THE WORLD BANK GROUP’S VISION AND STRATEGY
The global development community is at an auspicious turning point in history. Thanks to the success of the past few decades and favorable economic growth developing countries now have an unprecedented opportunity to end extreme poverty within a generation. This is the vision of the WBG: to eradicate extreme poverty by reducing the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day to 3 percent by 2030, and promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom-40 percent in every country.
To achieve this vision, the WBG Board of Governors has approved a strategy for the organization. This strategy leverages, for the first time, the combined strength of the WBG institutions and their unique ability to partner with the public and private sectors to deliver customized development solutions backed by finance, world class knowledge and convening services. The strategy has three components: (1) maximizing development impact by engaging country clients in identifying and tackling the most difficult development challenges; (2) promoting scaled-up partnerships that are strategically aligned with the goals; and (3) crowding in public and private resources, expertise and ideas.
The architecture underpinning the strategy and instrumental to its success is the establishment of fourteen Global Practices and five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas that, in concert with the WBG Regions, will design solutions that address clients’ most pressing developmental challenges, and ultimately, enable the WBG to meet its twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.
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 2013, the WBG committed $52.6 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $16.3 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188 member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 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 is introducing fourteen Global Practices as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.
REGIONAL CONTEXT
The Middle East and North Africa region is in turmoil. Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen are in civil war, causing untold damage to human lives and physical infrastructure. Fifteen million people have fled their homes, many to fragile or economically strapped countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Djibouti and Tunisia, giving rise to the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. Palestinians are reeling from deadly attacks and blockades. With recruits from all over the world, radicalized terrorist groups and sectarian factions like Daesh in Iraq and Syria are spreading violence, threatening governments’ ability to perform basic functions. Countries undergoing political transitions, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan, are having to address security concerns over growth-promoting policies. The relatively peaceful oil exporters, such as Algeria, Iran and the GCC, are grappling with low oil prices alongside chronic youth unemployment and undiversified economies.
Given the ongoing fragility and conflict in the region, the World Bank Group has prepared a new regional strategy for the Middle East and North Africa. Instead of taking conflict and violence as given and working around it, this new strategy, entitled – “Economic and Social Inclusion for Peace and Stability in the Middle East and North Africa: A New Strategy for the World Bank Group” – puts the goal of promoting peace and social stability in the MENA region at its center. The strategy is built around four pillars (“the 4 R’s”) that respond to both the underlying causes of conflict and violence as well as the urgent consequences though development interventions that foster inclusion and shared prosperity. The four pillars of the strategy are as follows:
(i) Renewing the social contract – to generate a new development model that is built on greater citizen trust; more effective protection of the poor and vulnerable; inclusive and accountable service delivery; and a stronger private sector that can create jobs and opportunities for MENA’s youth;
(ii) Regional cooperation – particularly around regional public goods and sectors such as education, water, and energy so as to foster greater trust and collaboration across MENA countries;
(iii) Resilience – to refugee and migration shocks by promoting the welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities by focusing on building trust and building their assets; and
(iv) Reconstruction and recovery – through a dynamic approach that brings in external partners, leverages large scale financing, and move beyond humanitarian response to longer-term development wherever and whenever conflict subsides.
In implementing this strategy, the WBG will rely heavily on both deepening and expanding partnerships with national, regional, and global actors. With respect to financing, the WBG will continue to expand its investment in the region, but in addition to our own funds, the core focus will be on leveraging and mobilizing global resources to meet the extraordinary financing needs of the region through innovative mechanisms. Finally, our knowledge work (including our growing RAS program) will be of prime importance in informing and mobilizing the support for the strategy and will lead (rather than follow) our lending.
UNIT CONTEXT
The MNA External and Corporate Relations (MNAEC) team, comprising approximately 25 staff and consultants, manages strategic communications for the region and is responsible for building understanding and support for the work of the Bank Group by ensuring the full spectrum of views and information is brought into the Bank Group’s decision-making.
With the launch of the new MNA regional strategy, the unit’s work will be critical in communicating the objectives and results of the new strategic pillars. MNAEC will also play a pivotal role in assisting the regional management team with outreach to help foster the global, regional, and national partnerships that will be critical in implementing the new strategy.
