World Bank Hires E T Consultant, Health, Nutrition & Population for New Delhi, India

World Bank
Invites Applications for E T Consultant, Health, Nutrition & Population
Job # 110485
Job Title – E T Consultant
Job Family – Health, Nutrition & Population
Location – New Delhi, India
Appointment – Local Hire
Job Posted – 06-Apr-2011
Closing Date – 27-Apr-2011
Language Requirements – English [Essential]
Appointment Type
Background / General description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A COUNTRY OFFICE EXTENDED TERM CONSULTANT POSITION IN INDIA SUBJECT TO LOCAL RECRUITMENT UNDER THE INDIA COMPENSATION PLAN.
THE WORLD BANK GROUP IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF GENDER, NATIONALITY, CULTURE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EQUALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.
Background / General description
The Human Development Department in South Asia Region (SASHD) is responsible for the development of lending operations, supervision of the existing portfolio, analytical work (AAA), and delivery of policy advice and technical assistance to clients in the social sectors (education, health/nutrition/population, and social protection/labor). The South Asia Region encompasses eight countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and is home to a quarter of the world’s population.
The Health, Nutrition, and Population Unit (SASHN) comprises about 40 professional staff, seventy percent of whom are based in the field and thirteen of whom are based in the New Delhi office. The Region has a very large HNP portfolio, with more than 40 lending and AAA tasks, and commitments exceeding $2 billion. The HNP portfolio in India comprises about twelve lending and non-lending tasks: eight operations totaling around $1.9 billion under supervision, two operations under preparation, with the possibility of two additional financing operations; and several ongoing analytical pieces of work.
We work as a team of specialists bringing one another’s expertise to bear on all tasks across the region, rather than only as individual task teams. The HNP work of the South Asia Region is extensive, and covers a wide range of strategic areas in health, nutrition and population. We seek to increasingly specialize as staff, recognizing the specific expertise of operations staff, economists and the range of HNP specializations required to respond to demands from our clients and deliver quality work.
SASHN is seeking to recruit an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) on a one year consultancy extendable to two years, subject to performance in the first year, who will support the HNP team in New Delhi providing operations support to specific lending and supervision tasks. Duties and Accountabilities
Duties and Accountabilities
The specific responsibilities are as follows:
The Extended Term Consultant (ETC) will perform as a member of the South Asia Human Development Department’s Quality Assurance and Operations Advice Team – which comprises a virtual team of all the operations analysts and officers in headquarters and country offices.
The Extended Term Consultant (ETC) will provide operational and implementation support (assuming responsibility for the regular follow-up of the fiduciary, safeguards, legal aspects of the projects with both the internal and external clients) to the India Health, Nutrition & Population (HNP) portfolio. The work would involve travel to the field as and when required during missions and in the interim as required by the team leader. She/he will assume the following responsibilities, although specific work assignments will evolve over time and the ideal candidate should have the ability to respond as required around the following kinds of assignments:
Preparation of new projects:
 Assist in the preparation of the Project Concept Note (provide preliminary project costs, advice on component structure/project complexity; advise team on choice of lending instrument; provide inputs into the risk assessment
 Provide guidance to the team on latest operational guidelines and procedures for project preparation
 Participate in all preparation missions and provide inputs for mission documentation
 Organize any necessary workshops and training for clients (to assist in project preparation)
 Responsible for summarizing design of implementation arrangements
 Responsible for costing the project inputs/expected investments
 Liaise with procurement/financial management/safeguard/legal colleagues to ensure consistency in approach and in project documents
 Ensure that all latest operational policies, procedures and templates are used by the team
 Provide necessary inputs for the project performance indicators (to track implementation progress)
 Provide guidance to teams on lessons learned from successful projects
 Ensure that all assessments (Social Assessment; Environmental Assessment/Plan) are prepared & disclosed
 Ensure that project preparation timetables are updated and remain realistic
 Provide inputs for the disbursement arrangements and estimated allocation of loan/credit proceeds based on final cost tables
 Work closely with procurement specialists to ensure that the procurement plan reflects the final project costs
Implementation Support to projects
 Prepare mission schedules and TORs as requested
 Participate in all missions and major discussions with Government
 In between missions by HQ-based TTLs, represent the TTL to clients and partners
 Monitor project implementation (close liaison with counterparts – local staff)
 Continuously monitor the status of procurement and FM issues
 Assist in reviewing procurement and consultant packages (TORs, bidding documents, etc)
 Continuously monitor the status of project disbursements in client connection and through the project management table
 Ensure that legal covenants are monitored
 Monitor safeguard compliance
 Provide any necessary information to review panels during
implementation (QAG, etc)
 Review annual, semi-annual reports by the Client
 Assist in the preparation of restructuring packages (if required), (e.g. memos, project papers and all necessary additional documents)
Selection Criteria
• A Master’s degree in social sciences, public policy, international development, public health or other relevant field – OR – equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Proven ability to support teams in the design, preparation and implementation of operations.
• Ideally, knowledge and demonstrated experience in applying World Bank operational processes and procedures, knowledge of fiduciary requirements under Bank lending (in particular as regards procurement), and an understanding of World Bank Group operational policies, practices and procedures.
• Experience in India’s HNP sector and knowledge of the government structures and counterparts is a specific advantage.
• Should be a self starter with the ability to work with limited supervision in a multi-cultural team.
• Strong organizational skills and capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks, independently adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deadlines.
• Strong client orientation with commitment to results on the ground. Capacity to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders at various levels within and outside the Bank.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with internal/external partners and promote collaboration in a multi-cultural environment. Experience in providing support to and working with operational teams and across boundaries. A record of sharing information with colleagues, clients, and managers in performing your job.