Climate Change Specialist

Climate Change Specialist

Job #:

req24394

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Climate Change

Grade:

GF

Term Duration:

3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

English

Closing Date:

10/6/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Sustainable Development Practice Group:

The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (PG) helps countries address their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion and Water.

The Climate Change Group:

The Climate Change Group (CCG) in the World Bank helps client countries recognize, prepare for, and respond to the risks that climate change poses. With CCG support, the Bank mobilizes the necessary public and private finance, provides technical assistance, and utilizes its convening power to support countries in their transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways.

The Climate Change Fund Management Unit:

Within the CCG, the Climate Change Funds Management Unit (SCCFM) plays a key role in activity-based climate finance (ABCF) and results-based climate finance (RBCF) and mobilizes climate finance through trust funds that deliver innovative, scalable climate and environmental action. These include: the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), Bio Carbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (BioCF ISFL), Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF), Carbon Partnership Facility (CPF), and Carbon Initiative for Development (Ci-Dev). SCCFM also has the World Bank's implementing agency (IA) function for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR).

In addition, SCCFM manages the development and implementation of the new Umbrella Trust Fund for RBCF, the Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) and its associated trust fund Enable - Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions. SCALE will pool funding from the global community and make it available for the most impactful programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SCALE will support countries to build a track record of generating verified emissions reductions (ERs) that they can apply towards their national emission reduction targets (per their Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) and yield excess credits that can be made available for carbon markets. SCALE is structured around three pillars: Natural Climate Solutions (e.g. REDD+), Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions (e.g. sustainable energy transition), and Fiscal and Financial Solutions (e.g. green finance).

The unit works closely with the CCG Leadership and the Bank's Senior Management and supports: (i) the development of policies, technical approaches, and instruments for mainstreaming results-based climate finance in WBG investment operations and supporting client countries access carbon markets, (ii) the Bank's regional operations and global practices for scaling-up the delivery of results-based climate finance by providing hands-on expertise to operational teams designing and implementing climate-related operations.

About the position

SCCFM is seeking to recruit a highly motivated Climate Change Specialist to support the unit with leading ERPA management for both the FCPF and BioCF ISFL Programs and managing the FCPF and ISFL evaluation.

The FCPF has 15 emission reduction programs in its portfolio, all with signed Emission Reductions Payment Agreements (ERPAs), while the BioCF ISFL is in the process to sign 5 ERPAs. These two results-based funds manage the ERPA process from the preparation and negotiation to post ERPA signature or implementation. As such, managing the ERPA process requires a good understanding of the architecture of the funds and results-based carbon finance operations, sound knowledge of the issues with these ERPA programs and experience in managing these activities. The role will also require constant effective technical support and guidance to task teams of the ERPA programs, and portfolio monitoring and evaluation.

The Climate Change Specialist's work program will focus on 2 key items: 1) Leading ERPA management for both the FCPF and BioCF ISFL Programs; 2) Managing the FCPF and ISFL evaluation. The candidate is expected to work independently under the general direction of the SCCFM Manager and closely with the ERPA delivery lead and Fund Managers as well as the other Climate Change Specialists in the Team.

Detailed responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Advise and manage the ISFL ERPA negotiations.

i. Serve as a focal point in providing technical guidance to task teams on the ERPA process, including specific steps and requirements during the preparation phase, required documentation prior to ERPA signature, reviewing PADs to ensure alignment ER operations, conducting ERPA sessions for task teams, coordinating the ERPA workshops, etc;

ii. Lead the preparation and delivery of the non-legal sessions of the ERPA workshop for client countries;

iii. Lead and coordinate the review of draft ERPA term sheets, draft ERPAs, provide feedback to ERPA term sheets submitted by client countries for communication with ISFL Contributors, provide clarifications to questions from client countries;

iv. Monitor status and progress of ERPA negotiations and document the exchange of communication between ISFL Contributors, Fund Management Team (FMT) and client countries, and facilitate the preparation of the negotiation minutes to ensure key agreements and pending actions are recorded in the minutes.

B. Manage the FCPF and ISFL ERPA portfolios.

i. Lead in monitoring the post-ERPA signature progress and have regular check-ins with the task teams. This includes being the point person on all issues related to the ERPAs and making sure that all relevant fund teams are regularly updated and consulted;

ii. Provide operational guidance to FCPF and ISFL task teams on the ERPA implementation process (clarifications on questions related to conditions of effectiveness, any issues that arise during implementation, questions related to requirements prior to ERPA payments, restructuring/ERPA amendments, etc.);

iii. Oversee the review of non-MRV aspects of the ER monitoring report including the ISRs that are prepared prior to ERPA payments;

iv. Manage the ER transfer and payment process.

C. Review Benefit Sharing related documents for FCPF and ISFL.

i. Lead and coordinate FMT review of Benefit Sharing Plans for FCPF and ISFL, including on completeness check for benefit sharing reporting in ER monitoring reports;

ii. Guide the task team during the BSP review including during the development and/finalization of the BSP. This includes advising on key issues of concern that should be considered and addressed;

iii. Lead the communication of final BSPs to FCPF and ISFL donors - highlighting issues that have been addressed. This is an important task and requires a thorough understanding of BSPs and critical issues related to BSPs;

iv. Be the BSP liaison for donor requests and reviews and address any questions/concerns they might have.

Selection Criteria

• MA/MSc in a relevant discipline (e.g. environmental engineering, economics, social development, sustainable development, international development or other related field);• Familiarity of Climate Change related methodologies such as IPCC and GHG Protocols;• Knowledge of FCPF & ISFL and World Bank Group Climate Change Funds;• Knowledge and experience with BSPs, ERPA management; • Familiarity with Monitoring & Evaluation of programs;• Excellent writing skills, especially the ability to explain complex topics in understandable language;• High level of energy, initiative and judgment in solving problems.

Skills/Knowledge

• Experience with leading on major tasks and deliverables.• Very strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks at the same time under tight deadlines. • Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to apply these in independently carrying out complex research and operational tasks, identifying issues, presenting findings and recommendations, and contributing to deliverables.• Effective verbal and written communications skills. • Strong computer skills and good knowledge of relevant software applications• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix environment.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

This internal requisition is open to WBG andIMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case anexternal candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.