The Global Secondment Program (GSP) is an opportunity for officials of a member country, regional agency, development bank, international organization, academia, or private enterprise to be appointed on a Special Assignment to the World Bank Group (WBG). The program is for a specific period (not to exceed four years) for skills enhancement, knowledge sharing, strategic alliances, cultural exchange, and diversification to contribute to the Bank’s work. The GSP is often used as a pre-recruitment step, especially for nationalities of concern.
Each assignment is arranged directly between the WBG's hiring manager, the external organization, and the participant. Participants must meet selection criteria commensurate with the proposed grade of the assignment.
Appointment Overview
Participants join the WBG on Special Assignment Appointments that are full-time and funded by the partner (an official of a member country, regional agency, development bank, international organization, academia, or private enterprise) of the World Bank Group.
Criteria for Assignments
This is a full-time appointment of an official of a member country, regional agency, development bank, international organization, academia, or private enterprise to the Bank Group, to obtain or use relevant experience and contribute to the World Bank Group's work program.
The participant must be a full-time employee of the releasing organization at the time of appointment and continue to receive their salary and benefits from that company or organization. Interns will not be considered.
Organizations nominate at least three individuals with good performance records. Nominees are usually interviewed by the WBG’s hiring unit, with the hiring unit manager making the ultimate selection decision.
All appointments will be subject to a security clearance to verify employment, education, credit and criminal history. Participants may not begin the assignment until the security clearance process is completed. If the participant does not meet the World Bank Group’s security clearance standard, the appointment is terminated.
Due to the nature of Special Assignment under the GSP, and in accordance with the program’s Conflict of Interest Guidelines, participants may not hold positions that would be deemed managerial or policy making roles.
Onetime Special Assignment Appointments are usually one to two years; they can be for six months depending on the criteria of the assignment. The length of the appointment should not exceed four years.
Financial Arrangements
For participants on Special Assignment Appointments, the releasing organization continues to directly pay the participant's salary and benefits.
Participants holding Special Assignment Appointments do not receive stipends or grants directly from the World Bank Group.
Participants are eligible to attend WBG training.
The WBG will cover operational travel and overhead expenses.
These appointments should not be funded by trust funds.
Administrative Matters
Leave and Attendance — All participant will follow the same annual and sick leave policy as World Bank Group staff. They will not be paid for any unused leave at the end of the assignment.
Training — Participants are eligible to apply for participation in in-house training courses offered to World Bank Group staff.
Conflict of Interest — The participant, releasing organization, and Bank manager must adhere to the guidelines on conflict of interest.
Overall Performance Evaluation – Participants and hiring managers will complete six-month interim evaluations as well as the Overall Performance Evaluations in accordance with WBG guidelines and objectives.
Time Recording System (TRS) — Participants do not record their time in the unit’s TRS.
United Nations Laissez-Passer (UNLP) — The UNLP cannot be issued to staff on Special Assignment Appointments because the UN charter rules require staff and consultants be salaried by the institution to qualify for a Laissez-Passer passport. If the participant will undertake operational travel, we encourage them to obtain an alternative document called a UN Certificate. As the UNLPs, the UN Certificate verifies that the holder is traveling on official World Bank Group business. However, it is not a passport, and no visas may be issued in it. Forms can be obtained in the Visa Office (MC 2-276).
SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) Access — Participants will have the ability to create and submit a trip for approval as well as enter the trip cost statement. However, the trip cost statement submission for settlement/reimbursement shall be processed by WBG staff with the appropriate SAP access authorization (travel specialist and travel assistant).
Extension of Assignment – Assignments may be extended for an additional the GSP year after the initial one- or two-year period. Assignments will not be extended beyond four years. The hiring manager needs to notify the GSP of the proposed extension at least three months before the end of the assignment. With the authorization of the partner organization GSP will contact releasing organization to obtain approval and prepare Addendum to Memorandum of Agreement recording authorization to extend.
Recruitment of Participant — Participants may apply for externally posted vacancies following World Bank Group hiring practices (i.e., match to criteria, competitive process with relevant Sector Board clearances).
Exit Requirements — In accordance with SR 15.01, staff members leaving the service of the World Bank Group are required to be present at the WBG on their last day of service. Any exception will need to be coordinated with the GSP and the hiring manager.
You may not be offered WBG employment for at least two years following the expiration of your GSP assignment except with the prior written authorization of the partner organization.
If there is a vacancy in the hosting unit, participants may apply as an external candidate. The participant must go through the competitive process as all other candidates which may include Sector Board clearance as well as a shortlisting and an interviewing process.
Participants are incorporated into the WBG’s Overall Performance Evaluation (OPE) process. Managers meet with staff to ensure that there is an understanding of the results and performance indicators and provide feedback after the initial six months. At the end of a year, a full performance evaluation is conducted, and each subsequent year of the assignment.
It is the responsibility of the hiring manager to ensure that the Terms of Reference does not present a conflict of interest and that other hiring guidelines are maintained. Terms of Reference should be submitted in the GSP World Bank Group format.
Process for Washington, D.C. -based Special Assignment
Implementing the Assignment
Once the participant has been selected and the necessary documentation is received by the World Bank's Human Resources department, the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) specifying the terms and conditions, including financial arrangements and Conflict of Interest Guidelines, will be sent to the releasing organization for signature.
Once the final MoA has been signed by the Bank and the releasing organization, the participant will receive a letter of appointment.
For Washington, DC-based assignments:
For non-U.S. nationals/non-permanent residents, the World Bank Group will send supporting documentation to the U.S. Consulate so that the participants can obtain the required G-4 visa for themselves and dependents. This visa must be granted before the participant relocates to the United States. (The participant will have to leave the US to get the proper working visa.) The participant should not take any irrevocable action until they have the appropriate visa.
Although the World Bank Group recognizes domestic partner relationships, the United States government does not. Visas will not be granted to participants’ domestic partners — only for spouses and dependent children.
The World Bank Group has a Global Mobility Unit that can assist new staff with information on housing, schools, child care, elder care, and spouse careers. The hiring unit should put the participant in touch with this office when desired by the participant.
Each participant will attend the three-day Orientation Program upon the commencement of their assignment and should be assigned a peer sponsor/mentor by their manager to further assist them in making the transition to the World Bank Group’s work and culture.