Regional Director of East and Southern Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of reducing poverty and improving people’s lives by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services. IFC is seeking to recruit the Regional Director of East and Southern Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The position reports to the Regional Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Western Europe. IFC’s strategy in the Sub-Saharan Africa is based around three interrelated pillars: (i) Programmatic project development, mobilizing advisory services and investment operations to help stimulate new private investment flows, with a focus on agribusiness and infrastructure (ii) Support for Micro, Small, and Medium-scale enterprises, which form the backbone of Africa’s private sector and are a major source of employment growth; and (iii) Improving Africa’s investment climate, to enable higher levels of private investment and open new markets. Several cross-cutting themes further define the corporation’s focus: supporting regional integration, working with the private sector on climate change mitigation and adaptation, putting particular attention to the region’s fragile and conflict-affected countries; supporting South-South investment flows to Africa, and helping establish standards for social and environmental impact. IFC has expanded operations in Africa significantly in recent years. The region is now the second largest in terms of investment volumes and the largest in terms of advisory services spending. Total staff in the region now is approaching 400, reflecting the continued expansion of field office presence, and further decentralization of operations. These staff are based in 19 field offices, with a concentration in the 3 hubs of Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Dakar. Demonstrating strong development results in Africa is a core focus for IFC, in particular addressing the challenges around food security and agribusiness, expanding the private sector’s role in infrastructure provision to meet the huge gaps in service provision and access, and supporting private sector led growth in Africa’s fragile states.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Business Accountabilities: -Develop the strategy for IFC’s investment services (IS) and advisory services (AS) business for the Region, in partnership with the Regional Industry Directors and AS management, including key development goals and business targets for the regional program, with a focus on MSMES through FIs, Infra and Agribusiness. -Attract resources, both financial and talent, to implement the strategy and achieve business objectives; -Provide leadership to business development in the region, with support from the Regional Industry groups as needed; -For local/regional clients in the East and Southern Africa region, manage client relationships and develop client strategies, in partnership with the Regional Industry Directors and RHAS; -Work in close partnership with the Director For West and Central Africa and jointly manage both sub-regions as one Sub-Sahara Africa -Assume P&L responsibility for all clients in East and Southern Africa region and accountability for regional strategy implementation, including achievement of development goals and investment targets, with support from Regional Industry Directors; -Provide support to Regional Industry Directors and RHAS to maintain and further enhance portfolio quality; -Manage, gather and disseminate lessons and experience in the East &Southern Africa region and contribute to IFC’s global knowledge bank; -Coordinate with AMC and IFC-MIGA joint business development in the E&S Africa region; -Promote and implement South South initiatives, particularly with China and other BRIC countries. Resource Management Accountabilities: -Provide overall leadership and people management to staff based in the E&S Africa region; -Manage overall budget for the region with a goal to increasing efficiency in the region; -Develop IFC’s “brand” in the Region, building on IFC’s global brand and the overall communications strategy; -Responsible for the coordination and support of the external fund raising and mobilization efforts in the region. Relationship Management Accountabilities: -Maintain strong relationships with the Regional Industry Directors and AS Management so that the regional strategy is well aligned and executed on; -Manage, gather and disseminate lessons and experience in the Region and contribute to IFC’s global knowledge bank; -Maintain and further enhance relationships with government authorities; -Build and foster strong relationships with DFIs, co-financiers, donors and other private and public institutions in the Region; -Develop and maintain strong client relationships. Ensure that client needs are met promptly and proactively; -Foster strong relationships with World Bank Group counterparts in the Region to identify collaboration opportunities and to enhance client and business delivery; and -Work collaboratively within the matrix to deliver impact for clients and IFC

Selection Criteria:

In additon to the WBG managerial selection criteria*: -Demonstrates highest level of integrity and decisiveness. Takes accountability and holds others accountable for results. -Is committed to the World Bank Group and to IFC's mission, strategy and values. -Demonstrated track record leading large, complex teams. -Demonstrated track record of cross selling products and strategies from multiple departments in a decentralized environment -Capacity to build strong client relationships that lead to results oriented, development focused partnerships. -Ability to represent IFC to key external clients, government authorities, other stakeholders and critics -Ability to set strategic direction and ensure implementation -Outstanding communication and presentation skills -Sponsor and prepare future leaders -Deal with increased complexity, ambiguity and crisis with confidence and discretion. -Build organization capacity through system and process improvements; is a change agent and serves as catalyst for innovation *World Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria include: selecting, coaching and appraising staff; planning and managing staff to achieve quality results; encouraging innovation in an open team-based environment; inspiring trust; and influencing and resolving differences across organizational boundaries. Only online applications are accepted: applications by e-mail will neither be accepted nor acknowledged. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews

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Regional Director of East and Southern Africa