In this context, the region is looking for a Communications Manager to work in the MNA Vice Presidency and oversee strategic communications in the region. The selected candidate will report to the MNA Director of Strategy and Operations and will form part of the Regional Management Team (RMT). S/he will be responsible for leading and managing a team of communications professionals across the Region as well as in Washington, DC. The Manager should have a sound understanding of the MNA Region and the Bank, as well as extensive experience of external affairs, reputational risk management, media and communications.
NOTES:
*The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
**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.
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 3 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The Communications Manager is accountable for performing the responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the technical competencies listed below in his or her capacity as a member of the MNA Regional Management Team (RMT). Accountability means managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, and compliance with Bank policies and procedures.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Communications Manager would lead the MNAEC team, providing direction, and intellectual and operational leadership in strategically repositioning MNA’s external communications functions to support the new regional strategy. S/he will provide expert advice and guidance vis-à-vis stakeholder outreach and analyses, project and corporate reputational risk issues, dialogue and engagement around analytical work, and public information systems for the MNAVP and broader RMT. S/he will also work closely with the Vice President, and Director for Strategy and Operations, as well as with Country Directors/Managers and Practice Managers, while leveraging expertise within ECR for proactive communication with the full range of local and international Bank Group constituents.
The managerial aspect is significant in scope in that it involves management of over 20 communications staff and ETCs (plus STCs) located in six country offices and HQ. This includes recruitment, evaluation, and career development of staff in conjunction with other managers where applicable.
In addition to the responsibilities and accountabilities outlined below, the Manager will act as a senior spokesperson for the MNA Vice Presidency, where appropriate, demonstrating knowledge of relevant development issues and engendering confidence and respect with media and other stakeholders. The Manager will be part of the MNA Region Management Team and represent the Region in the Bank-wide Communications Network (CommNet).
Candidates for this position must have served successfully in senior communications positions requiring astute political judgment, leadership, and innovation in the use of communications tools and approaches.
Key responsibilities and underlying activities of the MNAEC Communications Manager include:
Strategic Communications Leadership:
• Design and develop a comprehensive and innovative regional communications strategy to complement the new Regional Strategy so that its objectives and actions are understood and disseminated across the region, and within the Bank. This should be tailored to the relevant political environment in different country contexts and based on an understanding of risks, sensitivities and opportunities, as well as supporting WBG’s corporate agenda
• Work as a strategic communications advisor to the MNAVP and actively contribute to efforts to plan, organize, and manage activities and events involving the VP and other senior managers, including ensuring that maximum benefit is leveraged from senior managers’ travels and participation at events
• Help the region develop proactive strategies for communicating on major issues, critical campaigns, matters of reputational risk/significance, corporate interest and leadership and change communication
• Advise management and operational teams on political economy questions, opinion trends, news developments, and changing conditions that may impact the WBG and its work.
• Provide communication guidance to WBG management, senior members of operational teams, and senior government officials
• Provide intelligence/guidance related to the external and internal communication landscape
Relationship Management (Internal and External):
• Create and systematically maintain networks of high-level communications contacts with external audiences, including the media, governmental agencies, international institutions, and civil society (NGOs, business organizations, labor unions, parliaments, community organizations, women’s and youth groups, etc.) in the relevant countries and sectors;
• Develop strategies for outreach to above groups and constituencies, and build a rapport with them on behalf of the Region, and leverage technology and social media
• Build strategic partnerships both inside and outside the WBG to deepen understanding of the Bank’s operational objectives and ensure recognition of development results achieved
• Serve as the lead media relations expert, promote effective coordination with ECR on all roll-outs, product launches, and significant newsworthy issues
• Ensure corporate alignment of the communications activities of the region and maintain close linkages with senior management ensuring that evolving priorities are being addressed
• Responsible for MNA’s external online presence, including efficient and effective delivery of ongoing and new online products and services.
