Private sector specialist

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group (WBG) 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. https://www.worldbank.org.

The Finance, Competitiveness & Investment (FCI) Global Practice supports countries in developing sound financial systems, fostering private sector–led growth, and creating markets. Part of the Prosperity vertical, FCI combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector-led growth and help create markets in client countries. FCI’s core lines of business include: (a) Financial Stability & Integrity; (b) Financial Inclusion, Infrastructure & Access;(c) Long-Term Finance; (d) Climate & Risk Management; (e) Markets and Technology; and (g) Investment and Competition. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci.

The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves twenty two countries across different income groups, of which fourteen are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers (Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen), with a total of 251 projects and over $51 bn in total commitment. The mission of the region is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance.

The FCI Unit 1 (EMAF1) in the MENAAP region manages a growing operations portfolio and an exciting knowledge program in Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen. EMAF1’s program in Djibouti includes 4 lending operations (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Business Development Services Project, Affordable Housing Finance Project, Economic Diversification Program-for-Results, and De-risking, inclusion and value enhancement of pastoral economies in the Horn of Arica) as well as other technical assistance activities.

EMAF1 is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Private Sector Specialist to support the development and delivery of the private sector development program in Djibouti. This is a local term (3-year) position based in the World Bank's office in Djibouti.

Duties and Responsibilities

Policy Dialogue & Analytical Work

• Contribute to policy dialogue with government and stakeholders on private sector development, investment opportunities, jobs, and trade.
• Support or co-lead the development of high-quality analytical and advisory products, including policy notes, briefs, market intelligence syntheses, sector deep-dives, value-chain assessments, and financial/PSD diagnostics.
• Provide actionable recommendations for private sector recovery, SME/entrepreneurship growth, access to finance, value-chain upgrading, trade competitiveness, diversification, and investment climate reform.
• Support or co-lead lending, advisory, and knowledge engagements, ensuring quality inputs across WBG operations.

Cross-WBG Coordination & Strategic Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with the FCI team, IFC/MIGA, CMU, global practices, and cross-Bank units to ensure coherent private sector solutions and reforms.
• Embrace “One WBG” approaches in pipeline identification, upstream collaboration, de-risking, and blended finance opportunities aligned with Djibouti priorities.
• Prepare timely inputs for strategic documents such as CPFs, SCDs, CPSDs, and CMU briefings.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government counterparts, private sector actors, financial institutions, civil society, and development partners.
• Facilitate formal and informal engagements—including consultations, donor coordination, and outreach meetings—to ensure alignment and reduce duplication.

Project Operations & Implementation Support

• Support or co-lead implementation of FCI-led and cross-GP operations, including missions, aide-mémoire, ISRs, results monitoring, and risk/issue tracking.
• Troubleshoot operational bottlenecks (targeting, data collection, coordination, fiduciary/safeguard interfaces).
• Manage consultants, including ToRs, recruitment, and quality review of deliverables.

Knowledge Dissemination & Outreach

• Organize and facilitate knowledge-sharing activities—roundtables, consultations, workshops—to integrate market perspectives and disseminate results.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s or higher degree in economics, finance, business, public policy, or related fields.
• Minimum of five years of technical experience and expertise in one of the relevant sectors investment climate, value chain, PPP, SOEs and trade engagement.
• Solid knowledge of, and demonstrated practical experience in, one or more topic areas covered by the program particularly, trade/investment policy and promotion, business environment and regulation reforms, special economic zones/Industrial parks, entrepreneurship and SME support.
• Intimate understanding of the key challenges and constrains impacting the private sector in Djibouti.
• Strong experience working in Djibouti related to private sector development, investment climate reforms, entrepreneurship, SME development, trade, competition policy, and value-chain development.
• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
• Established inter-personal skills with proven ability to work cooperatively within a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary country team and with other groups throughout the Bank, development partners, and governmental institutions.
• Experience in project implementation, M&E, consultant management, and operational troubleshooting.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and assess policy issues and play an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.

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.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who: Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries. Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making. Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.