Job Description

Job #: req28270


Organization: World Bank


Sector: Water/Sanitation


Grade: GG


Term Duration: 4 years 0 months


Recruitment Type: International Recruitment


Location: New Delhi,India


Required Language(s): English


Preferred Language(s): Hindi


Closing Date: 8/2/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC



Description


Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, 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 South Asia Region

In the South Asia Region (SAR), the World Bank Group serves eight client countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), home to nearly 1.8 billion people. Clients range from large, rapidly growing, sophisticated middle-income countries to low-income (IDA) countries to fragile and small island and landlocked states. In FY24, the region delivered $10 billion in financing for client countries and a wide range of Advisory and Analytical Services (ASAs).
For more information on SAR see: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar The Sustainable Development (Planet) Practice Group

The Sustainable Development (SD) or Planet Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water. Water in the Global Development Context

Water touches every aspect of development, and it links to nearly every Sustainable Development Goal. In its positive aspects, it drives economic growth, supports healthy ecosystems, and is essential for life itself. Water availability and the quality of water management impact whether poor girls are educated, whether cities are livable places, and whether growing industries or poor villages can withstand the impacts of floods or droughts.

But water resources globally are under unprecedented and increasing pressures, driven by population and economic growth, urbanization, land-use changes, declining quantities and qualities of ground and surface waters, and greater climate variability. With cross-cutting impacts on agriculture, education, energy, health, gender equity, and livelihood, water is at the center of economic and social development. Climate change impacts often manifest themselves through water, and sound water management lies at the heart of the resilience agenda. Successful water management requires accurate knowledge of the resource availability and an assessment of competing demands for its usage. Making optimal use of available water resources requires complex and sensitive economic, environmental and socio-political trade-offs. The need to plan for a more uncertain and more water-constrained future only increases the challenge of sustainable development of water resources. The world will not be able to meet the great development challenges of the 21st century - human development, livable cities, climate change, food security, energy security, and universal access to services - unless we ensure a water-secure world for all. The Water Program in SAR and SSAW1

The SAR water program is delivered through two units, each led by a Practice Manager (PM). The two units, teams and PMs work closely together to deliver on the Water agenda in SAR; this includes deployment of staff across unit boundaries.

SAR Water Unit 1 (SSAW1), the hiring unit, has a 30-member team and covers the Water program in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India. SSAW1's operations consist of an active portfolio of 15 projects with $3.08 billion in WB financing and a strong pipeline to be delivered in FY25 and FY 26.

The water strategy in SAR aligns with the World Bank's proposed Global Challenge Program on "Fast Tracking Water Security and Climate Adaptation." Accordingly, the SAR Water Program includes national as well as state programs in three major thematic pillars: i) universal access to safely managed water supply and sanitation; ii) climate-resilient irrigation and agriculture modernization; and iii) healthy rivers and water resource management for resilience.

India is the Bank's biggest IBRD client. The water program in India is the among Bank's largest country-level water programs globally. The current India water portfolio consists of 11 projects with commitments of $2.5 billion and a strong pipeline (of about $ 2 bill) for FY25 and FY26. The India program includes support for ambitious national level projects and programs such the National Groundwater Program, Dam Safety Improvement Program, the National Hydrology Project, and the Namami Gange Programme. It also includes State level projects on: a) urban and rural WSS (eg. Shimla utility reform, Uttarakhand peri-urban service delivery, Karnataka 24x7 urban water) and a Chennai City Partnership Program; b) irrigation (eg. major and minor irrigation projects in states such as West Bengal; and c) and flood and river basin management projects (in states such as Assam and Karnataka).

Bangladesh is and has been the Bank's biggest IDA client for several years; it is poised for graduation to IBRD. The Bank's water program is the Bangladesh is important and growing. The current Bangladesh water portfolio consists of three WSS projects and one WRM project, with commitments of $570 million. The FY25-27 pipeline includes three urban WSS projects with commitments of $900 million. In addition to WSS, the portfolio and pipeline include important multi-sectoral initiatives on managing the Jamuna River, transforming Dhaka City and its rivers, and supporting climate-smart irrigation and agriculture. The pipeline projects will strengthen water security and WSS services in the country and support implementation of Bangladesh's ambitious Delta 2100 Plan. Duties and Accountabilities:

Overall, this position, based in Delhi, requires an experienced senior water specialist with demonstrated ability to: a) lead large water programs and analytical work; b) lead dialogue with sophisticated government clients at the Utility, State, and National levels; c) bring strong international experience to inform policy dialogue and design of programs; and d) effectively lead and work in teams that are diverse, large and often multi-sectoral. She/he will report the Practice Manager of the unit (SSAW1) and will work closely with the broader SSAW1 team to deliver results. Responsibilities: • Leading dialogue with select national and sub-national counterparts--as well as development partners and other sector-related institutions--on water-related issues, especially on institutional and economic reforms (e.g. strengthening of utilities or other water agencies for improved performance; tackling subsidy design; water pricing; etc.);
• Leading or co-leading major water projects;
• Leading or co-leading key studies and analytical activities;
• Contributing to the regional and global knowledge agenda;
• Supporting and/or sharing expertise with other teams in the unit (i.e. activities that are led by other staff);
• In the case of multi-sectoral engagements, working as a team leader/member with staff from other Global Practices (sectors) to deliver integrated solutions;
• Contributing to the strengthening of the "one water team" spirit in the unit and mentoring staff;
• Other activities as agreed with the Practice Manager.



The duties and accountabilities will be refined at the outset of employment and annually thereafter. Selection Criteria

• PhD or Masters' degree level in a discipline related to water including water supply and sanitation, water resources, hydrology, hydraulics, environment, civil engineering, economics, urban development, or other relevant discipline.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the water sector in the government, bilateral or multilateral development organizations, private sector, or non-government organizations.
• Deep technical skills and demonstrated expertise in water supply and sanitation, and/or water resources management, and/or irrigation and drainage.
• A strong track record of effectively managing, leading and delivering on water projects and analytical work. For external candidates, experience in delivering water programs for external clients would be a plus.
• For internal candidates, solid experience in WBG operations. Ability to manage a variety of lending instruments (IPFs, PforRs, and/or DPOs) and analytical and advisory services would be a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead policy dialogue and technical discussions with clients at high levels in the water sector.
• Experience in multiple countries and, ideally, more than one region and, thereby, ability to bring international experience to clients in SAR.
• Strong interpersonal and team skills and ability to mentor.
• High level of energy, initiative, self-motivation, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to new challenges or changing work program requirements.
• Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality documents and analytical reports.
• Ability to articulate and implement strategy would be a plus.
• Ability and track record of bringing innovative thinking, technology, tools, and practices into water programs would be a plus.


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.•