Vacancy - Economist, Family Private Sector Development , Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Job # 091732
Closing Date 19-Oct-2009
Language Requirements English [Essential]

Background / General description
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a population of over 700 million people in 47 countries, is home to 34 of the world’s poorest countries. Making headway against poverty in SSA continues to present the world’s most formidable developmental challenge. The Africa Region’s Finance and Private Sector Development Department (AFTFP) is responsible for providing operational support and technical advice to SSA clients on a broad range of private and financial sector development issues. AFTFP, with its nearly 70 staff is organized under a front office led by AFTFP’s Director, and has two units, East and Southern Africa (AFTFE) and West and Central Africa (AFTFW), each led by a Sector Manager, jointly covering a span of 47 countries and 11 country directorates.

The Tanzania country assistance strategy supports the Government’s broad strategy to achieve higher efficiency and competitiveness in all productive sectors, expanding trade and services, as well as improving the business environment in order to attract private investment. The AFTFP approach focuses on four interrelated policy objectives in support of Tanzania’s economic transformation: 1) improving the investment climate, 2) deepening financial markets, 3) enhancing enterprise competitiveness, and 4) facilitating private participation in infrastructure.

This position will report to both sector and country management and will work with the private and financial sector staff as part of the Private and Financial Sector teams. He/she will assist in the development of the Bank’s private sector business plan to support Tanzania’s medium term competitiveness strategy, provide technical support to other country teams and provide support in supervising on going projects in the PSD portfolio.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current 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 renewable term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities
- refine and further develop a private and financial sector business and strategic plan, in close collaboration with the private and financial sector team and the country team,
- frequently represent the World Bank in meetings relating to private and financial sector development,
- provide technical private sector inputs to the strategic policy dialogue, policy-based lending, CEMs, CASs and PRSP,
- lead, provide oversight and develop analytical (AAA) work in private and financial sector issues,
- provide technical inputs to Government on specific issues for the formulation of competitiveness and regulatory strategy for Tanzania,
- provide support to the Government team implementing projects and undertake supervision activities on behalf of IDA (e.g. organizing missions, preparing procurement responses etc…)
- develop position papers on private sector issues,
- work closely with the private sector specialist in providing regional oversight on private sector related issues and developing regional analytical work;
- provide technical support to the public private dialogue process established
- support the team on coordination of private sector issues for Tanzania;
- lead the dissemination AAA and best practice principles (including regional reports and workshops/conferences);

Selection Criteria
- Advanced degree in economics and/or business administration and a minimum of 8 years of directly relevant experience with private and/or financial sector operations;
- Extensive operational experience in development programs either with the
the World Bank group or a related organization or donor, preferably with leadership in preparation or supervision of sector investment loans or adjustment operations or policy lending;
- Excellent conceptual and analytical skills with an ability to address both macro and micro issues and a strong track record of excellence in analytical work and policy discussions;
- Recognized and respected by peers; demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collegially with peers at all levels;
- Demonstrated ability to represent and present private and financial sector issues effectively and make sound judgments on issues requiring management guidance;
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a mentoring role;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate ideas and analyses clearly and tactfully, both verbally and in writing

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