Digital & AI Specialist

Job #: req37983
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Digital Development
Grade: GF
Term Duration:  3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Dhaka,Bangladesh
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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, www.worldbank.org
Unit(s) Context
The South Asia Region

The South Asia Region comprises six countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. This strong growth has translated into reducing extreme poverty and strong improvements in human development. At the same time, the region remains home to one-third of the world’s poorest, and persistent structural challenges threaten to undermine sustained growth, hindering the region’s ability to create jobs and respond to climate shocks.

The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar
Digital & AI Vice Presidency 

Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. The Digital & AI Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through: 

• Building broadband connectivity infrastructure, last mile access and data platforms (including last mile connectivity and data infrastructure)

• Strengthening digital public infrastructure (DPI), including digital ID, data sharing, verifiable credentials and digitalizing government services that improve accountability and transparency

•Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity and data protection & privacy 

• Developing ICT sectors and supporting digital entrepreneurship, skills, and jobs 

•Enabling AI-ready economies by supporting governments in building the policy, regulatory, data, and infrastructure foundations needed to harness AI responsibly and at scale

• Supporting the Vice presidencies of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of their clients, and in leveraging digital solutions, including building client sectoral digital capacity, defining and implementing sectoral specific AI strategies, and designing AI-powered solutions 

For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digital
The roles and responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

The Opportunity

The World Bank Group’s (WBG) engagement on digital development is rapidly growing in the South Asia region (SAR) in response to increased client demand for knowledge, technical assistance, and financing.  The overall SAR Digital agenda aims to enhance the speed, scale, and impact of the WBG’s support to enable countries to make the most of digital opportunities and address emerging challenges in an effective and agile manner. 
SAR Digital Unit is looking for a Digital & AI Specialist to be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The position will report to the South Asia Regional Practice Manager for Digital & AI and work as a team with a Senior Digital & AI Specialist (also based in Dhaka), as well as with other team members based globally. 

More specifically, the roles and responsibilities are to:

The Digital & AI Specialist, together with the Sr. Digital & AI Specialist based in Dhaka, and the broader team will be responsible for the following:

• Support client engagements in Bangladesh in their digital transformation ambition and supervise activities in the sector as a technical expert; support policy dialogue with senior government officials, coordinating across relevant government agencies, development partners and other World Bank Global Departments and Verticals. 

•Contribute to the design, preparation and supervision of World Bank Group financed investment and policy reform programs on digital and AI, with a particular emphasis on strengthening underpinning infrastructure for an AI ready economy, including digital public infrastructure, digital skills, and strengthening digital connectivity infrastructure through leveraging private sector investments.

• Advise clients on strategies, best practices and design of programs to develop the foundations of their digital economies.  This may include participating in technical assistance activities and providing just-in-time technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the digital and AI agenda.

•Support policy dialogue and provide technical advisory services to support client countries in developing AI-ready economies, including designing national AI strategies, AI governance and regulatory frameworks, data governance regimes, and AI ethics and responsible AI policies that are contextually appropriate for developing country contexts.

• Liaise and provide guidance to colleagues working in other sectors (including agriculture, health, education, energy, financial services, transport, etc.) on how to leverage digital technologies and AI to improve public service delivery and efficiency in the respective sectors and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in those sectors by private sector actors.  

•Contribute to policy dialogue with senior officials of client countries, regional institutions and development partner agencies.

Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria & Competencies

Master's degree in telecommunications, engineering, law, economics, public policy, computer science or related field with a minimum of 5 years of experience in Digital Transformation / Digital Economy policy and regulation and/or project design and implementation, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience and successes in policy dialogue and operations related to one or more of these topics in Bangladesh: digital public infrastructure, AI and data governance, broadband connectivity, and its intersection with one or more development outcomes in health, financial inclusion, social protection, education, and/or gender.

• Good understanding of role of private sector in digital transformation and familiarity with structuring arrangements between public and private sector investors

•Knowledge of digital technology, including AI trends and risks, relevant to socio-economic development. 

• Proven experience leading policy dialogue in countries with limited capacity and influencing  reforms that enable digital transformation.

•Excellent conceptual skills, including ability to think strategically about the role of digital and AI technologies in other sectors and (more generally) the economy.

• Excellent analytical and statistical skills, in data and evidence-based reforms, using metrics and indicators to determine numeric reform targets, take stock of developments over time, and use data driven results monitoring as an instrument to advance reforms. Combines a broad grasp of the relevant theory and principles and of involved practices and precedent. 

•Strong client engagement skills, taking responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or project success.

• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in appropriate language to clients, the international development community, academia, and internal working groups.

•Excellent presentation skills, using charts, graphs and other data presentation techniques appropriately to communicate data, technical information, or complex concepts to non-specialists.

• Strong drive for results, taking persona enthusiasm to stay abreast of new innovation

•Ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results.  

• Strong business judgment and analytical decision making, analyzing facts and data to support sound and logical business decisions.

•Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multi-disciplinary teams, mentor staff, and resolve conflicts constructively.

• Proficiency in English is essential 

WBG Core Competencies: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All others will be offered a 4 year term appointment. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
WBG COMPETENCIES
Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.
Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  Candidates with open term appointments will retain their employment status if selected for this position. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
WBG Core Competencies for all staff: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O
Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2-year term appointment.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.