Description

 

Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients address their greatest development challenges. The WBG is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions aiming to end extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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.

Regional Context

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The Bank’s strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars: (a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness. (b) reducing poverty and inequality. (c) making governments and institutions work for people. (d) providing a platform for addressing global issues (climate change, gender, trade, disease, migration), and (e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

Country Unit and Position Context

Brazil experienced a strong rebound in 2021-22 after negative average growth in 2014-19 and the drastic impact of COVID-19 in 2020. Growth rebounded to 5 percent in 2021 and 2.9 percent in 2022, propelled by a strong fiscal stimulus, a successful vaccination campaign, favorable commodity prices, and demand for services. Growth then remained solid in 2023, expected to reach 2.6 percent, driven by agriculture, and boosted by households and government consumption. Brazil’s growth is expected to hover between 1.3 and 2.4 percent in the next four years.

Poverty rates remained stagnant between 2014 and 2022. Poverty was cut in half (with 27 million of Brazilians lifted out of poverty) from 2001 to 2012 thanks to economic growth, increased labor formalization and the expansion of social policies, but the crisis that started in 2014 led to stagnant income growth among the poorest and little progress in poverty reduction. Brazil implemented a bold set of emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect the most vulnerable populations, in large part through the expansion of the Bolsa Família (BF) program, and increased job opportunities arose as part of the economic recovery. Overall, poverty is estimated at 24.3 percent in 2022, on par with 2014 levels, after peaking at 28.4 percent in 2021. The 2023 poverty estimates are promising, but faster job creation and stronger investments in human capital are needed to reduce striking inequalities. Yet Brazil remains one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a Gini coefficient of 0.53 in 2021 and the wealthiest one percent owning almost half of the country’s household wealth. Inequalities are striking across regions, particularly between the poorer northern and the richer southern regions, but also within cities and between rural and urban areas. Female-headed households, Afro-Brazilians, and indigenous populations are overrepresented among the poor, as they face worse labor market outcomes and enduring wage gaps (even within comparable sectors and levels of skills). Today, nearly half of Brazil’s children, the country’s future workforce, are growing up in poor households.

Brazil also faces significant climate change impacts compounded by deforestation and land degradation. Climate change is altering temperature and rainfall patterns in the country, resulting in reduced water availability and extended droughts, and could push another 800,000 to 3 million Brazilians into extreme poverty as soon as 2030. Continued deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes remains a matter of urgency, as it has increased land-use emissions – the main source of greenhouse (GHG) emissions in Brazil. Strengthening resilience to climate change and protection of natural assets, especially the fragile ecosystems of the Amazon and Cerrado, is essential for environmentally sustainable economic growth.

Role & Responsibilities:

The Country Management Unit (CMU) is currently looking for two experienced, hard-working Team Assistants (TA). The incumbents would work closely with other members of the World Bank’s country office team in Brazil. The selected TAs will be based in Brasilia, Brazil. They will report to the Operations Manager (OM) and will also work under the close day to day supervision of the Senior Executive Assistant (Sr. EA)/support staff (A2D) coordinator.

The selected candidates will be assigned to provide administrative support to the Country Office (CO) team members and visiting missions, as well as for tasks associated to the Unit’s overall work program for which ad-hoc support may be needed from time to time.

The TAs’ duties will include – but are not limited to – the tasks listed below. They will be prioritized further based on the specific team and activities that each TA will support.
• Drafting routine correspondence and proofreading materials using proper grammar, punctuation, and style.
• Assisting with the preparation and logistical planning for various events, e.g. conferences, workshops, negotiations, meetings, missions, etc.; liaising with Resource Management team for compliance with Bank policies.
• Coordinating schedules taking priorities into account, monitoring changes, and communicating the information to appropriate staff, inside and outside the immediate work unit, including officials outside the World Bank Group.
• Working with the Country Office team monitoring project performance.
• Filing correspondence in WBDocs/Sharepoint site.
• Processing contracts in the Bank’s electronic system (Admin Portal).
• Collecting and inputting project related data provided by Task Team Leaders (TTLs) into the Bank’s Operations Portal
• Helping maintain up-to-date distribution lists, travel and leave schedules.
• Providing assistance in arranging activities such as reserving meeting rooms, arranging catering services, AV equipment, video and tele-conferencing coordination, etc.
• Assisting with travel arrangements (TRs, flight & hotel booking, transportation).
• Providing back-up/cross-support to colleagues in the Brasília Office during absences or peak periods as needed.
• Solving non-routine problems, with appropriate guidance as relevant.
• Performing other ad-hoc duties as required by the Senior Executive Assistant or Country Operations Manager.

 

Selection Criteria

 

• Minimum Education/Experience: High school diploma with 3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fluent Portuguese skills and proficiency in English (verbal and written).
• The selected candidate may be required to work flexible hours.
• Ability to retrieve reference materials from various sources (e.g. databases or other filing systems, Internet, etc.).
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with utmost discretion.
• Committed, self-motivated team player with good inter-personal skills, and ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to produce high-quality work under pressure.

Required Competencies

Technology and systems knowledge

– Demonstrates knowledge and experience working with Microsoft office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). Has ability and willingness to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills as technology and workflow change.

Project and task management

– Demonstrates good organizational skills, and ability to work capably with minimal supervision in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment; can identify and resolve routine and non-routine issues. Able to stay organized, calm, and constructive in stressful situations. Able to select task and project delivery process and schedule, manage multiple tasks within tight deadlines; demonstrates willingness to do what it takes to get a task completed within the agreed schedule. Demonstrates orientation to detail and quality; able to independently conduct quality control of own work (review for accuracy, fulfillment of relevant requirements, etc.

 

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.