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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The Middle East and North Africa Region (MENAAP)

The World Bank works with the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan to eliminate poverty and promote shared prosperity through strengthening human capital, supporting jobs and economic transformation, advancing gender equity, addressing fragility, and enabling green growth. MENAAP attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. MENAAP is organized in seven Country Departments (CMUs), the Office of the Regional Chief Economist, and the Development Effectiveness Unit (MAPDE). It places high value on diversity.

Digital Vice-Presidency

The Digital Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and is guiding 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 has the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams are supporting 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/digital/overview.

The MENAAP Digital Unit is responsible for Digital activities and portfolio in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, including lending, supervision, and analytical work. 
The Unit is looking for a Digital Specialist under an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract to be based in Djibouti. French and English are essential for this position. The Digital Specialist will report to the Practice Manager.  

The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET appointment of three years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

Duties and accountabilities:

• Contributing to the supervision/implementation of World Bank-financed investment and policy reform programs, with emphasis on telecom infrastructure and regulation, digitalizing the public administration, and enabling private-sector participation in the development of the digital economy. 

• Providing technical expertise and inputs on policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional issues around telecommunications, e-/digital government, digital skills, government cloud infrastructure, data sharing platforms, digital identity, and data governance, with the aim to digitally enabled people, businesses, and governments.

• Supporting project and program development around digital infrastructure, e-/digital government, inclusive and safe data platforms, digital ‘stacks’, and integrated digital solutions for investments and projects, including preparing project proposals, drafting project concept notes, briefs, and progress reports, and facilitating client co-design and stakeholder consultation workshops.

• Developing and implementing analytical work and knowledge products that provide good practice guidance to clients on key digital transformation topics such telecom regulation, ICT sector monitoring, data governance, management and infrastructure, digitalization of service delivery. 

• Contributing to policy dialogue with senior officials, regional institutions, private sector/industry, and development partner agencies. 

• Providing technical support and input to World Bank colleagues and government clients on leveraging digital technologies to improve public service delivery and efficiency in other sectors, including energy, transport, health, education, urban, agriculture, social protection, and jobs.
 
• Representing Digital MENAAP and the World Bank at digital-related fora and events.