Sub-Regional Gender Program Officer for Middle East

Sub-Regional Gender Program Officer for Middle East

Job #:

req34868

Organization:

IFC

Sector:

Gender

Grade:

GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

Local Recruitment

Location:

Beirut,Lebanon

Required Language(s):

English, Arabic

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

11/26/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.
The 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 in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit:
IFC is deeply committed to advancing gender equality and economic inclusion as laid out in IFC's 2030 Roadmap for Gender and Inclusion to deliver game-changing private sector partnerships and programs to accelerate gender equality and inclusion in emerging markets. Aligned with the new World Bank Group (WBG) Gender Strategy : Accelerate Gender Equality to End Poverty on a Livable Planet, IFC's Roadmap is built on six priorities offering high potential for impact in and through the private sector. These areas aim to (1) Allocate Capital that Drives Inclusion, (2) Make Supply Chains Inclusive, and (3) Remove Barriers to Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Leadership (including addressing gender-based violence). Equally important are two cross-cutting themes that are foundational to achieving sustainable results across the priority areas and require action: (4) Bridging the Digital Divide; (5) Accelerating Inclusive and Gender-Smart Climate Action; and (6) Ending Gender-based Violence and Harassment.
As part of its mandate, IFC has a dedicated team - the Gender and Economic Inclusion (GEI) team that works with IFC's investment and advisory teams to support private sector clients in providing all genders and underserved communities with equal economic opportunities as leaders, employees, entrepreneurs, consumers, and community members. The GEI team leads strategy development and implementation for the organization, provides tailored operational solutions and client advice, innovates, and incubates novel approaches, serves a thought leader and disseminator of knowledge on GEI issues, supports mobilization through impact investing and sustainable financing; and forges public and private sector partnerships with the aim of creating economic opportunities and development for all.
The Sub-Regional Gender Program Officer will report to the Regional Lead, MCT and North Africa, for Gender and Inclusion.
Duties and Responsibilities 
Regional portfolio delivery and business development:
•  Deliver client projects and manage client relationships across the sub-region.
•  Support the delivery of existing portfolio projects in the Middle East sub-region, ensuring the provision of high-quality services to internal (industry/regional) and external clients and strong internal project governance.
•  Accelerate Opportunities to Include Gender and Inclusion Solutions: Help subregional and industry leadership identify and embed gender and economic inclusion solutions in their existing and pipeline investment and advisory projects by supporting the screening of project pipelines and identifying opportunities. Help work on implementing the defined gender solutions.
•  Aid in the collaboration with IFC Industry teams for the design and delivery of coordinated, country-level programs in the Middle East sub-region that address gender barriers and deliver measurable gender outcomes, including new flagship initiatives. Sub-Regional strategy, communications, and partnerships:
•  Assist IFC sub-regional and country management in the Middle East sub-region on gender issues.
•  Support with providing IFC sub-regional, regional, and country management in the Middle East sub-region with consistent inputs in sub-regional, country, and industry/sector projects, programs, and strategies.
•  Assist the sub-regional communications team in the Middle East sub-region and country management in the Middle East sub-region on gender and economic inclusion topics externally, such as at regional events, with partners, and in the media.
Sub-Regional strategy, communications, and partnerships:
•  Assist IFC sub-regional and country management in the Middle East sub-region on gender issues.
•  Support with providing IFC sub-regional, regional, and country management in the Middle East sub-region with consistent inputs in sub-regional, country, and industry/sector projects, programs, and strategies.
•  Assist the sub-regional communications team in the Middle East sub-region and country management in the Middle East sub-region on gender and economic inclusion topics externally, such as at regional events, with partners, and in the media.

Selection Criteria

The candidate should be a seasoned candidate with in-depth experience working with the private sector and across institutional structures to deliver impactful solutions. S/he routinely leads staff, initiatives, programs, projects, and integrates the work of others (often multi-disciplinary). S/he confidently delivers quality output and can work and inspire others with a sense of urgency. S/he can proficiently interact with companies' senior management, development partners and communicate with senior government counterparts and other organizations with confidence on the topic at hand.
Minimum requirements: 

•  Master's degree in economics, finance, business, or other relevant discipline required.
•  At least seven years of professional experience in private sector development in emerging markets (required) with decision-making responsibility, ideally focusing on gender and inclusion.
•  Experience in structuring investment and advisory projects, including results frameworks to capture gender/inclusion outcomes and impacts.
•  Broad experience across gender and economic inclusion topics and the demonstrated ability to engage with credibility and confidence.
•  Ability to self-manage, multitask, and work under time constraints.
•  Successful record of managing staff/consultants/temporaries in a project, monitoring project issues and tasks, meeting deadlines, and setting priorities
•  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, sound business judgment to identify issues, and present creative and practical solutions.
•  Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills in English, including a strong ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues, and recommend solutions. Fluency in Arabic is a prerequisite.
•  Demonstrated commitment to IFC core values, including excellence, mutual respect, collegiality, teamwork, diversity and inclusiveness, integrity, innovation, transparency, and accountability.

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.

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