ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUP. Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2016, the World Bank Group committed nearly $64.2 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees to its members and private businesses. The Bank’s Board approved approximately $45.9 billion in financial assistance, comprising about $29.7 billion in IBRD lending and about $16.2 billion in IDA support.
The institution is governed by 189 member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with more than 10,000 staff located globally. The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and fourteen Global Practices (GPs) as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution (CCSAs) Areas to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.
GLOBAL PRACTICES & CROSS-CUTTING SOLUTIONS AREAS
The 14 GPs are: Agriculture; Education; Energy and Extractives; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance and Markets; Governance; Health, Nutrition and Population; Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management; Poverty; Social Protection and Labor; Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience; Trade and Competitiveness; Transport and ICT; and Water. The 5 CCSAs are: Climate Change; Fragility, Conflict and Violence; Gender; Jobs; and Public-Private Partnerships. The Global Practices and the Cross-Cutting Solution Areas, in concert with the WBG’s six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, design solutions that address clients’ most pressing developmental challenges, and ultimately, enable the WBG to achieve its twin goals by 2030: (1) End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3%; and (2) Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country.
THE TRANSPORT & ICT GLOBAL PRACTICE
Virtual and physical connectivity is a critical factor of competitiveness, economic growth and inclusion. Yet, a third of the world’s population lacks access to an all-weather road, two-thirds of people live more than one hour away from a large city, and 4 billion people lack access to the internet. The World Bank Group is the largest provider of development finance for transport globally, with an active transport portfolio of $40 billion (as of January 2017). More than three quarters of World Bank projects include an ICT-related component, and ICT specific projects account for $1.2 billion of the Bank’s portfolio.
The Transport and ICT Global Practice (T&I GP) seeks to connect people, goods and services to jobs, schools, hospitals, local, regional and international markets, using faster, cheaper, safer and more efficient solutions, while keeping traffic fatalities, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and local air pollution in check. It responds to the needs of developing countries and transition economies for modern and reliable transport and ICT solutions. These needs are growing exponentially under the combined effect of globalization, population growth, rapid urbanization, economic development, and technological progress – making transport and ICT a cornerstone of the global development agenda.
The T&I Global Practice is led by a Senior Director and two Directors, supported by nine Regional Practice Managers (PMs) for the delivery of transport operations and ASA, two PMs in charge of ICT operations and ASA, one Strategy and Operations PM (PMSO) in charge of knowledge and operational support, one Lead Economist, and Global Leads shaping the agenda around critical areas such as green transport & ICT, development corridors and regional integration, and urban mobility.
Other cross-cutting topics include road asset management and rural accessibility, road safety, broadband access for all, digital platforms and solutions, leveraging the private sector, railway development, air transport, gender and FCV. To execute its work program, T&I has established important partnerships inside and outside the WBG, including with other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. The Transport Unit in the Africa region has a rapidly growing portfolio of about 45 projects under implementation or preparation, with an aggregate value of over US$ 7.5 billion.
This portfolio is increasing by 5-10 projects per year, with a slightly smaller number closing over the same period. The recent record replenishment of IDA17, together with the greater focus on fragile states, gender equality, transformational projects, greater private sector participation, and climate change, is likely to lead to a further increase in both the diversity and scale of the portfolio. South Africa, Urban Mobility and Urban Development issues South Africa (SA)’s large cities need to play a major role to sustain economic growth and continue poverty reduction.
Currently, more than 60% of South Africans live in cities, where a significant share of the country’s GDP is generated, and urbanization will grow to 71,3% by 2030 and nearly 80% by 2050. This implies that a further 7,8 million people will live in our cities by 2030, followed by an additional 6 million people by 2050. SA’s economy largely reflects this situation, with urban areas hosting the vast majority of economic activity. Yet, as the pace of urban population growth outstrips economic growth South African cities are increasingly becoming home to large poor populations. The situation is exacerbated with apartheid patterns of urban spatial segregation, with poor people located in peripheral areas, far from social and economic opportunities.