Business and Resource Management (incl. operations, and quality control):
• Oversee and facilitate implementation the full range of MNAEC services based on a realistic work program and consolidate this work program along with the associated budget, performance indicators, and timetable
• Oversee preparation, production and dissemination of a range of communication products, including press releases, web features, multi-media productions, speeches, and OpEds. Internal briefing notes, fact sheets, Q&As and political analyses
• Set standards, oversee quality, and ensure that the team is meeting WBG guidelines for structure, format, style and timeliness
• Develop indicators, together with the RMT to assist in monitoring and evaluating the communications activities, both on a regional and sector basis
• Manage MNAEC’s budget ensuring effective use of available resources, and planning budgets to reflect demands. Ensure that deployment of Bank resources is consistent with Resource Management rules, policies and internal controls
• Ensure the MNAEX unit meets its business objectives, and oversee the quality and completion of all deliverables
• Demonstrate results through a strong focus on measuring and documenting
Knowledge Management:
• Manage complex communication interventions on projects and programs, World Bank knowledge products, and Bank-led campaigns
• Share knowledge in the form of best practices, communities of practice, lessons learned or other templates with colleagues across the Region and with other departments through ECR so that the larger World Bank Group benefits from achievements in the MENA Region
• Capture lessons of experience within MNAEC, assuring that teams benefit from others’ innovations and successes
• Work to enhance collaboration in the Region particularly, around ‘connecting the dots’, alignment around institutional objectives, and other opportunities to blur lines for greater organizational cohesion
People and Talent Management:
• Oversee the outputs, professional development and learning for about 25 communications professionals in Headquarters and the country offices
• Undertake responsibility for training, career development, and performance of staff, including those based in the field, and manage recruitment and evaluation (in conjunction with other managers, where applicable)
• Structure and manage the MNAEX team to ensure maximum pro-activity and responsiveness to the region’s communications and outreach agenda; help staff fulfill their communications role through advising, coaching, and training
• Manage and oversee the engagement of consultants
• Grow and mentor staff and support staff learning
• Establish high professional and ethical standards and ensure that staff are meeting them.
Risk Management and Advisory Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership on communication activities that are considered ‘complex’ in that they involve high risk areas, senior leadership, Board engagement, or regional challenges
• Anticipate critical communications and reputational challenges and formulates credible public positions. Act as a watchdog for reputational risk and risk-management efforts
• Support Director of Strategy and Operations in making mid-course corrections of strategies and approaches
• Working with operational partners, identify complex, high-risk projects requiring multi-faceted communication support, mobilizing teams to employ a mix of traditional and on-line interventions to sustain a flow of accurate information, listen to stakeholders, address legitimate critiques and concerns, and provide space for allies, advocates and beneficiaries
• Monitor and prioritize communication demands and leverage support for areas requiring additional help while recognizing broader departmental constraints and priorities
Selection Criteria:
Selection Criteria
• Minimum Education/Experience: Typical candidates will possess a relevant Master’s degree in International Relations, Communications, Journalism, or Business, with 15 years of experience in relevant positions, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Mastery of oral and written expression in English, basic ability in French. Arabic language skills will be a strong plus.
• Communications Strategies: Demonstrated proficiency in planning and execution of communication strategies. Can share expertise with others, empowering teams of communications professionals to design and deliver communications interventions that support informed decisions and mitigate risk. Proven ability to identify and assess reputational risks, and, when necessary, to lead crisis response efforts.
• Relationships: Interacts with partners and stakeholders in ways that inspire confidence, trust, and respect. Must be able to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively and to listen to and reflect on the ideas and insights of others. Acts as a “thought leader” building networks within relevant communities.
• Broad Business Thinking: Maintains a deep understanding of business objectives, and can set priorities and design interventions to advance those objectives. Makes clear decisions after considering options and consequences.
• Client Understanding and Advising: Demonstrated capacity to act as a credible business partner, working within a long-term VPU-wide perspective in addressing clients’ needs. Excellent written and oral communications skills and ability to help internal and external clients understand complicated challenges.
• Teamwork: Proven ability to lead dispersed teams representing multiples cultures, perspectives and talents. Must be capable of providing coaching, oversight and quality review. Should foster openness, collaboration, candor and solution-oriented behaviors. Must look to build talent for the future, identifying opportunities for mentoring and professional growth, and rewarding innovation and commitment.
• Communications Knowledge: Strong track record using the full panoply of communications tools and methodologies, ranging from citizen consultations to web publishing, social media and multi-media production. Experience choosing the most effective approaches in particular contexts and situations.
• Regional expertise: Deep technical and operational experience working on and knowledge/understanding of the context and development challenges of the Middle East and North Africa region. Must be experienced in sharing this knowledge with others, and applying it in within rapidly changing scenarios.
• Integrity: Must bring the highest personal integrity to all professional dealings, modeling ethical behaviors for others. Must be able to apply knowledge of Bank’s ethical standards.
BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:
Bank Managerial Competencies:
Courage of your Convictions:
Outstanding WBG managers demonstrate the confidence in their convictions and the integrity to express themselves to peers and superiors even if it is easier or more comfortable to refrain from speaking up. They have the confidence, balanced with humility and judgment, to operate with the intent of doing what is right for the WBG and its clients. Key themes include: confidence, resilience, agility, judgment and adaptability.
GH level description: Leads in a decisive, firm and fair manner, inviting, Encouraging, and listening to all other’s opinions and suggestions and making decisions based on expertise, data, and an understanding of what is best. Facilitates open debate and remains confident when challenged, stating the rationale for one’s views clearly. After stating one’s views clearly and confidently, stands by team and organizational decisions regardless of personal viewpoint.
Leading the Team for Impact:
Outstanding WBG managers focus on the WBG purpose and mission in order to provide on-going clarity and vision to their teams. They align capabilities and resources around the WBG mission. They create an energizing and empowering work environment where people are engaged and have the resources necessary to do their jobs, while holding team members accountable for results and improvement. Key themes include: building, focusing, constructing, empowering and aligning teams through clarity and resources.
GH level description: Obtains the necessary resources to enable the team to do their jobs, including hiring or attracting the best people with the right skills from a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. Directly addresses performance related issues, consistently motivates team to high performance standards. Looks for ways to differentiate rewards to recognize individual and team performance and give credit where credit is due. Protects the team and their actions/ decisions from negative influences when actions/decisions are based on sound judgment and in line with WBG values/mission.
Influencing Across Boundaries
Outstanding WBG managers persuade, convince and create buy-in for ideas and initiatives in order to advance their own goals and strategies, consistent with the WBG mission and vision. Key themes include: having a positive impact on others through varying sophistication of influence techniques, scope of impact and effective navigation through the culture.
GH level description: Has broad networks and is able to use them to influence indirectly within and outside of own unit or department. Leverages understanding of the informal organizational network in order to develop trusting relationships; for example, knows who influences whom and seeks their involvement in influencing the target audience. Invests personal energy and time in building buy-in to ideas, strategic direction or key decisions. Recognizes that diversity may lead to different opinions and values and ensures that its impact is incorporated into their approach to persuading.
Fostering Openness to New Ideas
Outstanding WBG managers create open and innovative climates for the people around them. They are transparent, open to divergent views and encouraging of these attributes in others. They promote broad thinking and frank discussion, welcoming others’ input into the decision-making process, and they build on others’ ideas. Key themes include: openness, humility, true two-way communication, strategic thinking and the space to be innovative without negative repercussions.
GH level description: Invites others into the decision-making process through collaboration, group discussion and debate. Creates an environment in which respect, equity, and positive recognition of differences are cultivated. Adjusts tactics or approach in response to input from others. Requests feedback with the intention of taking action based on consideration of that feedback. Encourages others to seek diverse views from across the organization. Identifies ways to ensure that diversity of thought is incorporated into and strengthens our overall solutions and approaches to problem solving.
Building Talent for the Future
Outstanding WBG managers build people’s capabilities for the future by supporting and leveraging the diversity of staff in terms of their race, gender, nationality, culture, educational and professional backgrounds. They create growth opportunities for others, encouraging them to stretch beyond their current experience or comfort zone. They provide ongoing feedback and development, including long term career development and mentoring, as well as hold their team members accountable for developing others. Key themes include: Supporting the growth of all staff to further their development technically, professionally and personally to better address clients and WBG’s mission.
GH level description: Provides challenging stretch assignments to build employee capabilities and increase confidence for handling situations in the future. Broadens others’ understanding; for example, exposes them to broader business issues and provides growth opportunities even when this involves risk for meeting short term goals. Encourages others and provides feedback after a setback to help them learn from their experience, expressing confidence in their ability to grow. Takes ownership for people that they develop and promote. Consistently finds ways to identify and spotlight diverse talent and provide them with tangible opportunities to develop and broaden their skill sets.
Core Competencies
Lead and Innovate – Inspires and influences others to drive innovation.
Deliver Results for Clients – Acts as a trusted, strategic advisor, partnering with clients to deliver results.
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Leads collaboration across WBG and with partners drawing on robust professional networks.
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Establishes an environment where knowledge is created, applied and shared
Smart Decisions – Makes timely decisions that have a broad impact.
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Collectively known as the World Bank, the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) and its sister organization the…
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