Job: Operations Analyst

Location: Cotonou, Benin
Deadline: Thursday, 21 November 2013

Background / General description:

Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.

The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) is a global partnership to help government clients improve their capacity to provide improved water supply and sanitation services to the poor. Administered by the World Bank with financial support from several donors, WSP is a decentralized program that operates through offices in Africa, East Asia, Latin America and South Asia. A major thrust of the program is to help its clients prepare for and implement actions towards meeting the water and sanitation (WSS) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In pursuing their mission, WSP staff provide technical assistance, analysis, and advisory support to projects and policies, help identify and disseminate best practices and lessons from experience across countries, assist clients in the implementation of pilot projects to test out new ideas and facilitate informal networks of practitioners and sector stakeholders. Additional information about WSP can be found on the program website ( www.wsp.org). WSP is part of the World Bank's Transport, Water and Information & Communications Technology Department (TWI) in the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) Vice Presidency.

WSP's FY11-15 Business Plan is based on a global strategy '˜FY2009-2018: Scaling Up Sustainable Services', which articulates WSP's proposed strategic response to identified sector challenges affecting the poor through capacity building, technical assistance and knowledge. The Business Plan identifies six business areas where the program could have the best opportunity to affect large-scale change in sector performance: scaling up rural sanitation and hygiene; creating sustainable services through domestic private sector participation; supporting poor-inclusive WSS sector reform; targeting the urban poor and improving services in small towns; mitigating and adapting WSS delivery to climate change impacts; and delivering WSS services in fragile states. These areas were identified through a process of embedding a results-based framework throughout WSP's country, regional and global work programs.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

This Terms of Reference relates to the Sustainable Services through Domestic Private Sector Participation business area in Benin.

The Sustainable Services through Domestic Private Sector Participation (SS-DPSP) is a WSP global project for supporting client countries to further leverage domestic private sector finance and expertise to scale up water and sanitation services for the poor. Through SS-DPSP, WSP seeks to understand, with its client countries, 'How can domestic private sector providers increase the scale of their activities to reach more low-income customers?' The countries under the SS-DPSP program are the following 13: Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda. The SS-DPSP Program will also interact with the following countries for a global study: Colombia, Indonesia, and Tanzania.

In Africa, SS-DPSP interventions include:

• Support to Government on developing public-private partnership policies/frameworks and supporting institutional and legislative frameworks in place.
• Establishment of monitoring systems, including development of information platforms using mobile and internet technology
• Development of capacity building programs for public (national and local) institutions and private operators
• Supporting increased access to finance
• Overall sector reform for improving service delivery in rural and small towns

WSP seeks to recruit an Operations Analyst to be based in Cotonou, Benin. The Operations Analyst's main responsibilities will be to support the implementation of innovative approaches to effectively engage the private sector in improving the delivery and affordability of Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services in small towns and urban. This position is also expected actively contribute to documenting and sharing of lessons learned with similar projects and teams in WSP's Domestic Private Sector Participation business area.

Specific responsibilities for the Operations Analyst will include, but not limited to the following:

• Support the structuring of a financing facility accessible by eligible Domestic Private Sector operators with support from other donors operating in Benin.
• Undertake the preparatory work for establishing a fund with out-put based subsidies to support investments to expand services to low income areas and poor.
• Contribute to the economic analysis and the financial models of the projects to assess the net economic benefit and the viability given in the context of required public subsidies.
• Contribute to synthesizing key learning and findings from programs under implementation and make this information available for internal learning and external sharing.
• Promote cross-regional sharing of best practices related to sustainable services through domestic private sector participation by participating in the Global Practice Team.

Supervision:

The Operations Analyst will:

• Formally report to the Regional Team Leader for WSP-Africa, with day to day supervision primarily by the Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist based in Benin.
• Operate under the authority of the Country Manager for Benin and report to relevant staff of the country office on all matters concerning administration and the World Bank's relationship with Benin. (S)he will follow all the policies and guidelines applicable to the staff of the World Bank Country Office. (S)he will be provided with an office, PC and telephone connection in the World Bank Country Office;
• Observe all rules and regulations governing staff conduct and employment.
  Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Selection Criteria:

The successful candidate will have:

• An advanced degree in Finance, Business or related disciplines such as Accounting, Commerce, Auditing, Economics or other area relevant to WSP;
• At least 2 years' experience in Financial Analysis, including financial modelling and economic benefit analysis;
• Field experience in WSS sector in developing countries will be a plus.
• The ability to work effectively in both French-speaking and English-speaking contexts, including both written and spoken communication.

Competencies related to this post include:

• Project Management - Understands the basic concepts of project management, as they relate to the execution of tasks within a project.
• Data Collection and Management / Analytical Thinking: Able to break down raw information and undefined problems into specific, workable components that in-turn clearly identify the issues at hand. Makes logical conclusions, anticipates obstacles and considers different approaches that are relevant to the decision making process-
• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical tools and models to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs; understands underlying statistical concepts
• Private Participation in Infrastructure and Social Sectors: Demonstrates a basic understanding of the framework and policies of private participation in infrastructure, demonstrates strong analytical skills and writing ability to support the development of private participation and social sector project plans.
• Financial Risk Analysis and Modeling: Understands and can utilize modeling and forecasting techniques based on projected values for complex and innovative financial instruments to evaluate impacts of financial risks (e.g. interest rates and credit risks).
• Client orientation - Able to interact with clients with discretion and diplomacy. Demonstrates ability to resolve complex client related issues. Displays understanding of relevant internal and external actors and their impact to the client.
• Drive for results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Able to communicate in a constructive and professional manner. Can assist in the preparation of written materials in accordance with WB administrative guidelines and best practices. Able to contribute to unit's knowledge sharing.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Able to effectively and independently provide general research support. Demonstrates ability to assess situation and make sound judgment on action needed.

More Info and Application