Energy Spec.

This is a locally-recruited position within the World Bank’s Kabul office.  The Bank’s Sustainable Development Department (SASSD) is seeking an experienced Operations Officer, to be based in Kabul, who has a track record of effective project or program management in an environment of weak client capacity and fragile systems of governance. 

The selected candidate will be part of SASSD’s Afghanistan Energy team (with members based in Kabul, Washington and in the South Asia region). In the context of the Bank’s energy program in Afghanistan (discussed above), s/he will support the Team leader and the Afghanistan country team in the Bank’s dialogue with the country, its development partners, and other sector units within the Bank.  S/he will have the following main duties:
1. Project/Program Quality: Identify and foster key relationships (particularly with Afghan state and civil society counterparts) which will improve the design and implementation of Bank-supported projects and reform efforts.  S/he will also facilitate the strengthening of counterpart capacity (including the management of consultants and contractors) and enhance the quality and impact of Bank support. Support the Afghanistan (energy) Team Leader (typically a Senior Energy Specialist based in Kabul) in the following tasks: (a) day-to-day dialogue with clients in power/energy sector issues, (b) donor interaction, and (c) power sector portfolio quality monitoring.
2. Task Management/Task Team Support: (i) Lead or contribute (as a team member) to project preparation activities, ensuring project design is appropriate to Afghanistan’s development challenges and institutional capabilities; (ii) Supervise project implementation to assess performance against project objectives (and provide client with implementation support); (iii) Contribute to formal/informal analytical/advisory activities and research work on key energy related  issues in Afghanistan; and (iv) Work closely with World Bank Group teams from other sectors to both improve the quality of the Bank’s energy program and to support the work of other units.  Close engagement is expected with procurement, financial management, poverty reduction/economic management, rural development, mining, private sector development, and social and environment safeguards.
3. Bank Strategy Formulation: Drawing on his/her close working relationships with clientsAssist in the formulation of the Bank’s power program in Afghanistan; advise clients and Bank management and task teams on important program or policy issues; and contribute new or innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness and development of Bank program and of the client’s broader development efforts.
The selected candidate will also remain current on developments in the broader South Asia region and other developing and developed countries, including through providing a limited amount of cross-support to other teams.