Senior Digital Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.

Digital Vice Presidency

 The Digital 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 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

Unit overview

Digital Vice Presidency has both global and regional units. DAED Unit (DAEDU), part of Digital vertical embedded in the regional management structure, is responsible of the Digital activities and portfolio in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, including preparation and implementation support for investment operations, policy reforms, and analytical work.

The DAEDU Unit is looking for a Senior Digital Specialist to be based in Kinshasa (DRC) and could possibly also support other countries in the CMU. This Country Management Unit (CMU) covers DRC, Burundi, Angola, and São Tomé and Príncipe. with digital projects currently active in all these countries. The World Bank’s program in DRC in the digital sector includes the ongoing US$400 million project which is under implementation since 2025, as well as cross-support to other sectors such as transport, agriculture, amongst others. There is also ongoing analytical work.

French and English written and oral communication skills are essential for this position; additionally, a working proficiency in Portuguese is a plus for the engagement in Angola and STP. The Senior Digital Specialist will report to the Practice Manager, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Senior Digital specialist will be responsible for:

• Lead missions and supervise major projects in the sector as a technical expert; interact with clients at the policy and senior management levels, organize and manage policy notes on digital development and policy evaluation in collaboration with sector agencies, development partners and other Global Practices.
• Contribute to the design, preparation and supervision of World Bank Group financed digital development related investment and policy reform programs in client countries, with a particular emphasis on stimulating development of digital connectivity infrastructure through leveraging private sector investments with matching investments from the Bank, strengthening regulatory agencies, facilitating development of digital government IT infrastructure, platforms and services, and promoting development of digital skills and innovation.
• Advise clients on strategies, best practices, and design of programs on a range of ICT policy and regulatory issues to promote competition, investment, innovation, and job creation in the telecoms sector with the aim of boosting affordability, service quality and access to digital connectivity by citizens, businesses and governments and to stimulate the downstream development of value-added digital services. 
• Participate in complex technical assistance activities and provide ad hoc technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the development of the digital economy in client countries, including development of National ICT / Digital Economy Policy and Strategy documents.
• Develop innovative and practical approaches to solving difficult policy and operational issues for selected high priority telecommunications, ICT or digital economy related activities, notably around market opening and regulation.
• Developing with colleagues working in other sectors (including agriculture, health, education, energy, financial services, transport, etc.) innovative and practical approaches to leverage digital technologies to improve service delivery and efficiency in the respective sectors and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in those sectors by private sector actors.  
• Generate 'think pieces', 'best practice' papers and blog articles for web publication; handle complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues in the sectors; lead the development of proposals; lead the interface with member governments and agencies in resolving implementation issues. Prepare and supervise publication of best practice notes and reports on policy and regulation in the digital economy;
• Provide technical expertise and advice on policy, institutional reform, project development and execution to support the digitization of public administration and public services delivery in client countries.  
• Contribute to policy dialogue with senior officials of client countries, regional institutions and development partner agencies.  
• Work independently under general direction of unit manager, in collaboration with other team members, and guide and mentor junior staff.
• Represent the Digital Unit and the Bank at regulatory and other fora and events, as well as liaise in the above areas with key external  and internal partners.