Senior Partnership Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Digital Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and guides the World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, builds and enhances digital and data infrastructure, ensures cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advances the digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Vice Presidency (VPU) has the critical mission of delivering on this development promise.

The Development Effectiveness unit plays an important role in advising the Digital Vice Presidency (VPU) and the DSO on all matters pertaining to strategic planning and management, market intelligence, partnerships, including trust fund oversight, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, knowledge management, collaboration with Regions and Verticals, and outreach to external partners. The Unit supports the VPU’s engagement on corporate priorities including Knowledge Bank, Operations Efficiency and Effectiveness, Corporate Scorecard and other initiatives aimed at achieving speed, scale and impact.

The Senior Partnership Specialist will report to the Manager of the Development Effectiveness Unit.  Key responsibilities include:

Design External Partnership Strategy

•  Lead the design of Digital VPU’s external partnership strategy around digital transformation, aligned to Digital VPU’s digital strategy and WBG priorities.
• Identify high-impact, scalable opportunities for collaboration across private sector, civil society, donor institutions, and WBG regional organizations.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the digital transformation strategy; and ensure alignment of partnership activities with the overall goals and objectives of the digital transformation vertical.
• Provide senior leadership and Market Intelligence Lead on ecosystem trends, opportunities, and risks related to digital.

Develop and Manage External Partnerships

•  Identify, develop, and manage strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including donors, private sector, civil society, and government agencies.
• Build and foster trusted relationships with key external stakeholders (e.g., Big Tech, development partners, think tanks, telecom operators, digital service providers) to ensure ongoing collaboration and support.
• Negotiate and formalize partnership agreements including MOUs, co-financing arrangements, and knowledge-sharing frameworks.
• Organize and participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences to promote the digital transformation agenda.
• Act as the focal point for external digital partnership for Digital VPU.
• Support the Market Intelligence Lead Specialist on strategic projects.
• Capture and disseminate the best practices and lessons learned from partnership activities.
  Maintain regular communication with partners to ensure their needs and expectations are met; address any issues or challenges that arise in the partnership and work towards mutually beneficial solutions.

Program Implementation and Support
Selectively manage strategic dialogues and joint initiatives with global partners to support country digital strategies and programs:

• Support task teams in integrating strategic partnerships into lending operations, technical assistance, and analytical work.
• Lead or engage in co-creation of sector and region-specific digital transformation solutions leveraging external partnerships with inter-disciplinary perspective and deep digital technology understanding.

Internal Coordination and Representation

• Serve as the Digital VPU’s focal point for digital transformation partnerships across practices, IFC, and MIGA.
• Represent the Bank at high-level forums, working groups, and donor coordination platforms on digital cooperation.
• Ensure systematic knowledge capture, dissemination, and cross-regional learning from partnership initiatives.
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination among internal and external stakeholders in coordination with business units and ECR.

Team Competency Building

• Provide technical assistance and capacity building support to partners and stakeholders to enhance their ability to contribute to digital transformation efforts.
• Collaborate with Senior Knowledge Management Specialist to develop and deliver training programs and workshops for partners.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products, including reports, case studies, and policy briefs.