Regional Environment and Social Standard Adviser

Regional Environment and Social Standard Adviser

Job #:

req27450

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Environment

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French

Closing Date:

5/31/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Western and Central Africa

Western and Central Africa is a region with diverse cultures, beliefs, languages, and lifestyles - marked by contrasts of stability and conflict; affluence and poverty. Home to about half a billion people, it encompasses 22 countries stretching from the westernmost point of Africa across the equator and partly along the Atlantic Ocean to the Republic of Congo in the South. The sub-region is rich in resources and brimming of opportunities. It made impressive progress in regional cooperation and includes two monetary unions - the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) that cover 13 countries between them.

Yet these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought back to the forefront the risks posed by weak health systems and poor surveillance.

The World Bank Western and Central Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,139 staff mostly based in about 22 country offices, is committed to helping countries to realize their considerable development potential and become more competitive in the global economy by focusing on the following priorities:

• Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate economic transformation and job creation by addressing gaps electricity, transport and digital services, enhancing skills, and promoting investment.

• Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa's vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030.

• Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support is helping governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services.

• Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities.

• Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption: In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure.

• Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity.

• Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Western and Central African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for the region is a better future for the world.

Unit Context

The Regional Environment and Social Standards Adviser (RSA) within the Office of the Regional Vice President for the Western and Central Africa Region ensures that lending operations supported by the World Bank comply with applicable environmental and social policies.

The RSA reports to the Manager Development Effectiveness and works closely with the Regional Vice President and the Director for Strategy and Operations. The RSA also has a dotted line reporting relationship to the Director for Environmental and Social Standards in OPCS. The RSA also supervises a team of about five staff including senior level environmental and social specialists.

The RSA's primary role is to advise Regional management and Task Teams on all planned lending operations to ensure that project design is consistent with the requirements of the Bank's environmental and social policies and that projects are implemented in accordance with policy requirements. The RSA provides support to and corporate oversight to high risk /high profile operations under preparation and implementation as part of the unit's corporate risk management function.

The RSA work program also includes: collaborating with Regional management and Practice Groups to address environmental and social issues in operations; executing the mandate and accountability of the RSA as defined in the ADM Framework; conducting training workshops on social and environmental policies and standards for Bank staff and clients; carrying out periodic thematic studies of environmental and social policies management during project implementation; contributing to corporate initiatives such as the safeguards reform process and the development of dissemination of technical good practice guidance materials for Bank staff as well as contributing to the capacity building of Bank staff and borrowers.

In the case of Investment Project Financing, the RSA review process assesses the potential environmental and social impacts, and the adequacy of proposed measures to address these impacts and compliance with the Bank's Safeguard Policies or ESF standards. For high-risk projects, the RSA retains review and clearance authority, supporting teams with the preparation of Environmental Assessments and Management Plans and Frameworks, Social Assessments and Indigenous Peoples and Resettlement Plans and Frameworks.

Duties & Accountabilities

As part of the multi-disciplinary team of E&S specialists working in the Development Effectiveness Unit, the Regional Environmental and Social Standards Advisor (RSA) will oversee the application of the ESF policy and standards and compliance with the environmental and social safeguard policies in the Bank's investment lending operations, as well as advice on PforR operations. Overall, the RSA will support E&S risk management across the lending portfolio, have oversight on high risk IPF operations or where enhanced oversight is needed; assist Regional management in the application of the environmental and social policies, promote building environmental and social sustainability into project design and implementation, support the use of sound environmental and social assessments methodologies across sectors and countries, and participate in knowledge, learning and corporate initiatives led by the CESSO. The RSA will advise the Regional Management Team on E&S risk management, provide quality assurance and compliance on the application of the E&S policies and standards, and provide high quality and timely review and clearance of the E&S aspects of investment lending operations. The RSA will have the following key responsibilities:

• Lead the team of five staff working on environmental and social policy and standards in the AFW Development Effectiveness Team; coordinate and supervise environmental and social staff and consultants working on the RSA teams in providing comments and guidance on project environmental and social assessment instruments and documentation for the Region; provide support for the development of required Bank documentation, if needed;

• Provide leadership and guidance on the application of the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework policy and standards, as well as the Bank's safeguard policies relating to the assessment of environmental and social risks and impact;

• Provide direct preparation and supervision/implementation support to high risk and/or complex projects to help ensure that task teams and clients fully understand and implement Bank procedures, policy requirements, and quality standards. This will include working closely with task teams, participating in site visits and meetings with implementing agencies government officials, Project-affected People (PAPs), and other stakeholders, participating in key decision meetings, and advising teams and clients on a range of E&S issues;

• Provide advice to Regional management and support to teams on Program-for-Results operations (PforR) Including their eligibility and actions plans if required;

• Work on policy issues with staff in OPCS and other VPUs, risk management and systems, and corporate initiatives to ensure consistent application of the ESF and safeguard policies across regions.

• In collaboration with staff in the Regional Teams, develop and disseminate innovative practical approaches to identify, evaluate, and address complex environmental and social issues, including developing and delivering high quality training activities on the Bank's environmental and social policies;

• In collaboration with staff in the Regional Teams, lead thematic/sectoral reviews and other analytical work on environmental and social policy applications to support portfolio performance including capacity building activities;

• Represent the Regional Management Team in professional meetings, multi-donor and international fora relating to environmental and social risk management, safeguards and standards, providing leadership in these areas;

• Contribute as required to the broader work of the Region on improving environmental and social sustainability.

Selection Criteria

The RSA must be a team oriented professional with proven ability to carry out complex tasks as part of a multi-disciplinary team; capacity to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with and advise task teams and key stakeholders on environmental and social risks and impacts.

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in environmental or natural sciences, engineering, or social sciences, law, economics or other relevant discipline;

• At least twelve (12) years of full-time relevant professional experience with a sustained record of achieving high quality substantive results.

• Prior experience and good knowledge and understanding of West and Central Africa is desirable.

• Hands-on experience in environmental and/or social risk management, preparation and/or review of project environmental and social risk and impact assessments, environmental and social management plans, capacity assessments and institutional strengthening measures;

• Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies;

• Excellent knowledge of the World Bank's environmental and social policies and standards

• Demonstrated maturity and sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to convey complex messages succinctly and diplomatically;

• Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, and ability to represent the Department with internal and external partners and interact effectively with Senior Management.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Communication skills in French are highly desirable given the AFW Region countries linguistic profiles.

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.

• Excellent workflow management and task organization skills; able to coordinate all aspects of the workflow of assigned responsibilities.

• Ability to coach/mentor more staff.

Required Professional Competencies:

• Environmental or Social Development Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of environmental or social development policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations of the World Bank and other IFI institutions in AFW;

• Environmental and Natural Sciences - Demonstrates strong knowledge of one relevant thematic areas of climate change, and environmental risk management; or demonstrates strong knowledge of one relevant social thematic areas of social development, and social risk management; deep experience in applying knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice;

• Policy Dialogue Skills - Possesses political judgement, diplomatic acumen and negotiating skills; builds and sustains key stakeholder relationships with government and other key stakeholders;

• Integrative Skills - Demonstrates ability to think and work across WBG practices and sectors; integrates divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent strategy/program/project;

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Fully understands the Bank's development initiatives and policies and practices related to lending and non-lending; Guides research and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level;

• Strong Leadership Skills - Experience with leading teams and in mentoring staff.

WBG Core Competencies

• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions with others.

• Deliver Results for Clients - Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.

• Collaborate within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the WBG and brings differing ideas to the forefront.

• Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

• Makes Smart Decisions: Recommends and takes decisive action.

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

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.