Short-Term Consultant for Poland - Institutional-Business Environment Expert

SUBNATIONAL BUSINESS READY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Short-Term Consultant for Poland

Background

The development of a healthy and thriving private sector is central to promoting growth. It is well recognized that encouraging firms to invest, improve productivity and create jobs requires the right legal and regulatory environment—including protection of property rights, access to credit, and efficient judicial, taxation and customs systems. 

Subnational Business Ready (B-READY) in the European Union provides a quantitative assessment of the business environment and the efficacy of bureaucracy at the local administrative level in EU Member States. The goal is to raise awareness on the need to improve business regulation at the subnational level and promote dialogue between the government and the private sector. Promoting a business environment that motivates entrepreneurship, business growth and employment generation not just in the big economic centers, but across all regions and cities, is an important tool to foster private sector development.

The Subnational Business Ready in the European Union series will benchmark business regulations in 18 cities in Poland. The data collection methodology is inspired by the World Bank’s B-READY study and adapted to the subnational context.[1] The first round of studies to be published in September 2024 covered 6 EU Member States including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. Together with Poland, the second round will cover Czechia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.

The project builds on the subnational knowledge accumulated between 2016 and 2023 in 115 cities from 16 EU Member States.[2]

The project is managed by the Global Indicators Group of the World Bank, and it is carried out in collaboration with government counterparts in each country benchmarked. The topics measured in the series are: Business Entry, Business Location (property transfer, building permits and environmental permits), Utility Services (water, electricity and internet), Dispute Resolution, and Business Insolvency. For each topic, the assessment will focus on the regulatory framework (the rules and regulations that firms must follow as they open and operate) and the provision of related public services (government-provided facilities for compliance with regulations and the critical institutions and infrastructure that enable business activities), as well as the efficiency with which regulatory framework and public services are combined in practice. Two cross-cutting themes will be examined across all proposed topics: digital adoption and environmental sustainability.

Key Tasks

The Short-term Consultant (STC) will assist the WBG team in identifying relevant stakeholders, organizing engagement activities, and contributing to the delivery of project outputs. The consultant will play a pivotal role in facilitating communication between the WBG team, government entities, and the private sector. 

Duties will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Support the WBG team in identifying key project stakeholders, counterparts, and topic experts at both national and subnational levels in Poland.
• Develop a comprehensive stakeholder database, including contact information and areas of expertise related to Business Entry, Business Location (property transfer, building permits, and environmental permits), Utility Services (water, electricity, and internet), Dispute Resolution, and Business Insolvency.
• Organize and facilitate dialogue forums, workshops, or related activities tailored to the needs of the project and stakeholders.
• Ensure that all engagement activities are inclusive, transparent, and effective in soliciting stakeholder input and collaboration.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings with relevant stakeholders, including government officials and private sector representatives, ensuring effective engagement and collaboration with the WBG team.
• Develop meeting agendas, compile background materials, and oversee all logistical arrangements to ensure smooth and effective project implementation. 
• Accompany the WBG team during field missions in Poland, providing on-the-ground support and facilitating interactions with stakeholders.
• Act as a liaison between the WBG team and local stakeholders to ensure clear communication and understanding of project objectives.
• Contribute to the preparation of project outputs, including reports, briefing notes, and memos for management.
• Document all stakeholder engagement activities and provide regular updates to the WBG team.

This post does not involve international travel. The STC must be based in Poland.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, or other pertinent field, and a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of Poland’s institutional and business environment, preferably coupled with an established professional network of contacts.
• Ability to interact effectively and efficiently with high-level policy government officials, both at national and subnational level. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English and Polish.
• Excellent technical writing skills and precise drafting capabilities. 
• Proficiency in all standard operational software packages (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint). 
• Flexibility and teamwork are essential aspects of the job.
• A proven sense of initiative, results orientation, teamwork, leadership qualities, and the ability to work effectively across different regulatory topics. 
• Ability to work independently and under strict deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills: demonstrated through research, data collection and analysis.
• Good communicator, willing to meet or call people to gather and verify information. 
• Previous experience working with data collection and/or on investment climate in the country is a plus.
• Systematic, organized, and detail-oriented.

Expected duration of contract and how to apply

The consultant is expected to be employed for approximately 30 working days between September 2024 and June 2025, with the possibility of extending both the number of days and the timeline, as needed. To apply, send your CV and application letter to Alessio Zanelli (azanelli@worldbank.org) and Maksym Iavorskyi (miavorskyi@worldbank.org) by September 30, 2024. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

[1] More information on Subnational Business Ready is available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/businessready/subnational 

[2] Previous reports and data are available at: www.doingbusiness.org/EU