The Environment Department (ENV), located within the World Bank’s Planet Practice Group has been established to deliver on the opportunities, benefits and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources.
ENV provides expertise, technical assistance and financing to help low- and middle-income countries manage land, sea and freshwater natural resources in a sustainable way to help create jobs, improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem services, decrease pollution and increase resilience to climate change. Over 360 ENV staff working across the globe help set developing countries on a clean, green growth trajectory for resilient economies and healthy communities.
The SSAE1 unit, covers three country units (India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives) and comprises around 30 staff, most of whom are based in Country Offices. The rest of the team is based in Singapore or Washington DC.
Locally recruited staff are remunerated on a local pay scale. The Environmental Specialist will report to the Regional Manager, Environment for South Asia/SSAE1 based in Singapore. The position will be based in New Delhi.
The Climate Change Specialist will play a key role in supporting WBG operations in the SAR to mainstream climate considerations and contribute to the WBG’s efforts to track and meet climate commitments. S/he will support the region’s efforts to strengthen policy and investment actions to promote climate resilience, and improve understanding and performance on climate commitments, resilient development and finance. S/he will serve as the overall regional coordinator for Climate Co-Benefits (CCB) exercise.
Duties and Accountabilities :
Coordinate Regional Delivery on Climate Commitments and Quality Assurance: The core focus of this position is on CCBs. The selected candidate would work as part of a broader regional team comprising staff from SAROS, ENV and other departments focusing on CCBs to reflect and measure climate considerations in IBRD/IDA operations. Working with a team of ENV-mapped country focal points and GP focal points, ensure CCB assessments are done applying the joint MDB methodology, and that the quality meets WB standards. Collaborate with CMUs, GPs and other internal stakeholders. Liaise with IFC and MIGA representatives as needed to advance a One WBG approach to climate finance. As part of regional team, support/provide input on range of climate-related corporate commitments, including climate and disaster screening, climate indicators, greenhouse gas accounting, Paris Alignment, shadow price of carbon, etc.
Contribute to South Asia’s Climate-Smart Resilient Development Agenda: Contribute to regional and WBG efforts to integrate climate resilience into strategic and technical documents such as regional or institutional action plans or CCDRs in South Asia, in close collaboration with SAROS.
Build Capacity for Monitoring and Measuring Climate Impacts: Ensure Alignment with WBG Climate Approaches. Serve as primary SAR liaison with the Climate Change Group (CCG) and/or Impacts Department on issues related to CCB-related training and capacity-building efforts, resolution of assessments, roll out of updated methodologies, climate results frameworks, information on and use of new tools (such as CCB AI tool, resilience rating system and others), advancing alignment with the World Bank’s Corporate Climate Commitments. Lead and/or contribute to communications and training efforts for SAR staff and clients on same.
Strengthen Monitoring and Reporting Systems: Contribute to improving SAR internal systems for climate-related tracking, analytics, and reporting to enhance transparency and performance against climate commitments. Collaborate with SAROS on forecasting, scenario projections and metrics for climate commitments. Contribute to integrated climate commitments reporting with IFC/MIGA.
Contribute to Efforts to Expand Use of Results based Climate/Carbon Finance: Support teams to identify and advance the design and implementation of results-based climate, adaptation and carbon finance mechanisms and analysis. Lead and/or contribute to knowledge and learning on related innovations and good practices.
Support design/implementation of operations/advisory tasks to maximize climate impacts: Working under the oversight of relevant TTLs, provide inputs to the design and implementation of projects or advisory tasks to enhance climate impacts.
Selection Criteria:
Educational Qualifications: Advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in environment or natural resource economics/management, environmental science, engineering, finance, or other related field with at least 5 years of full-time professional experience in relevant areas.
Knowledge of climate policy and finance mechanisms Experience in data analysis/monitoring and evaluation, working knowledge of Joint MDB climate co-benefits methodologies required. Understanding of WB systems and project cycle preferred.
Demonstrated ability to lead and/or contribute to knowledge products and analytical tasks that include environment-related data and information, linking those analyses to country development priorities and economic impacts. Proven track record in capturing and sharing knowledge on same.
Strong client orientation, ability to work effectively and collaboratively with multiple disciplines and operational staff.
Demonstrated team skills, including working in cross-cultural and cross-sectoral teams, and resolving conflicts.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
