability & modernization, business environment & private sector development, infrastructure development & institutional strengthening at the national & local government level  for enhanced service delivery & financial sustainability, and protection of the poor and at-risk populations. The FY22-25 World Bank Group Assistance Strategy (AS) for the West Bank & Gaza concentrates on targeted institutional strengthening for greater creditworthiness and supporting the Palestinian Authority toward a well-connected Palestinian economy. Grants from the TFGWB leverage complementary resources of development partners, who have channeled more than US$2 billion in support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) through World Bank-administered Trust Funds (TFs), including, over the last decade, through the Partnership for Infrastructure Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund (PID MDTF) and in the last 2.5 years through the Palestinian Umbrella for Resilience Support to the Economy (PURSE) MDTF.

• The development objective of the PID MDTF is to improve the coverage, quality, and sustainability of infrastructure through financial and technical assistance (TA) to the PA for infrastructure development, related capacity building, and institutional development in the water, urban development, and energy sectors. PID MDTF supports both recipient-executed and Bank-executed activities.
• The PURSE MDTF focuses on the following priority areas: a) Macro-fiscal stability and public financial management; b) Human Capital Investment and Service Delivery; c) Private Sector Development and Job Generation and d) Protection to the Poor and at-risk Population. The four pillars  also include activities that contribute to achieving results under the following cross-cutting themes: gender, digital technology, and climate change. The EU Support for the Palestinian Economy and Resilience (ESPERE) Associated Trust Fund (ATF) to PURSE was established in October 2022 and covers  similar pillars as PURSE, but provides separate, dedicated financial reporting to the European Commission.
• With the current Conflict in the Middle East, centered in Gaza, erupting in October 2023, and the extensive damage and destruction since to the Gaza Strip, there will be an effort to mobilize US$ billions of resources from development partners for reconstruction activities. The World Bank may be called on to support a new financing facility for resilience, reform, and reconstruction. In any case, the Bank will have an increased role in ensuring coordination amongst development partners, as well as in supporting the prioritization and sequencing of recovery and reconstruction activities in Gaza for years to come.

Roles and Responsibilities

• MNC4A is seeking to hire an Operations Officer who will support the West Bank & Gaza CMU in program management, serving as the TF coordinator for the CMU-managed TFs, while providing cross-support on social, sustainability and inclusion (SSI) in MNA. The Operations Officer is responsible for three main area within MNCA4: (a) country operations support, (b) partnerships and trust fund operations and (c) corporate priority alignment, incl. cross-cutting areas such as private capital mobilization, gender, and citizen engagement—where there are synergies to the cross-support with MNA SSI on analytical work and ESF. The Operations Officer will report to the Country Program Coordinator (CPC), working closely with the Program Managers for the PURSE & PID MDTFs, as well as the Jerusalem-based Senior Social Development Specialist in MNA SSI.

Country Operations Support

• The Operations Officer will support the WB&G Country Director and CPC, working closely with the Program Managers for the PURSE & PID MDTFs, to help oversee the TF-financed portfolio, playing a key role in facilitating donor coordination. Specifically, the Operations Officer will:
• Serve as the focal point for liaising with key development partners vis-à-vis task teams with projects financed by these CMU-managed TFs, providing advice and support, particularly in the areas of development finance policy, TF operations, and fundraising.Prepare management briefs, speeches, and other deliverables related to donor financing/TFs (e.g., development assistance trends, TF architectures and modalities, and sources of financing at a high level).
• Contribute to the operations quality review in project preparation for TF-supported portfolio, with a view to ensuring alignment with the WBG AS for the WB&G, maintaining oversight of sensitive language in documentation—for which the ops officer will be expected to advise the Country Management. The ops officer would need to extend this oversight to core analytical work supporting the reform agenda and underpinning operations.Monitor and evaluate TF-financed portfolio, incl. review of ISRs, mission documentation, and ICRs, providing operational & TF-related implementation support to task teams while advising & support Country & TF Program Management. Process and contribute to the extension/evaluation/establishment of TFs and financing facilities in close cooperation with corporate teams such as MNADE, DFI, TACT, and LEG. Coordinate closely with existing and potential development partners for successful partnerships and fundraising practices to maximize available funds for the CMU-managed TFs. Manage internal coordination with relevant GPs, MNADE, LEGAM, DFi, BPS, TACT, and WFA for optimal internal/external reporting, communications, outreach, and fundraising.

