Senior Energy Specialist at World Bank Group

Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

14 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

16 May, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Energy Access, On-grid Electrification, Mini-grid Development, Off-grid Solar Solutions, Least-cost Electrification Planning, Subsidy Design, Results-based Financing, Distributed Renewable Energy, Geospatial Analysis, Policy Dialogue, Portfolio Management, Fiduciary Oversight, Stakeholder Coordination, Knowledge Management, Capacity Building, Gender-responsive Programming

Industry

International Trade and Development

Description

Senior Energy Specialist Job #: req36660 Organization: World Bank Sector: Energy Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Nairobi,Kenya Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/26/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries — a unique global partnership of five institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 130 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sectors, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Please visit www.worldbank.org. Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is a global partnership between the World Bank and over 20 donor governments and philanthropies. ESMAP helps low- and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth through sustainable energy solutions. Its analytical and advisory services are fully integrated within the World Bank's country financing and policy dialogue in the energy sector. ESMAP's mandate is to help secure universal energy access by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), while transitioning from polluting energy sources to low-carbon solutions such as solar and wind power. About Mission 300 and the Nairobi Hub In the Spring Meeting of 2024, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank committed to providing at least 300 million people in Africa with access to electricity by 2030 — a landmark initiative known as Mission 300 (M300). The World Bank Group alone has pledged to electrify 250 million people, supported by over $8.4 billion in IDA/IBRD financing and flagship programs including the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) and the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) platform. ESMAP plays a central role in Mission 300, financing project preparation, analytical and feasibility studies, measuring energy access performance through multi-tier definition of access, geospatial analyses, national electrification strategies, least-cost electrification plans, regulatory support, and stakeholder engagement across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Mission 300 Hub in Nairobi serves as a key operational anchor for accelerating the energy access agenda across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Hub coordinates closely with governments, the private sector, development partners, non-energy World Bank Group sectors (Education, Health, Agriculture, water, digital, etc.) and World Bank country teams to drive implementation of M300 National Energy Compacts and ensure countries can translate ambitious commitments into results on the ground. Please note this position is financed by a Trust Fund and renewal is contingent upon availability of funding, in addition to other factors, including but not limited to business needs, staff performance and skills fit. Job Duties and Responsibilities: The Senior Energy Specialist (Energy Access) will be a core member of the Mission 300 Hub in Nairobi and will report to the ESMAP Practice Manager (KIESA). The specialist will be expected to hit the ground running, bringing deep expertise in energy access to advance Mission 300's goals across Sub-Saharan Africa. Specific duties include 1. Technical Leadership on Energy Access: Lead and contribute to the design, preparation, and implementation of energy access operations and programs, including on-grid electrification, mini-grid development, and off-grid solar solutions. Provide high-quality technical advice to World Bank Group energy teams and government clients on least-cost electrification planning, subsidy design, results-based financing, and distributed renewable energy (DRE) deployment. 2. Operational and Analytical Support: Lead or contribute to key analytical and advisory products, including national electrification strategies, geospatial analyses, demand assessments, market studies, regulatory frameworks, and cost-benchmarking. Support the preparation and supervision of ESMAP-financed activities within Mission 300 projects. 3. Policy Dialogue and Client Engagement: Conduct independent, high-level policy discussions with government counterparts, regulators, private sector actors, and development partners. Support client countries in developing and implementing Energy Compacts and associated action plans. Represent ESMAP and the World Bank at workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events across the region. 4. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building: Create, share, and apply cutting-edge knowledge on energy access — including lessons from operational experience, emerging technologies, and innovative financing models. Contribute to global knowledge products, toolkits, and learning events. Mentor junior staff and build the capacity of government counterparts. 5. Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinate with Mission 300 partners including the African Development Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), GOGLA, AMDA, SEforALL, IFC, and MIGA to mobilize support and ensure coherence across the energy access ecosystem. 6. Portfolio Management and Fiduciary Oversight: Provide day-to-day operational support for the ESMAP portfolio in the region, including grant management, procurement, financial reporting, and monitoring & evaluation, in line with World Bank policies and procedures. Selection Criteria • Master's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a closely related field, with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the energy sector. • Demonstrated, hands-on experience in energy access — including at least one of the following: on-grid electrification programs, mini-grid development, off-grid solar/SHS deployment, rural electrification planning with deep analytics background on energy access challenges. • Proven track record of delivering results in the Sub-Saharan African context, ideally with experience working in East Africa. • Experience with the design and/or implementation of World Bank financed energy projects is highly desirable. • Experience working with the private sector on DRE investments, including results-based financing, output-based aid, or blended finance structures. • Familiarity with Mission 300 programs, including ASCENT, DARES, Zafiri or similar regional electrification initiatives. • Experience with gender-responsive energy programming. • Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, briefs, and presentations for senior audiences. • Knowledge of ESMAP is desirable. Technical Competencies • Energy Sector Technologies: Deep, applied expertise in energy access technologies — grid extension, mini-grids, standalone solar systems, and hybrid solutions — with the ability to translate this expertise into policy-relevant decisions and investment advice. • Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions: Strong understanding of energy sector policies, electrification strategies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional arrangements in Sub-Saharan Africa, including experience with electrification strategies, energy compacts, national energy plans, and sector reform. • Knowledge and Experience in the Development Arena: Ability to translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications, contributing to country and sector strategies and engaging clients at the policy level. • Policy Dialogue Skills: Proven ability to anticipate client needs and conduct independent, high-level policy discussions with government officials, private sector representatives, and development partners. • Integrative Skills: Ability to work across sectors and understand how energy access intersects with gender, climate, private sector development, jobs, and social inclusion. • Analytical Skills: Experience with geospatial analysis, least-cost electrification planning tools, multi-tier framework approach of energy access, subsidy design covering supply side and demand side approaches, and results-based financing mechanisms. Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered. WBG Culture Attributes: 1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders. 2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact. 3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results. 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.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and implementation of energy access operations and programs across Sub-Saharan Africa to support the Mission 300 initiative. Provide technical leadership, conduct high-level policy dialogue with governments, and manage the ESMAP portfolio including grant and procurement oversight.