Regional portfolio and strategic coordinator

international finance corporation

IFC a member of the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Commitment to Gender Equality and Economic Inclusion

IFC is dedicated to advancing gender equality and economic inclusion as outlined in its 2030 Roadmap for Gender and Inclusion. This aligns with the new World Bank Group Gender Strategy (2024–2030): Accelerate Gender Equality to End Poverty on a Livable Planet. IFC's roadmap focuses on six priorities with high potential for private sector impact.

1. Allocate Capital that Drives Inclusion

2. Make Supply Chains Inclusive

3. Remove Barriers to Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Leadership, including addressing gender-based violence

4. Bridge the Digital Divide

5. Accelerate Inclusive and Gender-Smart Climate Action

6. End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment

Gender and Economic Inclusion Department (GEID)

The Gender and Economic Inclusion Department (GEID) within IFC's Cross-Cutting Vice Presidency plays a central role in driving this agenda. GEID supports IFC's investment and advisory teams to enable private and public sector clients to provide equal economic opportunities for all genders and underserved communities. The department's key functions include:

• Developing and implementing strategy organization-wide.

• Offering tailored operational solutions and client advice.

• Innovating and piloting new approaches to gender and inclusion challenges.

• Disseminating knowledge and thought leadership.

• Mobilizing resources through impact investing and sustainable financing.

• Forging partnerships with public and private sectors to expand economic opportunities.

Regional Gender Hubs

GEID is implementing a new operating model with four Regional Gender Hubs and two specialized units for Thought Leadership and Innovation. The regional hubs serve as "one-stop shops in the regions," providing knowledge, expertise, and resources to embed gender and economic inclusion into regional operations. They enhance collaboration with regional leadership and bring gender experts closer to IFC's clients.

Middle East, Central Asia, and Türkiye (MCT) and North Africa Hub

The MCT and North Africa Gender Hub supports IFC's investment and advisory teams in integrating gender and economic inclusion into programs across the region. The hub's focus includes fostering closer collaboration with regional leadership, industry teams, and clients to accelerate progress in these areas.

Regional Strategic Engagement Officer Role

 The MCT and North Africa Regional Strategic Engagement Officer plays a vital role in achieving the hub's objectives. Reporting to the Regional Hub Lead, this position ensures gender and inclusion priorities are embedded in regional strategies and programs while supporting IFC teams and clients to drive meaningful impact.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Gender Value Creation and Reporting in the MCT and North Africa Region (Gender Flag)

Coordination with Regional Industry Teams

Overview: The Gender Flag is the International Finance Corporation's primary tool for identifying investment and advisory projects with gender and economic inclusion components.   To trigger a Gender Flag, an investment or advisory project needs to be intentionally designed and implemented with an explicit focus on closing gaps between women and men. GEID will track and report on gender-flagged projects across IFC and provide regular portfolio analyses of IFC's GEI engagements.

• Act as the MCT and North Africa region's Gender Flag lead to address inquiries and provide guidance and quality assurance  to regional industry gender teams and portfolio officers.

• Convene regular meetings with industry gender anchors to foster collaboration and build a community of gender leaders within the region.

Pipeline Screening and Coordination 

• Conduct quarterly meetings with regional industry teams to review investment and advisory project pipelines for Gender Flag opportunities.

• Collaborate with regional teams to identify potential gender-flagged projects and advisory engagements.

Flag Implementation Monitoring

• Review and monitor gender-flagged projects to ensure implementation progress and achievement with objectives.

• Provide quarterly updates on gender-related key performance indicators to regional leadership, including detailed reporting on flagged projects and their gender outcomes.

Capacity Building

• Support development of resources such as guidance notes and tip sheets to support accurate Gender Flag implementation.

• Deliver training sessions to enhance staff understanding and effective application of the Gender Flag.

• Facilitate knowledge sharing with the GEID global Knowledge and learning team to enhance practices in the region.

2. Regional and Country Strategy

• Work with the GEID Global Strategy team and regional strategy and industry teams in developing IFC's MCT Regional Gender Strategy Implementation Plan (GSIP).

• Coordinate World Bank -IFC strategic joint gender programming in designated "WBG focus countries" .

• Provide input into World Bank's Country Partnership Frameworks, IFC's Country Private Sector Diagnostics, and IFC's Country Strategies, focusing on analyzing gender gaps and policy impacts on women-led businesses.

3. Partnerships and Donor Reporting

• Collaborate with regional partnerships teams to strengthen partnerships and support fundraising initiatives.

• Coordinate with the GEID Partnerships team to ensure alignment in donor engagement strategies.

• Collect and report data on progress and results to development partners, donors, and stakeholders.

• Prepare inputs and examples for external donor reports and review regional reporting as needed.

4. Communications

• Prepare internal briefing materials, talking points, and speeches for regional and senior management.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in business, economics, finance, international relations or other relevant discipline required 

• At least five years of relevant work experience

• Demonstrated excellent communication at all levels of the organization; ability to communicate insights from data effectively.

• Proven ability to manage and coordinate with diverse stakeholders, fostering strong internal relationships across departments to drive collaboration and achieve project goals.

• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, positive and collaborative attitude, ability to participate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.

• Excellent communication skills (written and spoken) in English.

• High degree of passion, commitment to development impact and gender equality. Understanding of the key concepts around gender and private sector development. Familiarity with IFC is a plus.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.

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Sector:

Role:

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)

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