Job #: req38315 Organization: World Bank Sector: Health/Nutrition/Population Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Addis Ababa,Ethiopia Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/17/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
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
We need the best and brightest talent focused on our region in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.
Human development is at the core of the World Bank’s strategy to improve people’s lives and support sustainable development. The Human Development research program spans education, health, social protection, and labor. Additionally, the HD PG houses the gender group.
The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Health unit HAEH1 (Health)
The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Health unit (HAEH1) covers 13 countries with active portfolios in 9 countries, across three Country Management Units (CMUs). The Africa HNP Practice Managers have joint responsibilities for region-wide HNP strategies, and staff work across unit boundaries. HAEH1, which covers Eastern and Southern Africa, is responsible for policy analysis and dialogue, strategic engagement, relationship management and lending operations in that part of the region. The Unit has over 30 staff members, located in Washington DC and in country offices. HAEH1 has a strong portfolio of analytical work (ASA) and an active and diverse portfolio with over 16 projects under supervision, with a net commitment of about $1.5 billion. Currently, our work program addresses the following priority health challenges: reproductive health, maternal, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N); service delivery, public financial management and fiduciary functions, human resources for health, health care financing, and the use of AI and digital technologies. Through its analytical and operational projects, HAEH1 works with governments and development partners in addressing these challenges. The transformation of Africa’s health outcomes holds global significance, as investments today will prepare Africa’s population to lead in the future.
AFE is committed to delivering impact at scale by supporting large-scale health reforms beyond individual projects. This involves leveraging catalytic financing, bringing together countries facing similar challenges, and promoting new regional initiatives. By expanding results-based financing (RBF) and using vertical and horizontal multi-project agreements (MPAs), our unit aims to shape and sustain efforts to improve health outcomes across the continent. The focus on transformational spaces, policy reforms, and a collaborative approach with development partners is expected to create a resilient and equitable health framework for our countries’ futures.
Digital health and data analytics are central to the World Bank’s strategy in Africa and to its ambition of reaching 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030. Rather than stand-alone interventions, they are embedded within broader health system reforms to expand access, improve efficiency, and strengthen service delivery at scale. In countries such as Ethiopia, digital technologies—including telehealth, connected primary care platforms, and interoperable health information systems—are critical to reaching underserved populations and strengthening primary healthcare. At the same time, data analytics enables better targeting, resource allocation, and decision-making, supporting more efficient and resilient health systems.
Within this context, the Digitalization and Data Analytics Specialist will lead efforts to integrate digital health solutions and advanced data analytics into World Bank–financed health system strengthening programs. The role will support stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue to advance interoperability frameworks and the adoption of AI-driven analytics and digital solutions to improve service quality and performance. The Specialist will provide technical expertise in the design, development, and implementation of digital health platforms and data systems, ensuring effective data management, integration, and use across the health sector. The position will also coordinate and contribute to digital transformation efforts within World Bank operations, ensuring alignment with national priorities and supporting improved health system performance and outcomes toward universal health coverage (UHC).
The position is jointly financed by the AFE HAEH1 Unit and the Global Financing Facility (GFF). The incumbent reports to the HAEH1 Practice Manager and works closely with the Ethiopia HNP Task Team and the GFF country focal point to carry out assigned responsibilities. The incumbent will be expected to contribute actively to close integration and alignment between the AFE HAEH1 unit and the GFF, in their joint work program in Ethiopia.
A) Coordinate and support the design and implementation of Digital Health Interventions in HNP operations and support for dialogues with stakeholders (60% LoE).
B) Support to the GFF results and data support to Ethiopia (40% LoE).
Selection Criteria
World Bank Group Core Competencies
As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
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The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our vision is to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.
We are not a bank in the common sense; we are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 189 member countries: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
Each institution plays a different but collaborative role in advancing the vision of inclusive and sustainable globalization. The IBRD aims to reduce poverty in middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries, while IDA focuses on the world's poorest countries.
Their work is complemented by that of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Together, we provide low-interest loans, interest-free credits and grants to developing countries for a wide array of purposes that include investments in education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture and environmental and natural resource management.
