Program Assistant

Program Assistant

Job #:
req31357
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Administration/Office Support
Grade:
GC
Term Duration:
3 years
Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment
Location:
Dushanbe,Tajikistan
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Russian, Tajik
Closing Date:
2/9/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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. Visit www.worldbank.org

Tajikistan is part of the five-country Central Asia Country Unit (ECCCA), including also Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The ECCCA regional hub is located in Almaty and is led by a Country Director.
As the poorest country in Central Asia, Tajikistan is particularly vulnerable to shocks-including the country's reliance on remittances (over 1/3 of GDP), food imports and external market variations, vulnerability to natural disasters, limited arable land, and landlocked geographic location. The cooperation with the Government of Tajikistan is guided by the Country Partnership Framework FY19-23. The CPF supports a country program that seeks to strengthen human capital and resilience to key risks of socio-economic fragility and upgrade Tajikistan's remittance-financed, import-reliant economic model into a more productive, diversified and export-oriented one. To this end, it rests on three pillars, viz., (i) human capital and social cohesion; (ii) public institutions and sustainability; and (iii) private-sector growth and market creation. The current active World Bank portfolio includes 26 IDA-funded investment lending projects with a net commitment of about US$1.9bn. The program includes several IDA regional projects on energy, environment, and transport.

The World Bank Group Office in Dushanbe is a Joint Country Representation team, working across all three institutions of the World Bank Group (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA), and Tajikistan has about 46 staff and 66 consultants. The World Bank in Tajikistan: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/tajikistan.
The CMU in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) is currently looking for an experienced, program assistant to support the team with implementation of the country program. Broadly, the duties and accountabilities can include the following described in the Scope of work section below and may be prioritized based on the needs of the specific role.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The program assistant is expected to provide a wide range of administrative support to the WBG office and the accountabilities will include, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Provide primary assistance in the implementation of the unit's work program, including some specialized support in specific areas e.g. task management, procurement, database management, information technology, editorial assistance, etc;
• Handle administrative and logistical arrangements (including working schedule and meeting with counterparts) for visits of project teams and ensuring effective coordination of their work program in the country;
• Format and, if necessary, draft variety of standard project-related operational correspondence, drafting minutes and ensuring timely submission for clearance and distribution, as well as adherence to departmental, VPU and institutional and operational guidelines and procedures;
• Use word processing or desktop publishing skills to draft complex text, reports, figures, graphs, etc., according to standard Bank formats and distribution; prepare standard system-generated and customized reports, memoranda, and other communications; process documents for signature, ensuring documents adhere to the World Bank's standards and guidelines;
• Coordinate team schedules, meetings, and appointments, undertake standard logistical preparations for various events, e.g. missions, meetings, conferences, workshops, negotiations, etc.;
• Support mission activities which include preparation/updating of mission itineraries and briefing materials, coordination of meeting schedule, travel, and security arrangements, etc.;
• Support with maintaining, retrieval, manipulating and presentation of project related data;
• Support TTLs in processing individual consultants and consultant firms' requests in compliance with the policy for the selection of consultants, onboard and handle logistical arrangements for the consultants;
• Assist teams with preparation and follow-up of payment requests, SOEs for consultants, etc;
• Assist in monitoring the unit's budget (e.g. liaise and follow up with RM, as appropriate);
• Assist team or work unit by translating/drafting a variety of routine documents, applying effective proofreading and grammar skills in English and Russian languages; ensuring quality of translation of key operational documents and correspondence;
• Provide support for preparation and implementation of Bank projects, according to Bank procedures;
• Tracking assigned task/project steps/timetables, coordinating with relevant staff and providing assistance and/or information on project-related matters;
• Maintain current distribution lists, phone/address lists of project/product contacts, and distributing documents for the team;
• Maintaining up-to-date work unit project and other files (IRIS);
• Assist team or work unit by translating/drafting a variety of routine documents, applying effective proofreading and grammar skills in English and Russian languages;
• Solve non-routine problems (e.g., responds to requests requiring file search, etc.);
• Identify and resolve diverse issues/problems as they arise, which often requires interpretation of existing procedures and processes and independently determining the appropriate application;
• Provide, when necessary, back up support and/or assistance to other Tajikistan Country Office colleagues in coordination with the Executive Assistant in order to ensure smooth operation of the office support work;

Selection Criteria

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelors' degree and/ college diploma with a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in a similar role;
• Excellent organizational, administrative and effective time management skills;
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, schedule, plan and coordinate work and other activities internally and externally;
• Strong attention to detail and to maintaining high quality standards;
• Ability to produce high quality work under pressure;
• Proven ability to create and work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment, to perform effectively in a constantly changing environment with competing activities and demands, and to effectively serve as a team member in various groups;
• Demonstrated ability to organize and implement projects and tasks, set priorities, coordinate and monitor assignments to maximize efficiency and quality;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to interact effectively with a range of contacts internally and externally and deal effectively with diverse situations which require good judgment, tact and diplomacy;
• Effective analytical, research and problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and make judgments and decisions with minimal supervision;
• Strong communication skills in English and Russian (verbal and written), including ability to draft, proofread and edit correspondences and ensure quality of written outputs;
• Demonstrated ability to respond and deal effectively with diverse situations which require good judgment, tact, diplomacy and confidentiality;
• Good computer skills; proficiency with various software technologies such as MS Office, Outlook, One Drive and other standard office productivity software. Ability to learn quickly new software applications.
• High degree of motivation, initiative, flexibility, and reliability

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.