Published on Arab Voices

Join our team: Seeking young talented Arabic speakers

Thank you for your interest in the World Bank SMART program. The application process is now closed and short-listed candidates have been contacted. If you have not been contacted, your application has not been considered further in the selection process but thank you for your interest and we wish you every success in the future. We also invite you to continue to review employment opportunities on our Career page.

Here at the Bank, we have found that continuously looking for new ways to listen to our clients is critical to ensuring the effectiveness and relevance of the World Bank’s work. As a global development institution, we might have knowledge of what has worked (or not worked) elsewhere, but we also know that such knowledge is only useful if it is relevant to the client’s need and if it is conveyed in a manner that works for the client – whether the client is a community group, a government, civil society, the private sector or academia, etc. 

The momentous events of the Arab Spring started a new conversation about the future for the Middle East and North Africa region – and it was driven in large part by young people. It is on this background that the Bank seeks to attract highly motivated and talented young people who understand this conversation and its context in a deeply personal way.

So I am very pleased to announce the launch of a new recruitment drive for Arabic speakers, called the SMART (Strategic MNA Arabic Recruitment of Talent) program, which will provide a small cohort of the best and brightest Arabic speakers with a unique opportunity to pursue a career at the Bank.  We are very excited to introduce young, dynamic professionals to the MENA region of the World Bank and in this small way contribute to the expansion of the Arab talent in the World Bank’s MENA Region.

Photo: Arne Hoel l World Bank  2012

So who are we looking for?  The SMART program is an opportunity for young Arabic speakers who have a passion for international development and who dream now of a brighter future for the Arabic-speaking world. Individuals who participate in SMART will join one of the Middle East and North Africa departments at the Bank in order to build upon their expertise and in turn share with the World Bank their unique understanding of context so vital to guiding the best development choices.   High performers will have the opportunity to remain as staff on a longer-term basis.

Interested? Learn more about the responsibilities and the selection criteria by reading the terms of reference listed here. All applications and questions should be submitted to Ms. Christiane Youakim Cyouakim@worldbank.org by July 22, 2012.


Authors

Inger Andersen

Former Vice President, Middle East & North Africa

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