Description
Do you want to build a career that
is truly worthwhile? 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 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 http://www.worldbank.org
The World Bank Group
Innovation and partnership bind
the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development
Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance
Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and
the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The
World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and
knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive
experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic
growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the
best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World
Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities
include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in
development, and improving access to development information and data.
Legal Vice Presidency The Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), under the Senior Vice President and Group
General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal support to internal and
external World Bank clients on operational, advisory and corporate matters.
LEGVP provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active
role in all the World Bank’s activities. In addition, LEGVP helps to ensure
that all World Bank activities comply with the institution’s Articles of
Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures.
Organizationally, LEGVP includes geographically based regional Operational
Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank’s
lending operations, Policy and Advisory Practice Groups which provide advice
on operations policy, environmental and international law, development
finance and structured finance and guarantees and Corporate Practice Groups,
which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional
matters for the World Bank.
LEGAM provides operational legal
support to three regions: (i) Africa East and South (AFE), (ii) Africa West
and Central (AFW); and (iii) Middle East and North Africa (MENA). AFE, AFW
and MENA include a mix of low-income, lower- middle-income, and upper-middle
income countries, and several fragile states. The World Bank work program
across Africa is the largest among all the Regions. The Africa and MENA
Regions together represent about 38% of the World Bank’s net commitments and
about 41% of its number of projects in addition to a robust and complex trust
fund portfolio.
LEGAM invites qualified candidates
to apply for its Counsel position.
The position is based in Dakar, Senegal,
World Bank office. The Senegal Country Management Unit (CMU) covers Cabo
Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia portfolios. The
Selected Candidate will be expected to work on the Senegal CMU with the
possibility of additional assignments in other countries supported by LEGAM.
The Selected Candidate will also be expected to travel to all countries in
the areas covered by LEGAM.
Selected
Candidate will work under the general supervision of the LEGAM Chief
Counsels, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Lead or Senior
Counsels. Work will primarily support IBRD, IDA and donor trust fund financing
of projects, focusing on analysis of project proposals, drafting of necessary
documents and agreements, negotiating those agreements, and participating in
the supervision of their implementation, all in support of investments in all
sectors. Work will also include advising country management on operational,
institutional and other matters that arise from time to time in the country
office.
The Selected Candidate will be a lawyer who can operate
independently and has the ability to handle legal and policy issues related
to the Bank’s work while working collaboratively with other lawyers within
LEGAM and LEGVP as a whole.
Responsibilities
and Accountabilities
The Counsel position requires
demonstrated ability to apply rigorous analytical skills, to work
harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment. The level and quality
of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the
position, and references will be given consideration in this determination.
The Counsel will work under direct supervision of the Chief Counsel and
day-to-day guidance will be provided by one or more Lead or Senior Counsels
in headquarters or in the field (primarily the Bank office in Senegal).
The Counsel will be: Covering a broad portfolio within a functional
area, providing advice to management and clients on legal and policy issues
in one or more areas of concentration.
– Responsible
for the successful delivery of legal work on projects and programs and other
transactions within client assignments; drafting, reviewing,
negotiating, and finalizing legal documents for World Bank’s operations.
– Handling
issues within an area of concentration to enable clients to create solutions.
– Providing
legal support to ongoing projects and programs, including reviewing project
and program documents for adherence to World Bank Group legal policies
and procedures, and business objectives.
– Supporting
operational teams and clients on public-private partnership projects via a
sound understanding of the economic and social drivers and impacts of
public-private partnerships.
– Conducting
comparative legal analyses on a range of issues in a given area, identify
legal and policy issues, research for relevant precedents, and propose
appropriate solutions to colleagues and clients, with a particular focus on
bringing knowledge of the legal systems of any of the countries covered by
the Senegal CMU.
– Engaging
in policy discussions and negotiations with officials internally and
externally, developing relationships with members of the legal profession and
lawyers working in development partner agencies.
– Protecting
and promoting World Bank Group’s interests.
– Writing
and reviewing policy papers, undertaking legal research on topics in area of
concentration and -contributing to dissemination of policy and best practices
in a given field.
– Preparing
legal briefs on diverse topics, as required.
– Participating
in task/project teams and operational missions; and
– Performing
ad hoc assignments as requested by the Chief Counsel or designated
Lead/Senior Counsel.
The Counsel position will
be based in Dakar, Senegal for a duration of 3 years. The
selected applicant will be expected to be willing and able to travel to all
countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Selection Criteria
Preferred Education/Experience:
– At
least 5 years relevant work experience with Law Degree (JD/LLB/LLM or
equivalent) and admission to the Bar in any jurisdiction.
