Sr Private Sector Specialist

The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and thirteen Global Practices (GPs) to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

The World Bank Group (WBG)s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity reflect a new global landscape: one in which developing countries have an unprecedented opportunity to end extreme poverty within a generation.

The Water Global Practice: Context

As the worlds largest multilateral source of financing for water in developing countries, the World Bank is working closely with partners to achieve A Water-Secure World for All, by sustaining water resources, delivering services and building resilience.

Water is at the center of economic and social development: it is vital to maintain health, grow food, generate energy, manage the environment, and create jobs. Water availability and management impacts whether poor girls are educated, whether cities are healthy places to live, and whether growing industries or poor villages can withstand the impacts of floods or droughts.

Water security is among the top global risks in terms of development impact. It is also an integral part to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The world will not be able to meet the sustainable development challenges of the 21st century human development, livable cities, climate change, food security, and energy security without improving management of water resources and ensuring access to reliable water and sanitation services.

The World Bank is the largest external source of financing for water supply and sanitation projects and has a large and growing portfolio in irrigation and water resource management. With a portfolio of water investments of US$41.4 billion (US$29.4 billion of water-sector projects and US$12 billion of multi-sector projects related to water), the World Bank is uniquely positioned to achieve the vision of a water secure world for all, developing and sharing global knowledge while amplifying the impact of lending through technical assistance on the ground.

The World Banks Water Global Practice (GP) is mandated to ensure that water issues are effectively addressed in all related sub-sectors, such as agriculture (ensuring sustainable water availability for irrigation), disaster risk management, energy (hydropower), and water supply & sanitation (rural and urban, assisting utilities on efficiency and financial sustainability, targeting the poor). In each sub sector an integrated approach is adopted which considers investment alongside issues such as governance, institutions, and policies.

2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) is a global multi-donor trust fund, established with the aim of addressing water security through private sector engagement. It was incubated at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and formally administered by the IFC from 2012 to 2017; thereafter the 2030 WRG has been hosted by the World Bank from January 1, 2018, based on a decision of the 2030 WRG Governing Council.

2030 WRG plans to achieve transformational impact in the next phase of activity from 2023-2030 through public-private collaboration and finance facilitation, in the lead up to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to do so by structuring large-scale, transformational programs in select countries, termed Accelerators. These initiatives focus to maximizing impact by leveraging the respective capacities, capital, and implementation strengths of the public and private sector.

The Sr. Private Sector Specialist will be based at the Headquarters of the World Bank in Washington DC, USA. She/he will report to Program Manager of 2030 WRG.

Duties and Accountabilities

2030 Water Resources Group is seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as a Senior Private Sector Specialist. The principal duties and responsibilities would include: