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.
The Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region Context
Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a
geographically, culturally, and economically diverse region of 26 countries
stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South.
The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of
its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills
development continues to keep people from reaching their full potential. This
creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and
livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade! But it also
creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society,
development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the
future.
Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa
Digital Transformation Vice Presidency
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1,
2024, and will guide World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a
digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure
cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and
advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and
data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital
Transformation Vertical will have the critical mission of delivering on this
development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional
teams will support client countries in building the foundational and
cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through two engagement
pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas:
• Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network,
affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud
solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology
applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through
cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online
safety.
• Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity,
Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through
Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services,
and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT
industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital
school, digital health, etc.).
Both pillars will be the channels through which the Vertical will support World
Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills,
climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and
inclusion.
For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Practice Manager (PM) for Digital Transformation, located in Nairobi,
will be responsible for staff based in multiple field locations and in Washington
DC and report to the Regional Practice Director for MNA, AFW & AFE Regions.
The PM will work closely with the Global Practice Managers of the Digital Vice-Presidential
Unit (VPU), AFE Country Directors, Program Leaders and other AFE Practice
Managers to advance digital transformation
both ‘vertically’ and ‘horizontally’ in client countries including mobilizing
cutting-edge experts both externally and internally. The PM will closely collaborate
with the Global PMs and Global Directors to advance and achieves the six
business lines of Digital Transformation VPU, namely, Infrastructure, AI and
New Technologies, Cybersecurity and safeguards, Digital Government, Digital
Economy and Digital Society. The PM will also collaborate with International
Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
to create a community of practice that supports the public and private sector
interests and partnerships. The PM will be responsible for the development
and maintenance of strategic partnerships with several bilateral donors in the AFE
region.
The PM will be a member of the Regional Management Team and the Global Digital VPU
Management Team.
More specifically, the PM is responsible for the following areas:
Solutions and Results to Clients
Draws on global thought leadership and implementation know-how to ensure high impact solutions; provides focused, evidence-based and just-in-time analytical insights to clients with a view to inform better decision making on the lines of the preamble for the Unit.
• Leads her/his team to deliver the key strategic priorities and specific activities, including managing the quality of work program and deliverables including lending and ASA, working closely with other PMs and Regional PMs.
• Builds and maintains a balanced portfolio of innovative, cost-effective, and demand-driven products and services.
• Works in partnership with other PMs in the Vertical and the Regions as well as with other Global Practices (GPs), IFC, MIGA to find tailored digital solutions to complex development challenges.
• Accountable for delivering high-quality and timely results.
• Create partnerships with other donors working in the digital space as well as private sector and technology leaders as well as academic institutions.
People/Talent Management
• Models exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behaviors and reinforces these qualities in own team and staff.
• Drives and inspires technical excellence within the team and the Vertical by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients.
• Supports the Vertical management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, talent, and performance management.
• Manages Unit staff and agrees on respective responsibilities and work programs.
• Mentors staff and ensuring they remain well connected with the rest of the team.
• Attract new talent to match the growth and changing nature of the agenda.
Knowledge Management and Partnerships
• Responds to global, regional, and national challenges and opportunities in the broader Digital Transformation area. Ensures that the Vertical is at the forefront of the development debate and contributes to the global dialogue.
• Contributes to international fora.
• Develops close partnerships with international networks on cybersecurity and data privacy and protection, regulatory agencies, donor agencies, international organizations, academia/think tanks, and other development partners active in digital.
• Strengthens the analytical base of the unit’s work and fosters partnership with leading global institutions and experts, ensures timely flow and capture of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge they need, when and where they need it.
• Promotes innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning.
• Instills a culture of evidence-based, yet client-tailored engagement for highest development impact.
Resource Management
• Manages within available budget constraints, restructures unit as needed and establishes funding priorities.
• In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the WBG, decides on the best use of internal and external resources for maximum client and developmental impact.
• Is accountable for delivering the agreed upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the GP’s outputs.