Job Family
Environment
Sector
Environment
Term Duration
3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type
Local Recruitment
Required Language(s)
English
The World Bank Group (WBG)’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity reflect a new global landscape: one in which developing countries have an unprecedented opportunity to end extreme poverty within a generation. 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.
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN REGION
The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries, to small Caribbean states, and to one fragile state. Despite immense resources and dynamic societies, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The region is extremely exposed and vulnerable to many natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods that can ravage entire regions, and hurricanes that devastate Caribbean states. It is also among the most vulnerable due to high population density in the areas where these disasters strike and the need for better risk management practices.
The Sustainable Development Practice Group
The Sustainable Development (SD) Department supports the WBG’s twin goals by focusing on green, resilient, and inclusive growth. It consists of five global practices (GPs): Agriculture and Food; Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy; Urban, Resilience and Land; Social Sustainability and Inclusion; and Water. The SD program in LCR includes an FY22 lending program of 24 operations for $3 billion, an active portfolio of 102 operations with $10.9 billion under implementation, and a dynamic program of 82 pieces of advisory services and analytics (ASA) across all SD sectors.
ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES & BLUE ECONOMY GLOBAL PRACTICE
The sustainable management of the environment and natural resources is vital for economic growth and human wellbeing. When managed well, renewable natural resources, watersheds, productive landscapes, and seascapes can provide the foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. For more information:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment
To advance this agenda, the Environment Natural Resources & Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB GP) has five key business lines consisting of lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Watersheds and Sustainable Landscapes (Green Business line); (2) Marine, Coastal, Aquatic Resources and Ocean Health (Blue Economy Business line); (3) Pollution Management and Environmental Health (Pollution Management Business line); (4) Environmental Economics, Policies and Institutions Business line, and (5) Environmental Risk Management Business line: delivery of effective environmental risk management and sustainability by managing risk at the project level and creating opportunities to advance sustainable development.
As mentioned above, one specific ENB GP business line is to support effective environmental risk management, and to ensure good environmental management across the Bank’s work in part through the implementation of the Bank’s environmental policies and its Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). On August 4, 2016, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) to help protect people and the environment in the investment projects it finances. This effort is one of several key initiatives, including procurement reform, and the climate and gender strategies, recently undertaken by the Bank to improve development outcomes.
The ESF responds to new and varied development demands and challenges that have arisen over time. It brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability - including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. The framework helps to ensure social inclusion, and explicitly references human rights in the overarching vision statement.
The ESF is made up of the World Bank’s vision for sustainable development, the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing, and ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). These set out the mandatory requirements for the World Bank, in relation to the projects it supports through Investment Project Financing (IPF), and for Borrowers.
Unit and Country Context
The Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Unit for LCR has about 45 staff. A third of these staff work on environmental safeguards and environmental risk management, with the other two-thirds work primarily on lending and knowledge products. About half are based in country offices, with the balance based in Washington DC travelling to the region frequently. The skills and expertise of these staff include: economics, pollution management, forestry, fisheries management, landscapes management, watershed management, and natural areas protection.
THE POSITION
This position will be based in Kingston, Jamaica and will be primarily responsible to support the environmental risk management business line in Jamaica and other the Caribbean countries. The Senior Environmental Specialist will work under supervision of the ENB Practice Manager for LCR, in close coordination with the Unit’s Environmental Focal Points for Caribbean Countries. While the primary responsibility of this position is on environmental risk management, there will be some demand for support to the management of World Bank financed projects and analytical works in the area of environment, natural resources and blue economy.
DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
As the Senior Environmental Specialist, contribute to the preparation of lending operations during project identification, preparation, and appraisal stages, and ensure that environmental issues are addressed early in the process by undertaking careful environmental analysis related to Bank environmental safeguard policy and/or ESF issues and associated information disclosure and public consultations/stakeholder engagement.
- Advise Task Teams on the interpretation and application of the ESF.
- Supervise Bank approved projects under implementation in terms of project specific EHS requirements and performance (i.e., project implementation stage).
- Provide advice to client and counterpart organizations and project teams, in coordination with the assigned social specialist, with regard to the preparation of environmental, social, health and safety assessments, including regional, strategic and cumulative assessments; environmental and social management frameworks and plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; stakeholder engagement plans and strategies, and grievance management systems; labor management procedures; and other specific plans and procedures as required by applicable Bank policies (for example, on issues such as community health and safety, dam or infrastructure safety, pest management, pollution prevention and control, biodiversity conservation and management, ecosystem services, occupational health and safety, emergency planning and management, cultural heritage, etc.)
- Provide guidance and capacity support to borrowers in the preparation of relevant project cycle documentation, including by assisting borrowers in drafting Terms of Reference (TORs) for the preparation of environmental safeguard and ESF assessment, planning and management instruments; guiding the client in completing the assessment and planning process; and supervising their implementation, including review of monitoring reports and follow-up.
- Advise and support clients in ensuring necessary management plans and measures are appropriately reflected in works bidding and contract documents where applicable, and in developing and implementing appropriate supervision and monitoring arrangements for the necessary E&S plans and measures.