Partnerships and Trust Fund Operations

The Operations Officer will support the Program Managers with the managing and operating of co-financing mechanisms, including the PID and the PURSE/ESPERE MDTFs, as well as any potential new financing facility that may be established based on need. This will include the following tasks:

• Organize and implement the partnership council/oversight group meetings, as well as other donor/stakeholder meetings, discussions, and communications related to the TFs.Lead the delivery of the TF-level documents, such as semi-/annual reports, work plans and budgets, presentation materials, financial and quantitative data visuals, meeting minutes, and matrices of comments and responses.Monitor, manage, and track financial data as the financial controller of the TFs to ensure accurate regular reporting and optimal allocations of TF financial contributions; undertake TF-level resource planning and budgeting.Develop fundraising/donor coordination strategies and strengthen TFs’ communications and visibility strategies and activities, such as TF-level deep-dives, workshops/consultations, branded visibility items, and external websites.
• In supporting TF-financed projects and ASAs—referenced under (a)—collaborate with ECR & tasks teams to enhance dissemination practices around important results stories.Deepen existing donor partnerships and develop new donor partnerships by providing timely, tailored reporting; prepare and make available on a regular basis the information that is required by development partners (e.g., indicative budgets, financial reports, and results framework).
• Process tranche releases from the TF(s) to the PA for budget support by preparing approval packages (RVP/CD memos, notifications, and effective letters).Help establish and manage forthcoming potential financing facilities. Provide mid-level managerial support to the TF management teams. Other related tasks at the Program Managers’ discretion.
• Program Strategic Alignment with Corporate Priorities & Cross-Cutting Areas, incl. cross-support to MNA SSI West Bank and Gaza Program
• The Operations Officer will support the CMU, including CPC, Program Managers of both PID MDTF and PURSE/ESPERE, and MNA SSI West Bank and Gaza Program with the following responsibilities:
• Analyze portfolio performance and update the key results of the CMU-managed TFs, including cross-cutting priorities—including gender, citizen engagement, climate, and private capital mobilization—by coordinating with relevant sector/corporate teams.Investigate the methodologies and indicators for the corporate priorities with the regional and global focal points to strengthen these aspects across projects financed by TFs.Monitor the ESF portfolio across projects financed by the TFs as an ESF coordinator in the CMU and troubleshoot and address any issues if needed.Prepare and enhance the work on high-level briefs, talking points, concept notes, GFRs, and other deliverables on demand; provide operational support related to the CMU-managed TF portfolio (ESF, donor coordination, partnership meetings, etc.) in coordination with GPs, MNADE, IFC, and MIGA.
• Participate in strategic analytical and policy formulation work on the cross-cutting themes financed by the CMU-managed TF and work with teams engaged in analytical work, particularly relevant to the Social Sustainability and Inclusion GP’s work program (e.g. for social inclusion and risk management/ESF).Provide support to the MNA SSI West Bank and Gaza team for the social inclusion ASA and strengthening systems for ESF implementation.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s level degree in a relevant discipline and minimum 5 years of relevant experience.Extensive experience supporting Trust Fund management and particularly in TF portfolio monitoring, donor coordination, and report writing. Understanding of new directions in TF design, such as the introduction of Country Umbrella TFs, particularly in an FCV context. Completion of TF-related training, such as Trust Fund Learning and Accreditation Program TLAP 2.0 and Trust Fund Academy, will be an advantage.Experience in preparing sensitive briefing materials, talking points, and speeches for high level meetings, where understanding of & experience working on the Palestinian context will be an advantage.
• Good understanding of World Bank operations policy, knowledge of the ESF, experience with portfolio monitoring systems & working with teams.Understanding of the World Bank’s corporate priorities and MENA regional strategy.
• High degree of skill in analyzing, summarizing and presenting complex issues.Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.High degree of discretion, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27715&site=1