Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is a member of the World Bank Group with a mission to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries to help end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. MIGA houses the World Bank Group (WBG) guarantee platform which brings together guarantee products and experts from the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and MIGA for simplicity, efficiency, and speed. MIGA serves as a one-stop shop for all WBG guarantee business, providing the best guarantee solutions for clients to meet project needs and development priorities. The platform provides three types of coverages: credit guarantees for loans to the public or private sector; trade finance guarantees for trade finance projects involving public entities; and political risk insurance against non-commercial risks for private sector projects or public-private partnerships. For more information, Visit www.miga.org.

Sustainability is a strategic priority for MIGA. It underpins the WBG's efforts to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. MIGA, through the work of the Sustainability units, works with clients and businesses across sectors to address environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts, including risks related to climate change and gender equality as well as monitoring of compliance of projects with MIGA’s environmental and social policies. MIGA Sustainability units collaborate with the other units in MIGA to ensure the implementation of the Agency’s policies and procedures. 

MIGA Sustainability and Climate unit is looking for a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented Environmental & Social (E&S) Specialist with strong communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills to provide support to the financial institutions group (FIG) globally. This professional will provide E&S guidance to clients and underwriting teams on E&S matters vis-à-vis MIGA’s Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards (PS) and IFC Guidance Note on Financial Intermediaries, with the aim of promoting compliance and enhancing the impact and additionality of MIGA-supported business activities. The Senior E&S Specialist will be based at MIGA’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

Duties & responsibilities:

• In accordance to MIGA policies and procedures, assess the potential environmental and social (E&S) risks and/or impacts of guarantee engagements in the FIG sector, where MIGA guarantee support is being considered, against the requirements of MIGA Performance Standards (PSs) on Environmental and Social Sustainability.

• Based on these assessments, work with potential MIGA clients to ensure mitigation plans are developed and steps taken to ensure that projects will comply with MIGA’s Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability. 

• Prepare concise public disclosure documents for new projects as well as internal documentation per MIGA E&S Review Procedures. 

• Lead preparation of guidance material on E&S due diligence and monitoring of FIs and portfolio coverage and provide training to MIGA E&S Specialists.

• Provide clear and responsive guidance to MIGA underwriting teams on E&S risk management in project decision-making and processing throughout the guarantee cycle, including clear communication to teams. 

• Support formulation of E&S legal conditions for MIGA contracts of guarantees. 

• Contribute to the harmonization of due diligence approaches and processes through providing supporting guarantee execution teams and providing guidance on IFC practices and precedents.

• Contribute to the development of common approaches and alignment of systems for the operationalization of the platform, such as combination of guarantee products from WBG balance sheets or other innovative approaches.

• Contribute to identification and development of E&S risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions that support clients in addressing identified issues

• When leading E&S assessments, ensure effective and efficient use of staff, consultants, and resources, ensuring the timely completion of deliverables. Provide guidance and support to team members and/or Short-Term Consultants (STCs). 

• Proactively monitor portfolio clients and engage with these clients and operations departments to achieve compliance with contractual E&S requirements, clearly documenting and communicating any outstanding or emerging gaps between client performance and MIGA requirements, and related risks and opportunities. 

• Contribute to portfolio analysis to identify systemic issues and assess trends; or of policy nature and propose policy adjustments as needed. 

• Support underwriting teams and clients in response to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests where needed, including discussion with CAO and IEG officers as needed. 

• Support clients’ E&S capacity building. 

• As needed, participate in teams responsible for the preparation of policy interpretation notes on E&S topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work. 

• Represent MIGA at technical meetings, industry events and environmental and/or social fora. 

• Prepare management briefs of relevant E&S matters, as needed.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree (or PhD) in Environment, Social Science, Engineering, or similar discipline.

• Minimum of8 years of directly relevant work experience in environment and/or social management and assessment directly related to private sector business activities and financial sector in particular. 

• Experience with MIGA / IFC Performance Standards and IFC Guidance Note/Interpretation Note on Financial Intermediaries. 

• Track record in working with private sector particularly financial intermediaries to identify environmental and/or social risks and issues and develop mitigation measures to ensure compliance with good international industry practice. 

• International experience required; experience in developing countries and/or fragile and conflict states is preferred. Ability to travel frequently to developing countries. 

• Work experience in development organizations preferred.

• Demonstrates ability and the necessary organizational skills to take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, balance competing demands and achieve agreed-upon results.

• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize data and information and communicate this to diverse audiences.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including with internal and external MIGA clients, government officials, NGO’s / civil society, as well as project investors and their staff. 

• Excellent verbal and written English language skills are essential; French is highly desirable.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.