Environmental and Social Development Specialist

Job #: req24788

Organization: MIGA

Sector: Environment

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic

Closing Date: 11/16/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA or the Agency) is a member of the World Bank Group, and our mission is to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries to help end extreme poverty and boost share prosperity. We do that through the provision of political risk insurance and credit enhancement to investors and lenders against losses caused by noncommercial risks. For more information, visit www.miga.org.

General Description and Hiring unit

Sustainability is a strategic priority for MIGA. It underpins the WBG’s efforts to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in a sustainable manner. MIGA, through the work of the Sustainability units, works with clients and businesses across sectors to address environmental and social risks and impacts, including risks related to climate change and gender equality. These sectors include agribusiness, manufacturing, services, infrastructure, energy, natural resource extraction and financial markets. The Sustainability units collaborate with the other units in MIGA to ensure the implementation of the MIGA’s policies and procedures.

MIGA Sustainability units are looking for a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented individual with expertise in environmental and/or social assessment and risk management of Financial Intermediaries (FIs). The Environmental and Social Development Specialist will be based at the MIGA’s headquarters in Washington, DC and will report to the MIGS1 Sector Manager.

Duties & responsibilities

The Environmental and Social Development Specialist primary role will be supporting Financial Intermediaries (FI) projects in MIGA and will be required to undertake the following tasks:

•  Assess the potential environmental and social (E&S) risks and/or impacts of assigned projects against the requirements of MIGA Performance Standards (PSs) on Environmental and Social Sustainability.
•  Prepare E&S input to project disclosures and the underwriting documents for FI investment projects as per MIGA Environmental and Social Review Procedure (ESRP).
•  As required, define steps required to ensure compliance with the PSs and the WBG Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines.
•  Work with MIGA clients to ensure plans are developed to bring projects into compliance with MIGA’s Environmental and Social requirements.
•  Articulate (verbally and in writing) key environmental and social risks and impacts to project teams and Management.
•  For assigned existing projects being supported by MIGA guarantees, monitor compliance with MIGA’s PSs, the WBG EHS guidelines, sector specific guidelines, other relevant policies, and contract specific conditions.
•  Provide training on E&S issues with a focus on FIs to MIGA clients, internal staff and other Specialists, when needed.
•  Contribute to corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned and best practice from specific MIGA projects.
•  Work together with the rest of MIGA’s Sustainability unit and coordinate closely with MIGA’s Departments on assigned projects and corporate tasks.
•  As assigned, represent MIGA at technical meetings, industry events and E&S fora.
•  Collaborate with World Bank and IFC colleagues on joint projects as well as other colleagues from multilateral development institutions when supporting the same projects.

Selection Criteria

•  Must have a Master’s degree with at least 5 years of proven experience in environment and/or social management and assessment or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
•  Track record in working with FIs (universal banks, investment banks, private equity funds, and venture capital funds among others) to identify E&S risks and issues associated with the portfolio of the FI and develop mitigation measures to ensure compliance with good international industry practice.
•  Solid understanding and experience with IFC/MIGA Sustainability Policy, PSs, IFC Guidance Note(s) for FIs, and application of these standards in FIs.
•  Demonstrated technical knowledge of best available practices related to E&S risk management and assessment as well as the business case for integrating these into FIs.
•  Demonstrated understanding and experience in management systems in general, and environmental and social management systems (ESMSs) in particular, in developing, implementing and / or evaluating ESMS in FIs.
•  Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse environmentally related data and information.
•  Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
•  International experience required and ability to travel to developing countries.
•  Excellent ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected peoples, government officials, NGO’s / civil society, as well as project investors and their staff.
•  Excellent verbal and written English language skills are essential, French or Spanish are highly desirable.

Please refer to the WBG Core Competencies at GF level for more details

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.