Digital Development Specialist (WBG Young Professionals Program)

Do you want to join a diverse group of professionals who help change the world?

The World Bank Group (WBG) is 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.

Our Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP) is an exciting way to start a career with the World Bank Group. For close to 60 years, the program has recruited some of the brightest young minds to contribute to our top priorities, from poverty eradication, social development and climate change to the current response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Digital Development Specialists with YPP qualifications below are encouraged to apply from June 15 - July 15, at www.worldbank.org/ypp

We are looking for individuals who are younger than 32 years of age, who demonstrate a passion for international development, graduate level education, relevant professional experience and the potential to grow into leadership roles across the World Bank Group. 

Description

The Digital Development (DD) Global Practice 

DD plays a critical role in enabling the achievements of the Twin goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Digital technologies are transforming firms, governments and people’s lives; and with the digital economy growing at a rate significantly higher than that of the global economy, it offers emerging economies a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional paths for development through digital solutions. Collaborating across technical, geographic and institutional boundaries, the DD team helps design and deliver digitally enhanced solutions aimed at harnessing the full potential of digital transformation.

This requires decisive policy action to mobilize private investment, promote competition in digital markets and support the rollout of infrastructure in commercially unviable areas. It also entails working with client countries to develop digital platforms, strengthen data protection against privacy and cybersecurity risks, and leverage the potential of digital technologies to enhance environmental sustainability. DD Global Practice is led by a director supported by several Practice Managers with specific regional responsibilities and global responsibilities.  

 YPP Selection Criteria

• Born on or after October 1, 1990
• Relevant Master’s by September 2022 OR PhD by September 2023
• 3+ years of relevant experience OR continued study at the doctoral level
• Fluency in English

Desired Qualifications:

(1) Digital Infrastructure 

• Solid knowledge and expertise of digital infrastructure policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations relevant to national/regional interests; project or analytical work.  
• Working knowledge of a range of sector financing and business/operating models, and how to structure them.  
• Able to conduct a range of financial and business case analyses for digital infrastructure  
• Solid understanding of foundational business development skills.  
• Solid understanding of digital infrastructure sector trends and client needs in relation to those trends. 
• Solid understanding of regulatory policies, trends and understanding of economic and technical regulation of digital infrastructure  

(2) Digital Platforms  

• Solid knowledge of the ecosystem of inter-related policies, strategies, institutions, laws and regulations relevant to data and cybersecurity, data-driven transformation of government and digitalization of government, the enhancement of the ICT sector, the economy and society in the project or analytical work within the country context.  
• Sound understanding of the application of new technologies, platforms and associated architectures at regional, national and sector levels  
• Solid understanding of program management in the context of digital/e-government, shared economy/platforms, digital economy and integrated ICT solutions  
• Working knowledge of a range of government infrastructure, data and service platform related financing and networked models (including open source), and how to structure and implement them.  
• Able to conduct a range of digital government, creative/ICT sector and digital economy assessments, financial and business case analyses.  
• Solid knowledge of options for leveraging private finance for development projects, procurement issues and structures enabling digital government, associated platforms and services and specific digital sectors in the economy.  

(3) Digital Services 

• Solid knowledge and expertise of establishing/ re-engineering and appropriate channel integration for digital services relevant to national/regional interests; project or analytical work.  
• Able to translate theory into practical applications in context of Bank work of citizen/customer driven service delivery.  
• Excellent knowledge of critical and system thinking, problem solving techniques and prototyping which draws out insights and ideas from stakeholders, citizens and problem owners in problem framing, conduct of research, options framing and prototyping building and evaluation.   

(4) Digital Analytics and Economics 

• Demonstrates a solid knowledge and expertise of digital economics relevant to national/regional/sub-national interests, project or analytical work.  
• Able to translate theory into practical applications in context of Bank work.  
• Demonstrates excellent quantitative and qualitative skills and a track record of working with economic, sectoral, gender and network data and analytical tools (including predictive modeling, geospatial and visualization, various diagnostics and indices) and models to conduct analytical and quantitative analyses and synthesize complex results into user-friendly written outputs for team or standalone work.  
• Ability to design and apply data to policy, institutional and program/service design & delivery.  
• Understands network theory and implications of hyper-connected & multiple data source management  
• Understands innovation policy and data protection/sharing/control regulations.   
• Proficiency in French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic or Portuguese 
• Demonstrated ability to discuss various areas of digital development 
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including ability to think strategically and innovatively about the role of digital technologies for socio-economic development and for transformation in other sectors of the economy.   
• Technical and operational skills as evidenced in a proven track record in contributing to the delivery of project operations within development organizations. 
• • Firm understanding of digital technology and digitally enabled business model trends relevant to socio-economic development and enthusiasm to stay abreast of new innovations.  
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear, easily understandable and effective manner. 
• Excellent presentation skills, using charts, graphs and other data presentation techniques appropriately to communicate data, technical information, or complex concepts to non-specialists. 
• Proven ability to function effectively as a team member and as a connector within a multi-disciplinary team.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Project Design for Impact and Sustainability - Contributes to the design of projects and programs based on an understanding of the country and sector context.
• Sector Dialogue - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client including on complex issues, based on a solid understanding of the sector.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions, and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning, and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

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, IFC and MIGA including our values and inspiring stories.