Integrity Counsel – East Africa
| Job #: | req31038 |
| Organization: | IFC |
| Sector: | Risk |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Nairobi,Kenya |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 1/28/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Who We Are
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the Word Bank Group (WBG) and focuses on financing private sector investments in emerging markets. IFC:
• Works with 2,000 businesses worldwide to create opportunity where it is needed most.
• Commits about 400 new investment projects per year across all industry sectors – including infrastructure, manufacturing, telecommunications, venture, financial institutions and funds – and across all geographies of the world, taking both debt and equity positions and providing advisory services to support development.
• Has offices in over 100 countries and approximately 800 staff in Africa
• In FY24, achieved its highest-ever volume in history, with total commitments exceeding $56 billion.
Africa is a priority region for IFC. IFC has invested more than $60 billion in African businesses and financial institutions. In FY24 alone, we committed $4.7 billion in long term financing in Africa in IFC’s own account.
What We Do
IFC’s Business Integrity Risk Division at the Institutional Risk and Governance (CRG) Department supports IFC’s business teams by helping to mitigate certain risks that may occur in IFC financings and advisory projects. One of these is “integrity risk” – corruption, fraud, economic sanctions, litigation, criminal activity/history, politically exposed persons, opaque ownership structures, etc. – any of which can affect the integrity of an IFC project, or adversely impact IFC’s reputation as the preeminent international organization operating in the private sector.
What You’ll Be
• An Integrity Counsel focusing on the East Africa regions
• A strategic partner to business teams (investment and advisory)
• A visible, vocal and influential champion for the proper management of integrity issues
• Reporting to the Principal Counsel – Head, IDD/AML
What You’ll Do
You’ll advise business teams with an independent voice on all core aspects of integrity risks as they impact IFC’s clients, partners, transactions and new products/initiatives in the above region, to include:
• Evaluating integrity and reputational risks, making recommendations, and providing solutions to mitigate risk
• Employing knowledge, expertise, and sound judgment to address IFC’s unique integrity risk profile
• Developing expertise in regional IDD issues across all industries in which IFC works
• Demonstrating expertise related to the East Africa region
• Drafting disclosures for Board papers
• Assisting with crisis management in portfolio projects
You’ll provide legal advice to business teams and management on integrity-related matters in transactions, new products/initiatives, and IFC operations generally, including on the following subjects:
• International and national anti-corruption/bribery laws and regulations (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act, etc.)
• Other integrity-related laws/regulations and legal issues that arise in IFC business
• Economic sanctions (such as the UN, EU, UK, and US regimes) and other international trade sanctions and export controls
• Crisis management and legal advice related to significant integrity legal matters, including potential or actual litigation or involving complex legal issues
• The legal workings of the WBG Integrity Vice-Presidency (INT) and WBG Sanctions System
You’ll also provide legal advice to business teams and management on integrity-related contractual provisions, to include:
• Reviewing current integrity-related provisions in IFC legal agreements
• Drafting new integrity-related provisions in IFC legal agreements and bespoke legal provisions in IFC financing documents
• Negotiating with clients to build out contractual protections on integrity-related matters
• Advising on integrity-related provisions for legal documentation relating to new products/initiatives
• Drafting disclosures for Board papers
You’ll support the work of the Business Integrity Risk Division by:
• Assisting with corporate initiatives and working groups, particularly focused on Fragile and Conflict States (FCS), to identify possible integrity risk concerns and solutions and to enhance CRG’s delivery of services
• Developing and executing training plans for client departments and IFC Management to educate and raise awareness on integrity risk issues
• Liaising with other World Bank Group entities, multilateral development banks, due diligence firms and other external stakeholders
• Presenting on integrity matters in conferences and meetings
• Working on special projects and/or other initiatives in support of the division’s work plan
Selection Criteria
What You’ll Need
• Juris Doctorate (JD), Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent
• At least 8 years of working experience providing advice on international business transactions, project finance, investment funds, or litigation including experience advising on business integrity-related matters (such as anti-corruption laws, AML/CFT, economic sanctions, etc.)
• Law firm experience, is a plus
• Prior experience working in East Africa or similar regions, with a deep understanding of the local business environment and regulatory landscape.
• Proven track record in handling crisis situations, particularly those involving integrity and reputational risks.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex integrity and compliance challenges.
• Strong working knowledge in supporting the origination, design, implementation, management, oversight, and monitoring of investment projects, a plus.
• Strong understanding of international best practices and global trends in integrity management; good knowledge of regional trends in Eastern Africa.
• Ability to synthetize complex information and make concrete strategic and tactical recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrating strong teamwork and collaboration, with a demonstrated track record as a team member on complex projects and programs.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior management level, in both the public and private sectors.
• Strong client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships with senior management and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.
• Strong organizational skills, with an ability to work under time pressure, in unstructured situations, and in case of unexpected events; agility to respond to shifts in client priorities while ensuring delivery.
• Strong sense of accountability and capacity to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and another major language are required.
And Tackling All of the Above With
• Highly developed technical skills with solid judgment
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate sound judgment on what to escalate
• Clear, concise, and cogent writing skills and ability to provide concrete recommendations
• Ability to build effective client relationships
• Digital dexterity
• Genuine commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise
• Diplomacy and ability to work with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Highly personal integrity, strong values, and ethics
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.
