Energy Specialist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

21h•Onsite

About The Position

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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse, predominantly middle-income countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. ECA countries face structural and legacy issues affecting their economic growth and job creation, including an incomplete transition to a market economy and declining productivity, weak institutional capacity, dependence on fossil fuels, limited physical and digital connectivity and, in many instances, aging populations. Recent shocks have further exacerbated these challenges, with significant impacts on the level, inclusiveness and sustainability of growth and overall living standards. The World Bank Group is working closely with client countries in the region to address these issues, with increasing focus on productivity growth and job creation, energy security and water management, human capital and economic inclusion, and physical and digital connectivity. The region has a strong lending pipeline and a large portfolio of projects spanning a number of sectors. In addition, knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region. Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Vertical is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. Energy is at the heart of development. Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 -- is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change. The GP has a strong engagement in development policy operations in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA), where energy and related reforms are key components/pillars of the economic reform agenda. The GP works on a range of regional platforms and programs such as the Energy Community of South East Europe, the Central Asia Regional Economic Commission (CAREC) and a variety of multilateral partnerships with the European Commission and other institutions. Overall, ECA serves 31 client countries with a total population of about 916 million, with a majority living in middle-income economies. Within EEX, the ECA unit (IECE1) manages a large and diverse portfolio of active projects in about 20 client countries, including investments and advisory services supporting the: (a) scale-up of energy efficiency investments and programs through a range of programs such as credit lines, energy efficiency revolving funds for public and municipal investments, development of energy service companies and support for residential programs; (b) development of national and regional electricity markets in Southeast Europe, Central Asia and Turkey – with a growing focus on regional gas sector development; (c) rehabilitation and modernizations of power system infrastructure, hydropower generation, district heating networks, gas networks; (d) support to decarbonize the energy sector with a focus on renewable energy development and accompanying regulatory and transaction support; (e) integrated assessment, planning and development of energy and water sectors, particularly at the sub-regional level in Southeast Europe and Central Asia; and (f) implementation of reforms in the areas of achieving structural and regulatory consistency with the Energy Community Treaty (for countries that are signatories), sector governance and tariff transitions.

Requirements

A Masters’ level degree in science, engineering, finance, economics, business administration or equivalent areas.
At least five years of relevant experience in the energy sector with demonstrated ability to engage credibly on a range of issues in developing countries.
Knowledge of the Central Asia energy sector context, in particular Uzbekistan, as well as of the EU acquis pertaining to contracting parties of the Energy Community and prior experience working on investment and analytical activities in these countries.
Direct experience in at least two of the following areas: energy efficiency, energy sector economics, energy sector policy and regulation, energy and climate policy, renewable energy, transmission and distribution infrastructure, utility financial analysis and/or utility reform, power pools and regional integration.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills and ability to work independently.
Ability to present, summarize, and communicate complex content, for example in visually focused PPTs.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Russian are required, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Bank and MIGA guarantees as well as experience in collaboration with IFC would be desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide operational support to energy projects in Central Asia (CA) and Western Balkans (WB6) countries and other energy programs in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region.
Participate in preparation and supervision missions; provide inputs into project designs and institutional arrangements; prepare project budgets and implementation schedules; assist in review of consultant reports and project implementation plans; provide inputs to mission Aide Memoires; draft Implementation Supervision Reports (ISRs); track overall project progress and identify issues requiring attention; participate in key project workshops, trainings and other events; support in procurement of consultants for operational needs; prepare case studies, briefs, and notes, presentations on country programs, internal strategy papers.
Lead and provide specific inputs to advisory and analytical work in CA and WB6 countries following the guidance from task teams and the management.
Conduct economic analysis, review and analyze policy and regulatory frameworks, analyze energy balances/demand, prepare renewable and energy efficiency resources assessment and planning, contribute to the design of renewable energy financing instruments, and related work.
Support policy dialogue and advise the clients, the World Bank team and the management on policy and regulatory issues in the energy sector.
Represent the energy team and Task Team Leaders (TTLs) at project meetings and workshops, follow-up on key government actions (i.e., procurement, reporting), proactively identify and resolve Bank/client relationship issues, monitor changes in government that may affect the energy programs.
Contribute to the Maximizing Finance for Development approach with the objective to help ECA countries maximize their development resources by drawing on a range of financing sources and sustainable private sector solutions.
Support teams in liaising with key internal and external partners, respond to routine inquiries from clients, donors, NGOs, etc. on Bank energy activities.
Carry out other ad hoc tasks as requested by the TTLs and the EEX Practice Manager for ECA, which may include preparation of briefings, organization of workshops and seminars, development of portfolio summaries, support key knowledge exchange events, coordinating publication of unit reports, and providing support to energy projects and programs in other ECA countries depending on business needs.