Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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, visit www.worldbank.org.
BACKGROUND
Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Are
GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.
What We Do
GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.
How We Work
Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.
Raise Your Hand
In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE’s Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.
A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.
Governance And Organizational Arrangements
The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Dr Susan Liautaud. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, communications, advocacy, civil society outreach, private sector and private foundation outreach and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE’s Financing Campaigns.
The Global Advocacy Team is part of the External Relations Team (EXR). This team is responsible for the strategic positioning of GPE in key global and regional fora and public policy discourse; development and management of relationships with government, advocacy partners and champions; management of relationships with global CSOs, including support to CSO board constituencies.
ABOUT THE JOB
This position will be based in the GPE office located in Paris, France.
Description
The Global Advocacy Team seeks to recruit a Senior Partnership Specialist – Political Advocacy who
will contribute to the development and implementation of GPE’s global political advocacy strategy. The successful candidate, who will be based in Paris, will leverage their experience in the policy, government relations and political arena, especially with their experience working with governments, to successfully work with policymakers and diplomatic missions to advance GPE’s political and advocacy objectives.
The Global Advocacy team sits within the External Relations Team and promotes the importance of education to sustainable development outcomes and GPE’s added value in the global education sector. This is done through public policy engagement, developing and managing advocacy partnerships as well as working in partnership with GPE youth leaders.
Duties And Accountabilities
Political Advocacy and Campaigning
• Lead the development and implementation of political, advocacy and public policy strategies to advance GPE’s objectives and position GPE and education in key global and regional forums.
• Provide influencing and advocacy expertise, and work with colleagues to develop and deliver political advocacy campaigns and initiatives, including to GPE financing campaigns.
• Collaboratively develop, and in some cases lead, on implementing advocacy strategies to advance GPE’s objectives in priority areas including education financing (especially domestic financing), gender equality and other cross-cutting areas.
• Maintain and develop partnerships with strategic advocacy partners in target geographical or thematic areas.
• Engage champions and key influencers to build support for GPE and education, including political champions, parliamentarians, and beyond.
• Identify strategic engagement opportunities and develop materials to support GPE leadership in engagements with GPE partner country Heads of State, Ministers, Embassies and other officials.
• Create and sustain relationships with key counterparts in GPE partner countries and regional organizations to identify strategic opportunities and challenges for GPE in the regional and global public policy domain.
• Monitor political trends globally and at the regional level, and provide timely and relevant analysis, intel and information internally to advance GPE’s political knowledge.
• Identify strategic opportunities and lead on participation of GPE engagements in regional spaces, particularly in Africa and Asia-Pacific.
• Support effective collaboration within External Relations and across the GPE Secretariat to share information and ensure coordination and alignment of messaging.
• Manage consultants as required.
• Other duties as identified by the team lead.
Selection Criteria
Education
Master’s degree in a relevant field of study with 8 years of work experience, or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study with 10 years of work experience.
Experience
At least 8 or 10 years of work experience (see above), including experience in government relations, advocacy and/or working in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Experience in the education sector is a plus. Experience in GPE partner countries is a plus.
Competencies
Accountability & Results Focus – Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of responsibility for own decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesn’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress. Seeks clarity when needed to move work forward and takes initiative to remove obstacles. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Works to ensure group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.
Adaptability – Models flexibility – responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills and performs work in different ways. Remains calm in stressful situations and influences others do so. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Actively collaborates with others and models and open, helpful disposition. Acts as a teammate, proactively stepping in to support colleagues as needed. Recognizes and values the role of each team in delivering on GPE’s mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome. Sincerely contributes to productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills – Has experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways. Shares information and keeps people informed; Models transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and models this behavior for junior staff. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately. Learns from others’ ideas and expertise.
Planning & Organizing – Works well independently and in teams. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, making adjustments as needed to accommodate changes. Sets and meets individual and team deadlines. Works well under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.
Conceptual and Analytical Skills – Strong research skills. Ability to quickly analyze and synthesize information from technical reports and other sources and summarize it into key messages for political influencing. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and extensive experience applying them in carrying out operational tasks. Ability to think strategically and tactically.
Relationship Management – For assigned stakeholder group (e.g. government officials, mission embassies, foreign affairs ministers or other), knowledge of stakeholder organizations, their unique characteristics, and key players. Understanding of, and sensitivity to, stakeholder perspectives, interests and needs and their intersection with GPE’s goals and interests. Effective at forging and managing relationships with stakeholders. Skilled at getting alignment behind a common goal and building trust and support for proposed courses of action or solutions. Possesses strong political judgment, diplomatic sense, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Representation Skills -Ability to think and respond quickly and extemporaneously with tact and diplomacy, and to present a credible and convincing presence. Ability to represent GPE and specific activities and products to external stakeholders. Understanding of the political landscape within which GPE and its partner countries operate.
Advocacy and Influencing – Aware of political dynamics and how to strategically engage to influence global public policy processes, working with partners when needed to demonstrate thought leadership. Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships with external partners including civil society, multilateral orgs, and champions, for mutual benefit, to share information, and collaborate to raise the profile of education in public policy and political arenas. Ability to identify and build relationships with key high-level champions and influencers who can support GPE. Knows how and when to bring in wider areas for consultation and advice.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION
Appointments include medical benefits, paid holidays, and comprehensive leave policy (24 days/annum).
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. 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, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its PSEAH policy.
Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations. Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at disabilityfund@worldbank.org for further information and support.
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.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.