External Affairs Officer

External Affairs Officer - Tunisia & Libya

Job #:

req35214

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Communications

Grade:

GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

Local Recruitment

Location:

Tunisia

Required Language(s):

English; French; Arabic

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

1/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. For more information, visit 
External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR)
The World Bank Group's (WBG) development impact by increasing public support for, and awareness of, the mission and work of the WBG.  ECR manages stakeholder engagement and communications strategies to help deliver financial and political support to the World Bank Group, while enhancing and protecting the reputation of the institution.  ECR manages global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, private sector, foundations, think-tanks, donor countries and multilateral and international organizations; manages corporate communications including online and social media; manages reputation risks and employee engagement. 
External and Corporate Relations for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (ECRMN)
Within the ECR Vice-Presidency, ECRMN employs an extended team of professionals located in World Bank Group Headquarters and in country offices across the MENAAP region. Like all regional WBG's communications teams, ECRMN focuses on four core duties: 
1. Stakeholder Engagement - to build trust and mobilize coalitions that enable the WBG to deliver jobs and growth in each country. 2. Strategic Business Marketing - to generate demand for WBG lending, private capital mobilization, and knowledge services and products by showcasing results and the WBG's value added. 3. Advocacy and Campaigns - to convert understanding into action by building support for reforms and solutions that address key WBG priorities and help drive private sector-led job creation. 4. Risk and Issue Management - to enable the WBG to deliver, including in complex environments, by anticipating challenges early, identifying pathways to keep progress on track, and protecting the institution's reputation.
ECRMN provides strategic support to operations by embedding communications into the operations cycle, positioning the Bank's leadership role, telling the development story of impact and results, spearheading stakeholder engagement and helping to manage reputational risks.  ECRMN's work program business lines encompass traditional and social media; messaging and positioning; political analysis and reputational risk management; creative content development and campaigns; and stakeholder engagement including with civil society, private sector, media, universities, think tanks and youth.  
About the World Bank in Tunisia:   About the World Bank in Libya:  
Roles & Responsibilities
The External Affairs Officer for Tunisia and Libya will be based in Tunis and be part of a team covering the Maghreb countries and will report to the ECRMN Manager based in Washington DC. The selected candidate will design and implement innovative communications approaches and best practices to effectively position and advance the priorities of the World Bank in these countries. This involves but is not limited to the following responsibilities: 

• Work as part of the World Bank Group's communications team, demonstrating abilities to support its agenda both with public clients (supported by the IBRD) and private sector clients (supported by IFC and MIGA, the private sectors arms of the Group)
• Plan, design, execute, monitor and evaluate the impact of communications strategies, activities, and campaigns about the World Bank Group's work in Tunisia and Libya. 
• Produce both routine and complex outreach products, writing and packaging materials (e.g. press releases, stories, website content, social media posts, talking points) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information about the World Bank Group's policies, projects, and reports to key audiences.  Create multimedia packages as part of this, recruiting and managing vendors to support Strategically disseminate these products through media or relevant external channel outside WBG, based on regular mapping and assessment of visibility opportunities 
• Nurture and maintain strategic relations with key external stakeholders. Forge strategic partnerships to improve dialogue and outreach and to promote a better understanding of the World Bank Group. Identify entry points for positioning the World Bank Group into national conversations and platforms and drive forward opportunities. Support WBG efforts to capture third-party validation, leveraging testimonials / commentaries from external clients and partners. 
• Monitor and analyze current events, including through media monitoring.  Keep management informed of trends, news developments or changing circumstances that may impact the Bank and its work, including by producing timely political briefings.  
• Identify potential reputational risks and advise on mitigation and response.
• Organize events, often in collaboration with partners, that convene constituencies for informed dialogue around pressing development agendas.
• Manage media relations, responding to queries, pitching stories, staff interviews, and arranging press briefings. 
• Deploy effective social media strategy, including in-depth mapping of relevant online voices (experts, influencers, opinion leaders) and leveraging the regional social media channels as a vehicle for messaging, positioning and stakeholder engagement.  
• Provide communication support to operational teams. This includes review and comment on key documents, guidance on contextual factors and communication interventions as needed.
• Provides support to regional initiatives and corporate priorities as requested.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree and at least five years of professional experience in Communications, Political Science, Economics, International Relations/Public Affairs, Journalism, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience with multilateral organizations, development, and/or international financial institutions or working in the local private sector can be a plus.  

• Proven track record of communications work, including stakeholder engagement, media and creative story telling. 

• Relationships and experience in working with NGOs, government officials, academia, private sector and other audiences critical to the Bank's work 

• A strong understanding of the development context and stakeholder environment in Tunisia and Libya. 

• Proven ability to identify, assess and mitigate reputational risks. 

• Outstanding inter-personal, organizational and teamwork skills, judgment, ability to collaborate with others in a multi-cultural environment.

• Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to multitask, take initiative, personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines, identify and respond to needs as they arise, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment

• Proven ability to nurture and sustain positive working relationships at all levels with internal and external stakeholders; and identify and act on strategic communications opportunities in a time-bound fashion.

• Fluency in oral and written in English required and fluency in oral and written French and/or Arabic required. 

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.

---