Description

Background & General Description:

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.

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 Southern (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 Selected candidate will join the Accra, Ghana World Bank office and work on the extensive Ghana,
Liberia and Sierra Leon portfolios (with the possibility of additional
assignments in East Africa, West and Central Africa and North Africa and Middle
East countries supported by LEGAM). The selected lawyer will be expected to
travel to all countries in the areas covered by LEGAM. The Selected Candidate will be expected, at some point during
his/her tenure, to move to a decentralized position in one of the Bank’s
Country Offices, as business needs of LEG VPU might require.

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 Counsel will be a lawyer who can operate independently to handle
legal and policy issues related to the Bank’s work while working
collaboratively with other lawyers within LEGAM and LEG as a whole.

Note: If
the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a
Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended
appointment. If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff
Member with a Term appointment that expires later than the end date of this
appointment, s/he will retain the duration of his/her current Term appointment.

Duties &
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 Ghana). 

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 India and/or one more other regional
countries.

– 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 Accra, Ghana 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 is
required.Additional
languages (French or Portuguese preferred; Arabic a plus).

General Competencies Required:

– 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.

Other
Competencies Required:

– 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 Ghanian law and
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, general business law or other transactional work
within and/or outside of Ghana.

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.