Duties and Accountabilities

• Field-based Preventive Support to WB Operations
• Serve as PSU’s field-based Senior Integrity Risk Specialist for the Region:
• Review project risks based on ongoing or completed investigations, as a follow-up to complaints, or at the request of Task Teams to interpret signs of risk and provide risk mitigation advice; assign integrity concern flags where appropriate.
• Provide insights on portfolio level risks at briefings for the World Bank’s Country- and Sector-level management, and advise, as requested, on regional, country, or sectoral level operational approaches to mitigate identified risks.
• Provide support to the Bank’s operational (lending) units through sustained preventive engagements, as agreed with the Manager-Prevention, Risk and Knowledge Management (PRKM Manager) on high-risk portfolios or in response to requests from other parts of the WB.
• As appropriate, provide inputs to operational staff on project and program design, focusing on plans for the mitigation of fraud and corruption risks. Advise on how to assess the effectiveness of such measures.
• For selected operations, deemed strategically important by INT Management, join project-related activities, such as supervision missions. Where it may have a positive, preventive outcome, join project launch or other events to stress the importance of the prevention agenda.
• Follow-up on complaints and investigations where appropriate to assist Task Teams with risk mitigation.
• Provide inputs to PSU’s Risk Focal Points as well as investigations Managers and team leads on the relevance and prioritization of specific complaints.
• Conduct dialogue with regional counterparts, WB clients, and anti-corruption authorities on preventive approaches to curb fraud and corruption risks within WB-financed operations, operationalize the WB anticorruption guidelines, and capacity building to support agreed preventive actions to address risks identified in completed investigations and documented in Final Investigative Reports (FIRs).
• Provide Region-specific and Country-specific inputs and examples to staff preparing PSU products related to the broader risks introduced by (a) law, justice, or institutional risks, (b) Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) situations, (c) Smal States, and/or (d) Climate Financing (including Blue/Green Planet) in the context of INT cases and complaints to further identify potential risks and how these affect WB operations and provide applicable risk mitigation advice, including:
• Contributing these insights to the Risk Focal Point for the Region as part of the preparation of background documents for INT’s Quarterly Regional briefings and in response to requests from WB units. Develop and implement outreach strategies to enhance cooperation with internal and external stakeholders in these areas, including mechanisms to monitor and report on progress.
• Advising in-country dialogue on these risk topics with regional counterparts, WB clients, and anti-corruption authorities on preventive approaches to curb fraud and corruption risks within WB-financed operations, operationalization of the WB anticorruption guidelines, and capacity building to support agreed preventive actions to address risks identified in completed investigations and documented in FIRs.
• With approval from, and supervision of the PSU Team Lead and PRKM Manager, establishing closer ties and collaboration with local and international anti-corruption agencies as well as enhanced cooperation on prevention with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), Bilateral agencies, UN agencies, and other International Financing Institutions (IFIs) and advising on how to leverage these partnerships for more effective identification and management of integrity risks.
• Provide similar inputs as requested on other thematic or programmatic aspects of the work of the WB as requested by the PRKM Manager.
• Much of the above work will be done with the Risk Focal Point for the Region, and in close collaboration with the Case Development Unit (CDU), Investigative teams, and other units in INT as appropriate.  Dialogue and coordination with WB units outside of INT will also be expected, and when appropriate within the context of a preventive engagement, including with the fiduciary global practices in Bank Operations, the WB’s Legal Department, and the Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) unit. The Regional focus described in these Terms of Reference may change over time in line with evolving business needs.

