Transport Specialist

World Bank Group • Washington, DC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on AFW countries to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent.

In AFW, the World Bank is a leading partner, with a growing portfolio of more than 400 projects in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, and water and sanitation—all aimed at supporting job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the past 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub Saharan Africa, making this region central to our mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries advance their development.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

AFW Transport Unit (IAWT3)

The Transport Specialist will be based in Washington and will join the Western and Central Africa Transport Unit (IAWT3) of the World Bank's Transport Global Practice. The unit supports 9 countries across the region through a growing portfolio exceeding US$3 billion in lending operations, technical assistance, and analytical work aimed at improving transport systems and connectivity. IAWT3's portfolio covers a wide range of transport interventions, including rural and urban roads, urban mobility, regional economic corridors, road safety, asset management, and institutional strengthening, with a strong focus on delivering sustainable and inclusive transport solutions in low-income and fragile environments.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Transport Economics, Transport Geography, Economics, Engineering, Urban Planning, or related field.
• Minimum 5years of relevant experience, including work on transport projects in Africa.
• Advanced proficiency in GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS) and Python (data analysis, modeling, visualization, web frameworks).
• Experience developing web-based analytical tools and dashboards.
• Experience in economic appraisal of transport investments required.
• Fluency in English and French required.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and proactive problem-solving approach.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills in multicultural environments.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with HDM-4, RED, RONET, or similar tools are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the transport program — including operations, technical studies, analytics, and advisory services — in the countries covered by the unit.
• Contribute to the development of GIS and spatial analytics by developing and managing geospatial databases for corridor and urban transport projects; conducting accessibility, traffic flow, and logistics network analysis; and supporting climate risk mapping and spatial prioritization of investments.
• Develop and maintain Python-based models for transport demand and traffic forecasting, cost-benefit analysis and economic appraisal, corridor flow and price pass-through simulations, and toll revenue and maintenance optimization analysis.
• Design and deploy web-based dashboards and applications for project economic analysis, corridor performance monitoring, road asset management visualization, and project management tracking.
• Contribute to PAD economic analysis sections and analytical reports.
• Support transport corridors and urban mobility diagnostics in Africa.
• Participate in missions and client engagement activities.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level