Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

About the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, degradation of international waters, land and forests, ozone depletion, elimination or reduction of persistent organic pollutants and mercury, all within the framework of sustainable development.

The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. An independently operating financial organization, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Convention on Mercury. GEF is also a designated financial mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The GEF Secretariat, is a Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) within the World Bank for administrative purposes and has approximately 70 professional, administrative and client support staff.

The Secretariat is seeking a Senior Climate Change Specialist to support the GEF Regional Teams and the CC Focal Area with a series of program management, analytical and policy needs.  

Duties and Accountabilities

The GEF Secretariat is looking for a dynamic and experienced Senior Climate Change Specialist, with a passion for climate change mitigation approaches, including both technology-based and nature-based solutions. The GEF-8 (2022-2026) Climate Change Focal Area strategy has a focus on Climate Change Mitigation (CCM), including clean energy and energy efficiency, zero-emission mobility, low-carbon sustainable urban development and other innovative climate mitigation technologies. The CCM strategy also has a strong focus on land-based sectors and nature-based solutions, including across the forestry and agricultural/food systems sectors. .

The Senior Climate Change Specialist will have a key role in the implementation of the GEF-8 CCM strategy and beyond, to support the GEFSEC’s mandate to deliver global environmental benefits by supporting developing countries in their commitments towards several Multilateral Environmental Agreements.  The ideal candidate should have a workable understanding of the complexity of the GEF partnership arrangement and of the dynamics of a complex set of GEF client countries. The candidate should have strong interpersonal skills, experience with designing, financing and/or working on the implementation of CCM projects in developing countries, along with political acumen and the capacity to work effectively on sensitive issues with senior management, the GEF Council and across different implementing agencies and partners of the GEF.  Experience working in Asia is a plus. 

Reporting to the Manager of the Programs Division, the Sr. Climate Change Specialist will work across regions and thematic focal areas, as required.

Project Review and Regional Team(s) Participation

Under the supervision of the Manager of the GEF Programs Division, the selected candidate will:

• Participate in one or several Regional Teams and contribute to the continued implementation of the GEF business model including country resource programming, updates, and adjustments, including participation in country dialogues, expanded constituency workshops, and the GEF Country Support Program, and liaising as necessary with GEF Agencies and Countries.

• Manage the review process for projects and programs to be financed by the GEF Trust Fund. The candidate will particularly focus on proposals being developed under the Climate Change Focal Area, with a specific focus on climate mitigation including sectors such as energy, sustainable transportation and/or nature-based solutions. The candidate should also possess a good understanding, and preferably good working knowledge, of the application of methodologies for the estimation of the GHG emission reduction outcomes.

• Provide upstream, and design stage, guidance to recipient countries and agencies on major issues linked to the development of project proposals and assist in overall preparation of work programs to be presented to the GEF Council.

• Support the management of the GEF’s portfolio of ongoing projects through implementation, monitoring, and evaluation activities with GEF Agencies and countries, and contribute to the development of strategies and programs to enhance GEF’s impact.

• As required, represent the GEF at a senior level at selected international; political, scientific and operational forums.

• Provide cross-support for CCM activities across other GEF focal areas and programs, including the use of non-grant instruments for financing global environmental benefits.

• Provide thought leadership across the organization on thematic areas relevant for the GEF-8 CCM Programming Directions , in particular on innovative clean tech (clean energy, energy efficiency, zero emissions transportation, etc.) and/or nature-based solutions, and provide technical inputs into the development of the climate change mitigation strategy for GEF-9. 

• Participate, as required, in the political outreach to relevant countries in international fora, with the UNFCCC and other related international instruments.

• Provide quality inputs to the CEO and Director as needed, on country and thematic briefings, talking points, speeches, background analytical/strategic documents.

• Support the design and development of knowledge management products, brochures, outreach and communication material, and provide inputs on the revision of operational processes and procedures, as requested.  