– Excellent
oral and written skills in English and French are required. Additional
languages (Portuguese preferred; Arabic a plus).
General Competencies Required:
– Values, Leadership
Potential
• Demonstrated commitment to the
World Bank Core Values for WBG and a proven track record of fostering a
strong and healthy culture of diversity, inclusion, teamwork, honesty, trust,
openness, integrity, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to be
sensitive to issues around race, gender, ethnicity, inclusion, and
intersectionality.
• Demonstrated ability to work
collaboratively and foster a positive working environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to the
Bank’s mission, and ability to work towards.
• A strong results-oriented
mindset.
– Excellent
legal research, writing, drafting, analytical and communications skills.
– Excellent interpersonal skills.
– Experience in international,
commercial or contract law, in transactional legal work and/or preparation
and negotiation of legal agreements.
– Excellent legal drafting skills,
including of agreements, legal memos and/or well-reasoned litigation
pleadings and ability to deliver cogent oral arguments, where applicable.
– Familiarity in the use of varied
legal research sources (including electronic sources on the internet) and
other databases.
– Proven ability to operate
effectively as a member of one or more teams; must be a self-starter
and collaborate well with others; ability to exercise sound judgment in
recognizing what issues to bring to the attention of the Chief Counsel and/or
another supervising Counsel, and which to handle autonomously.
– Proven ability to identify and
help manage legal risk, through sound judgment, determining and escalating
risk appropriately, providing risk-based advice, and guide more junior staff
on the same.
– Proven ability to deal
sensitively in multicultural and multi-ethnic environments and build
effective working relationships with clients and colleagues.
– Ability to supervise and work
with local counsel in a collaborative and collegial way; and
– Ability to work under time
pressure and to juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
Competencies
Legal Drafting, Research and
Communication
-Proven ability to draft
transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements), briefs and variety of
legal instruments and related documents, with limited supervision.
-Conducts research as necessary to
acquire insight and information. Is aware of the need for precision and focus
on quality.
Bank Legal and Policy Framework
Has the potential to quickly
understand the Bank’s Legal framework, policies and procedures and is
assessed as being able to apply them correctly and consistently. Identifies
where these policies are not being applied or not being applied as intended
and informs the appropriate parties.
Independence
Carries out work with due care,
preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts
are fairly presented without seeking to obfuscate (either through too
much information or withholding relevant information). Interprets information
in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism
when required. Does not divulge or exploit confidential information.
Professional Maturity
Understands others and the reasons for their behaviors.
Takes the time to clarifying others’ points of view so that progress can be
made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Is never
condescending. Proven ability to deal sensitively and effectively across
organizational boundaries, as a team member, in multi-cultural
environments and build effective working relations with clients and
colleagues.
Legal Reasoning
Breaks down problems into their
component parts. Articulates the implications of situations in a step-by-step
way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand
the issues. Makes sure he/she
possesses all the facts.
Legal Expertise
Has in-depth knowledge and
experience in the legal systems of any of the countries covered by the
Senegal CMU, including legal system in one or more of the following
substantive areas of law: constitutional law, public/private partnerships,
legal and judicial reform, project finance, project development, corporate
law, banking law, financial law and general business law.
Deliver Results for Clients
Adds value by constantly looking
for a better way to get more impactful results; sets challenging stretch
goals for oneself. Immerses oneself in client experiences and perspective by
asking probing questions to understand unmet needs. Demonstrates
accountability for achieving results that have a development impact and
financial, environmental, and social sustainability. Identifies and proposes
solutions to mitigate and manage risks. Takes personal responsibility and
accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, and
works to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
Make Smart Decisions
Seeks diversity of information and
inputs, research possible solutions, and generates recommended options.
Identifies and understands risks and proposes recommendations. Based on risk
analysis, makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of
responsibility, considering the interests and concerns of stakeholders.
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries
– Appropriately involves others in
decision making and communicates with key stakeholders. Approaches conflicts
as common problems to be solved. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas
and approaches displaying a sense of mutuality and respect. Integrates WBG
perspective into work.
Lead and Innovate
– Contributes new insights to
understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems.
Adapts as circumstances require and manages impact of own behavior on
others in context of WBG’s values and mission. Identifies and pursues
innovative approaches to resolve issues.
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge
Leverages department’s expertise
and body of knowledge across WBG to strengthen internal and/or external
client solutions. Seeks to learn from more experienced staff to deepen or
strengthen their professional knowledge and helps others to learn.
Builds personal and professional networks inside and outside the department.
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.