- Carry out project supervision of environmental aspects on behalf of the Bank, including site visits (as permitted under WBG travel guidance), review of monitoring reports, discussions with clients and stakeholders, and building of effective working relationships with the borrower/project implementation agency to ensure proper understanding and implementation of the policies. Guide the borrower/implementing agency to apply relevant E&S management plans and procedures effectively.
- Ensure the quality of client project documentation before submission to relevant accountable decision makers, including Environmental and Social Practice Managers and (where applicable) the Regional Standards Adviser (RSA).
- Provide timely input, as applicable, to Bank project documents related to environmental aspects, including Integrated Safeguard Data Sheets and/or Environmental and Social Review Summaries, and EHS sections of project documents such as Project Concept Notes, Project Information Documents, Project Appraisal Documents, Aide Memoires, and Implementation Status Reports.
- Complete documentation requirements in the Bank’s risk management databases including the Tracking Environmental and Social Performance (TESPSG) system (for projects falling under safeguards) and the ESMS system (for projects falling under the ESF).
- Identify opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies in investment operations to promote environmental sustainability, positive environmental impacts (benefits) and enhance local capacities for implementing sound environmental management practices.
- Perform other activities related to assigned projects as needed, such as provide technical input/guidance on specific issues, provide guidance or training to the borrower related to environmental management, or assist in the environmental aspects of project restructuring or additional financing.
- Demonstrate leadership in proactively identifying needs for strengthening of borrower capacity or systems on environmental, health and safety management aspects, and initiating efforts aimed at strengthening that capacity.
- Tailor and implement training and other capacity building activities to various stakeholders, including Environmental Specialists of World Bank funded Project Implementation Units (PIUs) and other implementation partners, consultants preparing ESIAs, and contractors/supervising consultants on WBG operations.
- Support the ENB Practice Manager and Caribbean Focal Points in reviewing other projects’ instruments, portfolio management and preparing communications to be conveyed to the Caribbean Country Management Unit.
- Support dialogue with the Caribbean Country Management Unit to ensure engagement on environmental issues in strategic discussions and country documents.
- Engage in policy dialogue with clients on environmental risk management and environmental sustainability issues, ranging from upstream inputs into Systematic Country Diagnostics and Country Partnership Frameworks, to advising counterparts on related policies or on risks and opportunities in relation to Bank-supported operations.
- Serve as a mentor to the younger staff and consultants working in the Unit.
- Collaborate with other World Bank Group Global Practices and IFC/MIGA colleagues on joint projects and with counterparts from other multilateral development institutions as needed.
- Coordinate and carry out other tasks as needed.
Selection Criteria
* Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) - degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, ecology, biology, environment related sciences, or environmental policy is required.
* A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in the environmental sector with demonstrated ability in environmental safeguards and/or environmental risk management.
* Proven track record in designing and implementing environmental safeguards or environmental risk management tools and instruments (including on Occupational Health and Safety); and/or monitoring environmental safeguards compliance for international financial institutions or engineering companies or similar areas is required.
* Knowledge and experience in environmental assessment and management of environmental compliance in investment projects in environmentally sensitive areas is required.
* Excellent oral and written fluency in English.
* Strong operational and analytical skills and demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy advice and practical recommendations.
* Ability to present complex issues related to environmental sustainability to Task Teams and other Bank audiences, and to engage effectively with government counterparts, project beneficiaries and civil society.
* Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
* Proven leadership, team management and mentorship capacity.
* Experience working in different developing countries.
* Willingness to travel extensively in the region and possibly globally is vital, including to remote rural areas.
* Work experience in Caribbean Countries.
The following would be an advantage but not required:
* Sound knowledge of World Bank safeguards policies, the ESF, and/or IFC Performance Standards or similar standards as well as different project level stakeholders, including the challenges and opportunities of applying such standards for borrowing countries, would be an advantage.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena- Translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
- Policy Dialogue Skills- Anticipate needs and requests in the field and conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
- Integrative Skills -Understand relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
- Environmental Sector Issues- Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one relevant thematic business line, namely “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
- Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
- Sector/Network Representation- Demonstrates ability to coordinate, participate in, and act as a catalyst for, strategic cross-sector dialogues within the network, across the country, among Bank colleagues and other development institutions, government, and other organizations.
- Project Design for Impact and Sustainability- Contributes to the design of projects and programs, based on an understanding of the country and sector context and requirement of environmental risk management.
- Communication and Influencing Skills- demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers). Has ability to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, challenges and positions to colleagues and management.
- Specialized Knowledge & Technical Skills - Environment & Natural Resources Management
- Demonstrates solid understanding of environmental/NRM/climate change policies, technologies or strategies, and institutions needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work.
- Demonstrates solid understanding of the roles of each WBG institution and its relationship to environment/NRM/climate change.
- Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one relevant thematic business line, namely “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
- Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
- Provides guidance and coaching to others on technical and operational matters.
For information about WBG Core Competencies, please visit: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O.
WBG COMPETENCIES
* Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions.
* Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
* Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective, and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
* Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
* Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