• Support the development and delivery of GEF reports, Council documents, engagement plans, and other work products related to the Climate Change Mitigation Focal Area, as needed. 

• Undertake additional duties as required by Director and/or Manager of the GEF Programs Division.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate should possess a Master’s with at least eight years of professional experience, or a Ph.D., with seven years of experience in the field of climate change, natural resources management/environmental sciences, economics, or other relevant discipline.

• The candidate should demonstrate an excellent knowledge of global climate change financing landscape, and have experience designing, financing and/or managing climate change projects and programs, preferably within an international/developing countries context.

• The candidate should have demonstrable technical skills with emission reduction projects either in the area of clean energy solutions and/or in the area of nature-based solutions with high mitigation potential (across the land-use sectors), as well as a good track record in structuring, implementing and/or evaluating projects and programs related to one or more of the following areas:
• Electric mobility and sustainable urban transportation solutions;
• Distributed energy resources and solutions for energy access, including energy storage; and
• Integrated energy efficiency solutions, such as district heating and cooling, building retrofits, etc.
• Nature-based solutions, including approaches with high mitigation potential in reforestation/afforestation, REDD+, low-carbon food systems, climate smart agriculture, peatland management, coastal reforestation/restoration, etc.

• In addition to the required skills above, the following skills would be highly desirable:
• Experience with GHG emission reductions accounting methodologies;
• Experience with integrating climate mitigation solutions, such as low-carbon energy and sustainable transportation, into urban planning processes;
• Experience integrating climate mitigation outcomes with biodiversity and/or land restoration;

• Ability to deal with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, private sector entities, developing country counterparts, and NGOs would be an advantage.

• Ability to think analytically, strategically, and programmatically.

• Excellent technical and working knowledge in various sectors and on integrated, cross-sectoral approaches.

• Experience working in and with Asian countries is preferred.

• Proven record of constructive and positive engagement in leading a program and policy dialogue with client Governments, donors and other stakeholders;

• Proven ability to work in teams, both as a team leader and team member

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences. Second language (French, Spanish or Portuguese) is highly desirable.

• Ability to work independently on complex tasks on tight deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to function as a team player within and across teams.

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment in an international setting;

• Working knowledge of the operations of the Global Environment Facility and its Agencies is preferable.

Required Competencies:

Deliver results for clients:
• Sets challenging goals to support the delivery of the GEF mission and is always looking to improve
• Understands clients’ most pressing challenges and contributes to solutions
• Takes personal responsibility for producing high quality work, identifying and informing of risks, and delivering results for clients

Lead and innovate:
Applies critical thinking to current approaches, identifies areas for improvement, and tries new solutions that drive results
• Encourages and works with others to identify, incubate, and implement relevant solutions
• Identifies opportunities in changing circumstances and energizes others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG’s values and mission
• Operates in ambiguity and changing needs and supports others to do the same and helps others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context
• Considers own behavior in context of World Bank Group values and mission and recognizes impact one has on others

Collaborate within Teams and across Boundaries:  
• Keeps others fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency and displays a sense of mutuality and respect
• Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect
• Consistently engages others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due.
• Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved and leverages expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes
• Seeks and listens to input from others to inform own decision making and openly shares information
• Frames thinking/actions with a WBG corporate perspective in mind

Create, apply, and share knowledge:
• Is known in the subject area and is sought out by peers to advise or contribute to knowledge products and is interested in building on personal and professional networks to advance GEF mission
• Actively invests in own knowledge and seeks feedback and interested in contributing to the GEF’s body of knowledge by applying lessons learned and expertise
• Seeks opportunities to mentoring junior staff less to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge
• Builds networks across the international development/environment community and as part of existing external professional groups/networks

Make smart decisions:
• Applies critical thinking and contributes to decision making by providing data and relevant risk-analysis and takes initiative and makes decisions in a timely manner
• Seeks and analyzes facts, data and lessons of past experience to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work
• Evaluates risk and anticipates the short and long-term implications of decisions and commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.