We need the best and brightest talent focused on our region in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.

SAEW3 is recruiting a Water Specialist who will be primarily responsible for the following activities, but not limited to : 

• Provide hands-on technical support to AFE country teams in the preparation, appraisal, implementation, and supervision of water supply and sanitation projects, particularly to the Horn of Africa Ground Water Project and the water programs in Kenya and Somalia . 

• Assist task teams in identifying and resolving technical bottlenecks in project implementation, including issues related to infrastructure design, service delivery models, utility performance, and community management systems.

• Contribute to the preparation of Project Appraisal Documents (PADs), Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs), and other operational documents as required.

1. Support the Horn of Africa Ground Water project covering Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia and the regional entities. This includes co-leading and working closely with the regional TTLs and the country specific TTL s on the implementation of the projects; supporting the country dialogue, technical and institutional aspects of the project implementation aspects; support in preparing the mission documents and monitoring reports. As need be, provide support to the Djibouti team and to manage the regional learnings and knowledge sharing. 

3. Strengthen the quality and coherence of the water supply and sanitation portfolio by ensuring alignment with Water Forward principles, World Bank operational standards, and international best practices. 

5. Contribute to the development and dissemination of regional knowledge products, including analytical work, operational guidance notes, and lessons learned, to inform the design and implementation of water supply and sanitation operations.

7. Promote innovation and climate resilience in water supply and sanitation service delivery, including the integration of climate-smart technologies, gender-responsive approaches, and inclusive service models.

The water Specialist is expected to: 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the water supply and sanitation sector, with a demonstrated track record of delivering results in developing country contexts, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Experience working with or for multilateral development banks (World Bank, AfDB, or equivalent) or international development organizations on water supply, sanitation, irrigation operations is highly desirable.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of water supply and sanitation programs, including the use of results frameworks, performance indicators, and beneficiary assessment methodologies.

• Experience in private sector engagement and financing. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required; 

• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills, with experience in managing relationships with government counterparts, development partners, and community stakeholders.

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently within the AFE region (up to 30-40% of working time) to provide field-based support to country teams and government counterparts.,

Note: This
internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term
and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested
not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not
be considered.