Short-Term Consultant – Coordination of Alliance Sahel activities in Mali At World Bank

Background

The Sahel region in West Africa faces numerous challenges, including climate change, instability, and rapid population growth. Nearly half of the Sahelian population lives on less than $ 1.25 a day and the countries in the region are ranked among those with the lowest development index. For several years, the five countries have been confronted in various parts of their territories with multifaceted crises and security threats which are hampering peace and sustainable development in the region.

A coordinated international response is crucial to address these challenges and champion sustainable development, peace, and security. The Sahel Alliance, launched in 2017 by major donors engaged in the region, seeks to deliver a more integrated, rapid, and effective approach to development cooperation in the Sahel. It now encompasses a majority of the international cooperation institutions operating in the region. The World Bank is the chair of the Sahel Alliance’s Operational Steering Committee. The Sahel Alliance members have delineated their work based on four guiding principles: targeting specific areas of action; ensuring mutual accountability towards shared objectives; adopting new, innovative, and adaptable methods of operation; and a heightened focus on vulnerable and fragile zones. Projects are strategically focused on five core areas: “education and youth employment,” “agriculture, rural development, food security,” “energy and climate,” “governance,” and “decentralization and basic services.” To enhance their efficiency and pace of delivery, projects will utilize innovative methods, incorporating flexible financing mechanisms and diversifying implementing stakeholders, such as NGOs, local authorities, and the private sector. Special attention will be dedicated to the most vulnerable and precarious zones. These principles aim to foster tighter coordination between partners and hasten the rollout of assistance and projects, meeting the needs articulated by the beneficiaries.

The overarching goal of the Sahel Alliance is to assist Sahelian countries in laying the groundwork for stable societies, fostering sustainable development, and ensuring enduring peace in the Sahel. In Mali, the Alliance Sahel’s primary focus areas are the “Integrated Territorial Approach in the Southern Arch of Mali (Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso)” and “Social Cohesion and Peace.” The World Bank, besides co-chairing the Alliance Sahel in Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, leads the “Integrated Territorial Approach,” emphasizing land-based local development plans that encapsulate economic, social, environmental, and cultural facets while promoting local stakeholder participation. This approach promoted decentralized decision-making, empowering local governance to formulate integrated and sustainable development strategies tailored to the unique requirements and potential of their regions.

The World Bank is seeking a seasoned consultant with a deep understanding of the Sahel region’s socio-economic and political landscape and experience with territorial development to support its various engagement in the Alliance Sahel and support the coordination of activities related to the Alliance Sahel in Mali and the other Sahelian countries and support the coordination work at the regional level.

The objective is to support relevant World Bank teams working on the Alliance Sahel including the following:

• Support the monitoring of World Bank projects relevant to the Alliance Sahel to ensure that activities associated with the Alliance Sahel are incorporated into operational work.
• Under the guidance of the Team Leader, assist with various activities, such as preparing materials for coordination meetings, liaising with partners regarding relevant activities, and providing updates on WBG-financed activities.
• Coordinate with various teams and donors regarding the integrated Territorial Approach inMali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Chad and bolster engagement with local authorities and partners on these topics.
• Assist with analytical and communications tasks pertinent to the Alliance Sahel, including preparing notes, briefs, presentations, talking points, speeches, meeting minutes, and other relevant documents.
• Provide logistical support, including organizing missions, workshops, meetings, etc.
• When required, provide demand-driven support and specific contributions as outlined by the Task Team Leader.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the World Bank Alliance Sahel Focal Point for the Sahel based in Bamako. S/he will collaborate with the Sahel Country Offices, the Country Management Unit based in Bamako, Mali, and closely with the other country offices in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Chad, as well as with the FCV Group based in the field and in Washington DC, task team leaders working in the Sahelian countries and other relevant teams. The consultant will ideally be based in Mali or in another country of the Sahel.

Timing and Resources

The services requested are expected to be provided as soon as possible until June 30, 2024. A total number of 60 consultancy days will be allocated to this work. Upon agreement with the TTL, the consultant, and the managers, the contract could be extended beyond those initial 60 days

Required Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have strongexpertise in territorial Development and international Development. An in-depth understanding of the Sahelian context is necessary. An in-depth understanding of World Bank operations, policies, and procedures is advantageous. S/he will be familiar with how development aid can support conflict risk mitigation and the broader peace agenda and project preparation and implementation challenges in FCV and insecure contexts. S/he will meet the following selection criteria:

• Master’s Degree in Regional Planning, Geography,International Relations, Development Economics, or related field
• Minimum of 5years of professional experience related to FCV contexts.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of conflict and fragility dynamics in the Sahel.
• Strong knowledge of the landscape of development cooperation in the Sahel.
• Experience working on development policies and projects gained in the field in FCV settings.
• Significant project management experience, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage the delivery of assignments within deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, and team skills, with demonstrated ability to build strong networks and work with teams to achieve results.
• Significant experience coordinating, negotiating, and facilitating interactions with development partners and government officials.
• Familiarity with World Bank operational policies and procedures and experience in preparing World Bank documents would be an asset.
• Excellent command of English and French, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent writing, presentational and communication skills.