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The World Bank’s Infrastructure Vice Presidency (INF VPU) is keen to increase recruitment of highly qualified staff for careers in transport, energy, digital development, infrastructure finance and infrastructure economics. To this end, the INF VPU is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background.
The Infrastructure Practice Group is in charge of developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. This is done by scaling up investments in critical infrastructure sectors, leveraging innovations that drive impact and promoting integration across sectors and regions at a scale that encourages the participation of the private sector. Our infrastructure interventions make a difference to outcomes in human capital, economic inclusion and climate change, and promote stability in fragile and conflict affected states. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.
The South Asia Transport Practice (ISAT1) is part of the South Asia Infrastructure Department (ISADR) that includes Energy and Transport, and works closely with Extractives, Digital Development, and Infrastructure Finance, Public Private Partnerships and Guarantees.
ISAT1 focuses on supporting clients across South Asia on developing transport connectivity solutions that address their needs for basic access, as well as trade and economic integration in an efficient and resilient manner that minimizes climate emissions, local pollution, safety concerns and other negative impacts. The practice is engaged in some form in all the countries of South Asia i.e. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The portfolio includes 28 active lending operations with commitments of over $7billion that include investments in inland waterways, urban mobility, rail, highways at the national and provincial level as level as rural roads; a rich analytical portfolio that focuses on regional integration, urban and e-mobility, climate resilience, multi-modal logistics and road safety and a strong tradition of policy support to national and sub-national clients. ISAT1 is a decentralized unit with two thirds of the staff located in the field.
In Nepal, ISAT1 focuses on (i) Strategic Road Network, which serves as the backbone for the physical and economic integration of the country and for regional connectivity and trade; (ii) Provincial and Local Roads, which provide access to economic opportunities, social and administrative services, and relief following natural calamities; and (iii) associated thematic challenges such as road safety, climate change and resilience, road asset management. Proposed engagements would focus more on new connectivity, improving efficiency of delivery of road and transport services, enhancing safety and climate resilience of transport networks, and institutional strengthening and capacity building of relevant levels of government.
ISAT1 seeks a Transport Specialist to provide a full range of technical and operational support on assigned projects under the Nepal Transport portfolio and pipeline. The selected candidate will be expected to:
• Support the implementation of ongoing transport investment projects in Nepal with a priority focus on roads and bridges on the Strategic Road Network and Provincial and Local Roads. This entails direct day to day management of the projects, providing technical inputs and maintaining relationships with the government authorities under the guidance of the designated Task Team Leaders (TTLs). • Support the TTLs in preparation of ongoing and proposed new projects in urban transport, road safety and regional integration. This would include providing technical inputs on designs, procurement strategies and bidding document specifications, and sectoral issues including general institutional setup and planning and monitoring systems. Day to day tasks shall include preparation of letters, briefs, presentations; reviewing project reports submitted by the Government or consultants; review of bidding documents; participation in implementation support and preparation missions including visiting project sites; collecting secondary data; desk analysis of various reports; and participation at meetings; drafting of Aide Memoires sections; and coordination of Aide Memoires preparation; • Provide technical and strategic assistance to the Task Team Leader during project implementation. Activities include - following up on contract management issues; monitoring the implementation of works including quality and providing technical advice on procurement, conducting sector and project-related desk reviews, reviewing and producing analytical documents; • Support task team leaders in analytical and operational work as needed with minimal guidance; • Participate in coordination meetings with government as requested; and • Participate in country team activities, including portfolio reviews, formulation of country assistance strategy, analytical and advisory services, and response to priorities in the country poverty reduction strategies.
• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in relevant field (transport engineering/planning/economics, or related subject). • Some prior work experience in operations, or project implementation would be preferred.
Other Selection Criteria
• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in the transport sector with a focus on at least two of the following areas: (a) highway/roads engineering; (b) transport planning, design and operations; (c) contract management; (d) implementation of transport infrastructure investments and operational services; and (e) Logistics services. • Practical experience in the engineering design, financial structuring, implementation, management, maintenance or operation of transport infrastructure projects or initiatives, and an understanding and the ability to work on policy, institutional, financing, contract management, social and environmental requirements. • Demonstrated good research and analytical skills and prior experience with economic/financial analysis/ GHG accounting, advanced knowledge of Excel • Knowledge of standardized transport analysis tools such as HDM/RONET/TransCad would be a plus. • Comprehension of typical sectoral issues in transport, including sector policy reforms, and management and financing of transport infrastructure. • Organizational skills, ability to see the big picture as well as attention to detail and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands and tight deadlines. • High degree of initiative, problem-solving skills, flexibility and ability to work independently. • Strong inter-personal skills; experience working effectively in large and multi-disciplinary teams of specialists; with the capacity to interact in a multi-cultural environment. • Excellent communications skills, specifically in writing briefs, reports and preparing power point presentations. • Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks, independently adjusting to priorities. • Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, including the ability to write short reports and briefing notes.
