This is a mid-career position will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi and will focus on the environmental risk management, and a small amount of environmental project management, analytical and policy work. Malawi has very large infrastructure shortfall. As a result, the Bank has been investing heavily in infrastructure in the country, and the associated risk management requirements. This position would focus on implementing the Bank’s environmental risk management policies (including the Safeguard Policies and the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)). All World Bank-supported investment projects must meet ambitious environmental management standards. The Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice is responsible for providing technical support and oversight to all investment projects to meet these obligations. In addition, the World Bank has an increasing portfolio of environment related loans. While the primary responsibility of this position is on environmental risk management (at least 75 percent), there an expectation that the position may include management and technical support of World Bank financed projects in the area of environment.
The Senior Environmental Specialist – will have the following key responsibilities: Environmental Risk Management
Ensure the effective integration of environmental due diligence as defined by World Bank Group (WBG) Environmental and Social Management Framework, safeguards policies as well as international good practice documents (e.g. Equator Principles) into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects (environmental lending portfolio and analytical work).
Provide experienced advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regard to the preparation of environmental impact assessments, including regional, strategic and cumulative assessments; environmental management frameworks and plans, including plan for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; and specific plans related to natural habitats conservation, natural resource management, pest management, forest management, dam safety and international waterways management; such advice will be based on a detailed analysis of baseline conditions, project scope and impacts, requirements from national legal and institutional frameworks and, and compliance with the WBG’s operational policies.
Provide experienced mentorship to clients in the preparation of project cycle documentation including terms of reference (ToR) for environmental safeguard instruments, such as environmental and social assessments (incl. strategic, regional and cumulative); environmental and social management frameworks and plans, Pest Management Plans, and supervising their implementation. Contract specifications related to environmental safeguards and risks management, particularly for large dams and water projects. Provide technical training for the domestic EA practitioners on the WBG ESF and requirements.
Provide environmental input in project documents in accordance with the Bank operational policies including Project Concept Note (PCN), Environment AND Social Risk Classification (ESRC) and Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS), Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and Decision/Negotiations Packages, and assist with handling timely and accurate disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.
Work closely with the Regional Safeguards Coordinators in the Africa region who are responsible for assigning safeguards tasks and ensuring the quality of the safeguards work and environmental risk management in the Region.
Project Operations and Analytical Work
Coordinate and carry out other tasks as requested by the relevant Manager such as for example, contribute to the organization of training or knowledge sharing events.
Participate in and/or lead natural resource or environmental management projects and the policy dialog with the government and other stakeholders on environment or natural resources. This includes coordination with other financiers, review of sector policies, strategies, and legislation. A particular focus will be to build a portfolio of environment projects, which could include waste management, flood management, forestry and land restoration, biodiversity and protected areas management.
Participate as team member or team leader in the development and/or supervision of implementation of environment or natural resources activities or components in projects, including participation in identification missions; seeking and developing opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies in investment project operations; maintaining dialog with the client and enhancing their capacity for understanding and compliance with the Bank’s environmental principles; and contributing to mission outputs such as back to office reports (BTORs), Aide Memoires and Implementation Status and Results report (ISR).
Facilitate and maintain effective communication with relevant communities of practice, including NGOs, academia, civil society, the private sector as well as specialized international organizations in line with the Bank’s Disclosure Policy and need to harmonize with clients and other international financial institutions in the region. In particular, active participation in communities of practice and global level technical innovation and knowledge sharing in the area of pollution management, carbon financing, and payment for ecosystem services will be an important component of this position.
Actively seek to learn World Bank Group procedures, and contribute to their improvement, by participating in training offered, by developing a personal training program, keeping abreast of research and development knowledge in the environment and natural resources sector, and relevant safeguard management process.
Selection Criteria
General requirements:
- Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) degree in environmental engineering, or environmental management is required.
- A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in environmental engineering, environmental management, or environmental risk assessment and mitigation is required.
- Fluency in English is required (writing, speaking, listening and reading).
- Fluency in Chechewa is required (writing, speaking, listening and reading).
- Knowledge and experience in environmental risk assessment and management of environmental compliance in investment projects involving large scale civil works, energy sector, extractive or industrial activities is required.
- Technical experience in environmental risk assessment, mitigation management and compliance related to large infrastructure projects is required.
- Technical experience in occupational health and safety related to large infrastructure projects is required.
- The following would be an advantage but not required:
- Experience working in East African countries, understanding the institutional and political context and exposure to the national environmental policy challenges would be an advantage.
- Experience in the preparation of environmental safeguard/risk management documents of the lending projects of the WBG or other international organizations is beneficial but not required.
- Experience working with contractors that have weak implementation capacity in the area of environmental risk management would be an advantage.
Competencies Level GG, Senior Environmental Specialist:
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 project/program/ strategy
- • Considers corporate commitments (e.g., MFD, climate, gender, sustainability, biodiversity) in project approach
Policy Dialogue skills: possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, and negotiating skills
- • Builds and sustains key stakeholder relationships with government and other key stakeholders • Guides clients and/or development partners in identifying key operational issues and optional solutions with a demonstrated ability to bring together different perspectives
• Leads task teams, participates in formal negotiations, and assists government in establishing priorities
Knowledge and Experience in Development arena: demonstrates sound knowledge of World Bank Group’s Twin Goals and the complementarities among different World Bank Group member institutions
• Demonstrates deep understanding of policy making process and the role of own sector of expertise in that process
• Fully understands Bank’s development initiatives and policies and practices related to l ending and non-lending operations
• Guides research efforts and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies and for discussions with clients and development partners
• Anticipates client needs and requests and guides the development/ offering of relevant tools to clients.
Communication and Influencing Skills: demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers). Has ability to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, challenges and positions to colleagues and management
Specialized Knowledge & Technical Skills:
- Technical experience with the World Bank’s ESF and Safeguard Policies is required.
- Confirmed collaboration and successful experience working with multi-disciplinary teams.
- A strong sense of partnership and ability to work independently with limited supervision.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience working in different developing countries.
- Willingness to travel extensively in country and in the Africa region and possibly globally is vital, including to remote rural areas.
Environment & Natural Resources Management Technical Skills & Knowledge (Specialist / Engineer)
- Demonstrates solid understanding of environmental/NRM/climate change/Biodiversity policies, technologies or strategies, and institutions needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work.
- Demonstrates solid understanding of the roles of each WBG institution and its relationship to environment/NRM/climate change.
· Demonstrates strong knowledge of at least one relevant thematic business line, namely “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
· Translates technical analyses into policies, operations and/or research as they relate to any of the following thematic business lines: “blue”, “brown”, “green”, climate change, and environmental risk management.
• Provides guidance and coaching to others on technical and operational matters
