Closing Date: 1st March, 2024

Description:

The Counsel position requires demonstrated technical depth, ability to apply rigorous analytical skills, to work harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment within a broad range of contexts on increasingly complex projects. 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 function as a principal legal advisor to one or more assigned internal World Bank clients. The selected candidate will work under general supervision of the Chief Counsel, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Lead or Senior Counsels working in the same practice specialties. The Counsel will be expected to handle at least some of the following areas of responsibility:

Key Opportunities
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the legal and policy issues related to trust funds, programs and partnerships, financial intermediary funds, IDA and the mobilization of private investment in general, particularly in financing responses to various natural and man-made crises.
  • Work on the implementation of recommendations on trust fund reforms that have been endorsed and approved by the Executive Directors.
  • Work on the replenishment of IDA resources.
  • Have a positive and tangible impact on WBG collaboration and best practices with respect to trust funds, programs and partnerships, FIFs and IDA, as well as broaden your exposure to key thought leaders regarding this topic within the institution.
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of creating and successfully implementing culture change, including facilitation, communication, and governance practices.

Core Responsibilities:
Specifically, the selected candidate will be expected to:
  • Serve as a lawyer in LEGDF, which provides legal advice and services to the following Vice Presidencies within the World Bank: Development Finance, Treasury, Chief Risk Officer, Controllers, Regions, as well as to the Global Practices.
  • Address all trust fund issues from a legal perspective in support of DFi, including assistance on trust fund policy and procedural issues, development (in conjunction with LEGOP) of model forms of trust fund documentation, review of trust fund proposals, and drafting and negotiating of agreements with donors.
  • Provide legal support with respect to global partnerships and programs (GPPs), including business process development for GPP review, assistance on policy and procedural issues, review of GPP proposals, and drafting agreements for GPP implementation.
  • Provide legal support with respect to IDA matters.
  • Handle a wide variety of other projects relating to transactional, operational and policy issues as requested by the Chief Counsel.
  • The work program will involve frequent interaction with the following:
  • Trust Fund and Partner Relations Department (DFTPR) and Corporate IBRD IDA (DFCII) financial and operational officers and managers.
  • Other Treasury, Chief Risk Officer, Controllers, and Development Finance staff, including management.
  • Staff in the Regions and Global Practices, including management.
  • Counterpart officials with development partners and other stakeholders, in particular government, supranational organizations, bilateral agencies, regional and other multilateral agencies, foundations and other corporations and clients.
  • Outside counsel for the World Bank, regarding highly specialized matters.
  • Colleagues within the Legal Vice-Presidency.

Selection Criteria:
  • An LLM degree, J.D. or equivalent, with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction is required.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills required. Additional languages French or Spanish strongly preferred; Arabic or Portuguese a plus.