ET Consultant – DT GP

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Digital Transformation Vice Presidency

The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and will guide World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical will have the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through two engagement pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas:

• Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.
• Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.). 

Both pillars will be the channels through which the Vertical will support World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion.

Unit Overview

The Digital Transformation unit within Eastern and Southern Africa (DAEDD) is responsible for the digital transformation activities and portfolio in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, including lending, policy, supervision, and analytical work. It plays a critical role in enabling the achievements of the Twin goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Digital technologies are transforming firms, governments and people’s lives; and with the digital economy growing at a rate significantly higher than that of the global economy, it offers emerging economies a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional paths for development through digital solutions. 

Collaborating across technical, geographic, and institutional boundaries, the Digital Transformation team helps design and deliver ICT-enhanced solutions to a diverse range of clients. The team supports clients through (i) analytical and advisory services; and (ii) policy reform programs to establish enabling policy, legal, strategic, and regulatory environments that allow for the widespread use of technology and creation of a trust environment; as well as (iii) lending operations that support investment in digital infrastructure to connect the unconnected, or digital public goods (cloud, digital identification, etc.) that enable digital service delivery.

This Country Management Unit (CMU) covers Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The CMU is located in Tanzania and the Bank has offices also in Lusaka and Lilongwe. The World Bank’s program in Tanzania in the digital sector includes the ongoing US$150 million Digital Tanzania Project which is under implementation, with a possible new project under preparation. In Malawi, the US$72m Digital Foundations Project closed in 2024 and a new US$150m Digital Malawi Project is under implementation, as part of the IDEA (Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa) regional program. The project focuses on increasing access to broadband and selected digital public services, digital ID and strengthening the digital innovation ecosystem. In Zambia, a new US$100m Digital Zambia Acceleration Project is under development and is expected to bae approved in July 2025. It has similar areas of focus.

The DAEDD Unit is looking for an ETC to be based in Lusaka (Zambia), with an option to be based on Lilongwe (Malawi), and to support also other countries in the CMU such as Malawi[LH1]  and in region at large. The ETC will report to the Practice Manager, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duties and responsibilities:

The DD specialist will be responsible for:

• Contributing to the design, preparation and implementation of World Bank Group financed digital development related investment and policy reform programs in client countries with a particular emphasis on policy/legal/regulatory reforms, facilitating development of digital public infrastructure, platforms and services, development of Digital ID, connectivity for educational institutions, and promoting the development of digital skills, innovation and growth of the IT industry. 
• Advising clients on strategies, best practices, and design of programs to develop the foundations of their digital economies. This may include participating in technical assistance activities and providing ad hoc technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for the information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and wider digital economy as well as IT functions and digital services delivery within governments.
• Providing technical expertise and advice on a range of ICT policy and regulatory issues to promote competition, investment, and innovation in the telecoms sector with the aim of boosting affordability, service quality and access to digital connectivity by citizens, businesses and governments and to stimulate the downstream development of value-added digital services.
• Providing technical expertise and advice on policy, institutional reform, project development and execution to support the digitization of public administration and public services delivery in client countries, and data-driven services more broadly, including the development of enablers and safeguards such as digital identification, data protection and cyber security.  
• Liaising and providing guidance to colleagues working in other sectors (including agriculture, health, education, energy, financial services, transport, etc.) on how to leverage digital technologies to improve public service delivery and efficiency in the respective sectors and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in those sectors by private sector actors.  
• Developing innovative and practical approaches to solving difficult policy and operational issues for selected high priority telecommunications, ICT or digital economy related activities.
• Preparing and supervising publication of best practice notes and reports on policy and regulation in the DD sector.
• Performing economic and financial analysis (market models, business models, banking cases, etc.) to inform decisions on project designs, PPP schemes, financing plans, etc.
• Representing the DD GP and the Bank at digital development related fora and events, as well as acting as a liaison with key external partners.