Against this backdrop, public transport has been a long standing concern for planners and decision makers in SA, as it plays a pivotal role in city efficiency and productivity, and can be a catalyst to build a more equitable society.
Currently, cities are saddled with poor quality of public transport services that are in need of subsidy. The majority of urban dwellers also use informal minibus taxis, which while very effective in transporting people, have considerable challenges with regard to the quality and safety of the services they provide. Cities also face a huge burden of providing transport services for distant settlements of workers, a legacy of the apartheid era. These involve a high cost to the public exchequer. There are long standing contracts for such services, which are challenging to amend.
Further, these contracts while providing a useful service perpetuate the problem of people living in far flung areas, away from areas of work and education. Government is undertaking a significant program of transport reform to reshape South African cities, and improve public transport service provision. In 2009, a new law, the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) was enacted.
This law provides the potential for overall planning and regulatory responsibility to be devolved to the cities for certain functions, and offers in return the National Government’s financial support. It also expects a significant improvement in the quality of transport services, requiring an Integrated Mobility Plan and the Rapid Transport Network to be developed by cities. Another key driver of transport reform is the Public Transport Network Grant, PTNG (Previously the Public Transport Infrastructure and System’s Grant) created ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The PTNG is a conditional grant developed to provide for the planning, construction and improvement of new and existing public transport and non-motorised modes. Although the NLTA has been a step in the right direction, its effectiveness has been inhibited by at least two factors: finances and capacity. Cities have adopted a limited and piecemeal approach to its implementation because realistically they neither have the capacity nor the financial resources to do so. In this context, the SA National Government is being supported with advisory and technical assistance by the World Bank to advance its South Africa’s National Treasury (NT) Cities Support Program (CSP) and other urban transport initiatives.
The CSP includes an urban transport pillar to support the implementation of strategic interventions in the urban transport field. Through its advisory and technical assistance, the Bank has been supporting the national (NT and National Department of Transport (NDOT)) and local government strengthen public transport service delivery and management capacity, by (i) supporting the Government refine policy for National Government financial participation in the urban transport sector and bolster implementation of new policy; (ii) develop and implement an Urban Transport Capacity Building Program for cities and national government; (iii) assist in providing support to leverage of public transport systems as drivers of spatial change in cities.
A second phase Reimbursable Service Agreement (RAS) has been agreed with National Government to continue working on urban mobility issues, and expand the impact and scope of the initial instruments (a first RAS). Likewise, this intervention has leveraged further donor interest and financial support, and currently there is a SECO Trust Fund underway to further the CSP Urban Transport Pillar, and another SECO Trust Fund to expand intervention targeted at secondary/medium-sized South African cities.
An urban transport specialist is required to help deliver the Bank’s urban transport activities under the RAS, SECO Trust Funds, and any other operations (lending and/or analytical services) that might emerge in the near future. The urban transport specialist will also be expected to coordinate work with other CSP pillars (land use, housing, economic development, urbanization review, etc.) and provide cross support to other Bank analytical or operational engagements/portfolios either in other transport subsectors in South Africa or other countries in Africa or globally.
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 term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities
Role & Responsibilities
The position requires experience related to public transport planning, public transport system reform, public transport policy and financing, and/or institutional, regulatory, managerial and financing aspects of public transport. The position also requires project management experience and/or experience in the implementation of large consulting services, preferably of advisory nature. The selected candidate will be expected to eventually perform the function of Task Team Leader (TTL), being responsible for the management of advisory services and a selected number of urban transport projects or engagements that can include for instance loan operations, policy dialogue, technical assistance and advisory or analytical services.
The candidate will also contribute to efforts in knowledge management to ensure local and global best practices and lessons learned in the transport sector including critical cross-cutting themes like accessibility, affordability, climate impact, land-use and housing, transport and city finance, health and safety issues are incorporated in the broader urban mobility dialogue in South Africa.