Risk Analytics and Knowledge 

• In furtherance of the objectives outline above, you will be expected to contribute to the development and delivery of advisory and knowledge products for a variety of audiences. This work may include, inter alia:
• Preparing Portfolio Integrity Risk reviews and/or country-based integrity risk reviews based on INT. information (Case Management System, Final Investigative Reports) and other sources to identify trends and sectoral risks in different contexts. Assess these data using intelligence gleamed from personal observation and information from Bank staff and others at the Regional and Country levels to obtain a holistic understanding of the content, risks, and opportunities for risk mitigation. Reporting back to the Risk Focal Point for the Region, the PSU Team Lead, and PRKM Manager on these insights through the approved reporting mechanism.
• Working closely with INT’s knowledge products officer and with others as needed, gather, analyze, distill, and disseminate insights and lessons learned emanating from INT’s investigations for a range of audiences. Lead and/or contribute to stand-alone advisory and knowledge products for a variety of audiences.
• Contributing to working groups and institutional efforts to identify and recommend enhancements to WB internal controls and operational framework affecting operational and corporate risks.
• Working with other PSU staff, investigators, auditors, and data scientists, contribute subject matter expertise to INTs’ Risk Analytics Work Program (providing for example knowledge of integrity risks in procurement, project implementation risks, knowledge of corruption vulnerabilities and risk mitigation in specific sectors).
• Leading selected risk analytic activities based on expertise, working closely with INT colleagues with expertise in prevention, data science, forensic audit, and investigations.
• Provide inputs to team discussions on INT strategy updates, data systems modernization efforts and business process changes.
• Provide regular and timely inputs on integrity risk for internal reports, FIRs, and for the tracking of INT’s key performance indicators (KPI) on preventive activities and other reporting deliverables as requested by INT management, corporate units in HQ, and other Bank management.
• Training, Outreach, and capacity building
• Lead and help conduct virtual and in-person training/workshops, for example:
• Lead significant engagements as part of preventive support connected to high-risk operations or portfolios, especially on preventive work of WB country programs and clients to adjust to the unique challenges of fragile and conflict-affected states.
• Contribute to and/or coordinate the design and delivery of training workshops. These might take several forms including those requested by CMUs, the sectoral or operational dialogue with WB clients and partner financiers, and Global Practices for Bank staff and Project Implementing Units (PIUs). Most activities will involve working together with other colleagues in INT, other parts of the WB, client oversight agencies, and integrity arms of partner financiers.
• Play a lead role along with other PSU staff in the delivery of corporate learning programs and assist in HR onboarding clinics to familiarize new staff with the role of INT in the Bank’s fiduciary framework, and how the WB addresses and responds to integrity risks in operations.
• Aspects of the above work will be executed in close collaboration with CDU, Investigative, Forensics teams, and other units in INT.  In synergy with the PSU staff in HQ, particularly the Risk Focal Point for the Region, this work will also include contributions to in-country dialogue in coordination with WB units outside of INT.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree and training in a field closely related to international development (e.g., public policy, governance, political science, or public administration), or equivalent relevant experience in development program design and implementation.
• At least 8 years’ experience in international development and anticorruption, preferably but not limited to the management of integrity risks in development financed activities.
• Releva nt experience with and understanding of the design, implementation, and supervision of development operations, preferably in more than one Region. Expertise and operational experience in WB risk frameworks, financial management or procurement are strong assets. If limited or no WB-related experience, significant relevant experience with risk mitigation in development financing activities would be important and connecting policy level guidelines with development programs at the project or program level that would facilitate the operationalizations of such guidelines. Applicants with a mix of experience in risk management, prevention, the rollout of corporate level guidelines to operational front lines, and investigations would be considered.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both oral and written are required. A proven ability to clearly and concisely prepare and present findings and recommendations at senior levels and to produce compelling briefs and reports. Demonstrated ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy on sensitive issues with staff and managers at all levels.
• Fluency in both oral and written English in required. Proficiency in French and/or Arabic is highly desirable.
• Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluation skills, with quantitative and qualitative data and the ability to effectively use data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a team/task force as a participant or team leader and with senior officials internally and externally.
• Sensitivity to the Bank’s diverse demographics and cross-cultural context and influences, and ability to build effective work relations with clients and colleagues.
• Established reputation for integrity, sound judgment, fairness, and discretion.