Counsel

Background & General Description:

Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.
 
In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal support to internal and external World Bank clients on operational, advisory and corporate matters. LEGVP provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, LEGVP helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the institution's Articles of Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEGVP includes geographically-based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending operations, and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional matters for the World Bank.

LEGAM provides operational legal support to two regions: (i) Africa, and (ii) Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Both Africa and MENA include a mix of low-income, lower- middle-income, and upper-middle income countries, and several fragile states.  The World Bank work program in Africa is the largest among all the Regions. The Africa and MENA Regions together represent 38% of the World Bank’s net commitments and 41% of its number of projects. Combined, they feature an FY19 IDA pipeline of USD15.9 billion and IBRD pipeline of USD5.57 billion. The Trust Fund portfolio includes 1,933 active grants worth USD6.8 billion.

Both Africa and MENA are experiencing higher levels of displacement. An unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home by conflict and persecution. Among them are nearly 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom came from countries in Africa and MENA. The World Bank made an important and significant decision to raise a dedicated $2 billion in its IDA18 replenishment (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2020) that is available as additional concessional financing to low-income countries bearing the burden of hosting large numbers of refugees. 

The Counsel will be a member of the LEGAM Practice Group, under the general supervision of both Chief Counsels, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Lead or Senior Counsels. The Counsel will be a lawyer who can operate independently to handle legal, operational and policy issues related to the Bank’s operations while working collaboratively with other lawyers within the Practice Group and LEG as a whole.

The Counsel will be expected, at some point during his/her tenure, to move abroad to serve as a decentralized Counsel in one of the Bank’s Country Offices.

The incumbent will report to both Chief Counsels, LEGAM. 

Duties & Accountabilities :

The Counsel position requires demonstrated ability of rigorous analytical skills, to work harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment. The level and quality of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the position, and references will be given consideration in this determination. 

Duties and Accountabilities will include:

•Covering a broad portfolio within a functional area, providing advice to clients on legal and policy issues in one or more areas of concentration; 

•Responsible for the successful delivery of legal work on projects and programs and other transactions within client assignments; drafting, reviewing, negotiating and finalizing legal documents for Bank’s operations.  

•Providing legal support to ongoing projects and programs, including reviewing project and program documents for adherence to World Bank Group legal policies and procedures, and business objectives; 

•Conducting comparative legal analyses on a range of issues in a given area, identify legal and policy issues, research for relevant precedents, and propose appropriate solutions to colleagues and clients; 

•Engaging in policy discussions and negotiations with officials internally and externally, developing relationships with members of the legal profession and lawyers working in development partner agencies; 

•Protecting and promoting World Bank Group's interests; 

•Writing and reviewing policy papers, undertaking legal research on topics in area of concentration and contributing to dissemination of policy and best practices in a given field; 

•Preparing legal briefs on diverse topics, as required; 

•Participating in task/project teams and operational missions; and

•Performing ad hoc assignments as requested by the Chief Counsels or designated Lead/Senior Counsel.

Selection Criteria

At least five years of relevant experience in addition to a JD, LLB, LLM or equivalent, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction. 

Excellent oral and written English and French are required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Required Competencies:

•Legal Drafting, Research and Communication
Proven ability to draft transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements), briefs and variety of legal instruments and related documents, with limited supervision. Conducts research as necessary to acquire insight and information. Is aware of the need for precision and focus on quality. 

•Bank Legal and Policy Framework
Has the potential to quickly understand the Bank's Legal framework, policies and procedures and is assessed as being able to apply them correctly and consistently. Identifies where these policies are not being applied or not being applied as intended and informs the appropriate parties.
 
•Independence
Carries out work with due care, preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts are fairly presented without seeking to obfuscate (either through too much information or withholding relevant information). Interprets information in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism when required. Does not divulge or exploit confidential information.

•Professional Maturity
Understands others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarifying others' points of view so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Is never condescending. Proven ability to deal sensitively and effectively across organizational boundaries, as a team member, in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues;

•Legal Reasoning
Breaks down problem into their component parts. Articulates the implications of situations in a step-by-step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand the issues. Makes sure he/she possesses all the facts.

•Deliver Results for Clients
Adds value by constantly looking for a better way to get more impactful results; sets challenging stretch goals for oneself. Immerses oneself in client experiences and perspective by asking probing questions to understand unmet needs. Demonstrates accountability for achieving results that have a development impact and financial, environmental and social sustainability. Identifies and proposes solutions to mitigate and manage risks. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, and works to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.

•Make Smart Decisions
Seeks diversity of information and inputs, researches possible solutions, and generates recommended options. Identifies and understands risks and proposes recommendations. Based on risk analysis makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of responsibility, considering the interests and concerns of stakeholders.

•Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries
Appropriately involves others in decision making and communicates with key stakeholders.  Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches displaying a sense of mutuality and respect. Integrates WBG perspective into work.

•Lead and Innovate
Contributes new insights to understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems. Adapts as circumstances require and manages impact of own behavior on others in context of WBG’s values and mission. Identifies and pursues innovative approaches to resolve issues.

•Create, Apply and Share Knowledge
Leverages department’s expertise and body of knowledge across WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions. Seeks to learn from more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge and helps others to learn. Builds personal and professional networks inside and outside the department.