The primary objectives of the assignment will be to:
- Carry out the daily management and implementation of activities of the Urban Mobility Pillar under the SECO Trust Fund and upcoming South Africa Urban RAS II to support the CSP, which will include translating the overall strategy into work plans, preparing Terms of Reference (ToR) and hiring consultants, coordinating the overall activities, monitoring time schedules, supervising their activities, carrying out technical work, interacting with the clients and other stakeholders, and carrying out the day-to-day RAS and trust fund management.
- Support project teams in South Africa in the preparation of new operations (loans or analytical activities) and in the supervision of ongoing operations, including the SECO Trust Fund to support Secondary/medium-sized cities.
- Participate in missions; helps plan and provides technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope; prepares notes, minutes for meetings and missions aide memoires.
- Participate in the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport sector by participating in T&I GP Global Solutions Groups (GSGs) or Communities of Practice (CoPs), exchanging of good practices, drafting of technical notes, and mentoring less experienced colleagues. This will contribute the creation and dissemination of new knowledge, and improving the existing knowledge base and practices.
- Lead or participate in cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of policy notes, updates of the Systematic Country Diagnostics and/or the Country Partnership Framework, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, or research and policy development activities on the topics/sections pertaining to urban transport.
- In carrying out the activities above, liaise with NT counterparts, client Metros and cities, the National Department of Transport (NDOT) and other stakeholders in the transport sector (e.g. PRASA, transport operators) in order to plan and execute project activities.
- Supporting Bank’s Technical Task Team Leaders (TTLs) in operational matters, contributing to the production of key deliverables, mission preparation and execution.
- Assisting Bank’s TTLs in following up with consultants and other Bank specialists on project tasks and coordinating in project activities.
- Works independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior specialists.
- Stay abreast of recent developments in the urban transport sector world-wide, and on cross-cutting issues, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position.
Selection Criteria
The position requires a motivated and seasoned urban transport specialist with strong analytical and interpersonal skills, a commitment to work in a multi-sectoral environment, and strong experience in operational and analytic support to the urban transport sector.
The specialist will be expected to demonstrate the following abilities
- Perform at a qualified professional level, requiring practical application of professional knowledge at a broad-based level to complete difficult assignments.
- Perform fully professional level research, analyses, diagnosis and proposes solutions to moderately complex problems in the field of specialization.
- Seek common ground and negotiates issues with internal and/or external clients to recommend for higher approval.
- Prepare a variety of written products and communications, including important components of major reports.
- Contact predominantly with counterparts at the working level in national governments or other businesses and organizations. Selection criteria:
- Master’s degree in transport, urban/city planning, civil engineering, economics, finance, public management or other disciplines relevant to the urban transport sector or equivalent with 5 years working experience.
- Past operational experience in urban transport sector, in areas such as urban transport planning and operations, public transport financing and/or working with multilateral organizations and/or non-governmental organizations on urban transport.
- In-depth knowledge of urban transport development issues, as they are manifested in South African cities including their socio-economic and spatial influences. Strong theoretical base combining a broad grasp of relevant theory and principles and of involved practices and precedent. Ability to translate theory into practical applications in context of World Bank Group work.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including a strong command of all forms of communication with messages delivered in a consistently effective, timely and engaging manner. This must include excellent writing skills, including the ability to write reports, briefs and/or policy memos to a fully professional technical standard, requiring no additional copy editing or supervision.
- Outstanding client orientation, including strong client engagement, business development, and contributions to policy dialogue at various levels of government.
- Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
- Prior knowledge and working experience in South Africa is preferred, including a knowledge of the local political economy context, institutional environment especially local government, and public transport sectoral issues. The specialist will be expected to be located in Pretoria, South Africa. Relocation to Pretoria is required. The specialist will be expected to frequently travel to other South African cities for short missions (on an as needed basis) and, occasionally, globally.
Competencies:
- Integrative Skills. – Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.
- Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
- Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
- Urban Transport Policy, Strategy, and Institutions – Familiarity with urban transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
- Urban Services Delivery – Foundational knowledge of urban services delivery, with ability to apply to operations and analytical work.
- 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 terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
More Information
- Job City Pretoria
