Reflections from a World Bank Consultant Ing. Dirk Ossen 29 November 2010

Welcome to ‘Working with (or for) the World

Bank’

Reflections from a World Bank Consultant

Ing. Dirk Ossen

29 November 2010

Brief CV First mission in 1978 Work in Africa Work in Eastern-Europe and Central Asia Today’s work World Bank Guidelines Images Recommendations

Working with the World Bank

Presentation divided into:

Brief CV

HTS Utrecht- Weg & Waterbouwkunde (1963) 8 years Switzerland- wastewater treatment,

sewerage projects 2 years Middle-East - operation WWTP Kuwait City 8 years Germany – water projects all over the world 14 years own company (until 1995) More than 30 years experience as an Individual

Consultant for the World Bank

Working with the World Bank

First mission in 1978

Why me? Work, duration and composition of World Bank

mission members Preparation of urban projects (‘sites & services’,

slum upgrading) Personal contacts Follow-up missions

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Work in Africa

80-ies of last century Black Africa: Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali

Djibouti and Liberia Duration: at least 14 days Preparation of projects in water sector and road

(re)construction 3-4 missions in a year

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Eastern-Europe and Central Asia

90-ies last century Project Identification Mission to Baltic States War Damage Assessment Mission to Kosovo Introduction of PSP- Private Sector Participation Numerous (short) missions to Turkey,

Macedonia

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Today’s work

Preparation and Supervision of ProjectsReview of Technical Specifications and

Bidding Documents Drafting or Review of Terms of Reference 5-6 (short) missions per year

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World Bank Guidelines

Procurement of Goods, Works and ServicesStandard Bidding Documents for ICB, NCB.

Shopping, Direct Contracting, etc.Guidelines for employment of consultantsDownload from World Bank web site

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Images

Working with the World Bank

Working with the World Bank

Illegal private connections to public water main in Albania (2010)

Working with the World Bank

Illegal private connections to public water main in Albania (2010)

Working with the World Bank

Wastewater treatment plant pumping station in Bosnia before…….

Working with the World Bank

……and after reconstruction with World Bank support

Working with the World Bank

Looted control room on Bosnian WWTP site before……

Working with the World Bank

……and after reconstruction with World Bank support

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Unfinished manhole of abandoned Deep Sewer System in Odessa

Working with the World Bank

Illegal solid waste disposal somewhere in Bosnia

Working with the World Bank

Installed water meters (under a water project) in the old part of Mostar (Bosnia)

Working with the World Bank

Why do you still work for the Bank?

Hard to find greater challengesGreat satisfaction in improving living

conditionsWorking in (generally) competent teams

(economists, financial, procurement and environmental experts

Working with the World Bank

Give us a good advice

You like to work in a bureaucratic environment You like to travel frequently and for longer periods You’re not getting frustrated (too) easily You have confidence in your counterparts You preach least cost solutions You like to manage rather than ‘calculate’ You like to solve problems

Finally, is the Bank successful?

I leave the answer to others

Working with the World Bank