Local recruitment: Environmental Specialist

 Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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 Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB GP) is located within the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Practice Group. We provide expertise, technical assistance and financing to help low- and middle-income countries manage land, sea and freshwater natural resources in a sustainable way to help create jobs, improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem services, decrease pollution and increase resilience to climate change! Over 360 ENB staff working across the globe help set developing countries on a clean, green growth trajectory for resilient economies and healthy communities.

ENB has five key business lines consisting of lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Landscapes and Biodiversity; (2) Blue Economy; (3) Pollution Management, Environmental Health and Circular Economy; (4) Environmental Economics, Policies and Institutions; and (5) Environmental Risk Management. 
ENB has three broad and distinct functions:

1.Provide clients with lending and non-lending services aimed to support the GP’s key business lines
2.Support effective environmental risk management and sustainability by managing risk at the project level and creating opportunities to advance sustainable development, in part through the implementation of the World Bank’s environmental risk management policies; and 
3.Work closely with other sectors to mainstream environmental considerations into their policies, strategies, and operations.

The SEAE1 unit, covers three country units (China & Mongolia, Indonesia & Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands). We are one of two ENB units in the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAP) and comprise around 40 staff, with 70 percent based in Country Offices. The rest of the team is based in Washington DC. 

Regional and Mongolia Country Context:

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. After making the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world in the last fifteen years, some countries in the region – such as Mongolia – are poised to become middle-income, and some are preparing to join the small group of high-income countries! Such a rapid transformation is leading to the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, generating rising inequality within and across countries. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the advanced economies clouds the prospects for countries across the region which are being forced to adjust to changed growth and development prospects while addressing evolving impacts on macroeconomic stability, employment and poverty. 

Unit and Country Context :

The current World Bank portfolio in Mongolia has total commitments of $ 424.41 million, comprised of 13 operations financed by IDA/IBRD credits totaling $ 400.21 million, 2 co-financing grants totaling $ 18.07 million, and 3 trust fund operations totaling $ 6.13 million. 

Over the past 30 years, Mongolia has transformed into a vibrant democracy, tripling its GDP per capita since 1991. Primary school enrollments are at 97%, coupled with impressive declines in maternal and child mortality. With vast agricultural, livestock and mineral resources, and an educated population, Mongolia’s development prospects look promising in the long-term assuming the continuation of structural reforms. 

Despite the progress, the WBG’s 2017 Strategic Country Diagnostic (SCD) for Mongolia identifies three main challenges: unstable economic growth, population wellbeing at risk, and growing climate-related and environmental stress, and some of these challenges have been further accentuated by the COVID-19 crisis. The recurring boom-and-bust cycles put at risk past gains in standards of living and poverty reduction. Low-life expectancy, relative to comparison countries, and a growing incidence of noncommunicable diseases pose serious risks to population well-being. With nearly half of the population living in gers, inadequate housing is partly explaining population vulnerabilities due to limited access to sanitation, central heating, and transportation. Climate change and human actions have brought about higher disaster risks and environmental degradation. This has become particularly evident in the growing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters such as dzud, droughts or floods. Together with more permanent factors such as pollution of the air, water, and pastureland, these recurrent events are turning into substantial obstacles to economic growth and rising living standards.

Mongolia is part of the China & Mongolia country management unit. The new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) Strategy, dated May 2021, contains three focus areas and two cross-cutting themes: a) Economic stability based on sound economic policy and institutions to form the foundation for business growth; b) Boosting competitiveness to drive economic growth and create more opportunities for individuals; c) Better quality of life through better jobs with higher incomes and productive investment in health, education and other services to support human capital accumulation—which in term can boost competitiveness of the economy; d) Jobs and climate as two cross-cutting themes. Together, they contribute to the objective of the CPF to promote resilient recovery and inclusive and sustainable growth. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

SEAE1 is seeking to recruit a local Environmental Specialist to be based in the Ulaanbaatar World Bank office. Working in close collaboration with colleagues in the Unit – particularly with the Country Sector Coordinator and Country ESF Focal Point, both based in Beijing – and other units of the World Bank, the Environmental Specialist’s responsibilities will be concerned with (i) overseeing environmental risk management of the World Bank’s Mongolia program (including all sectors, such as transport, agriculture, mining, health, education, etc.), and (ii) supporting a new and growing environment and natural resources program in Mongolia with a focus on landscapes, watersheds, and climate change. This includes support to ENB analytical work and technical assistance in Mongolia and providing inputs that would help to support business development for the ENB GP in Mongolia. They will work according to an annual work plan, adjusted periodically as necessary. They will report to the EAP SEAE1 Practice Manager based in Singapore, the ENB Coordinator in Beijing and the Country ESF Focal Point in Beijing. The position is a two-year staff term contract (extendable). 

The Environmental Specialist will have the following key responsibilities: 

1.to oversee and support compliance with the WBG’s safeguards policies and ESF, ensuring that environmental sustainability is integrated into project design and implementation; and

2) to support our growing natural resources and climate change program.

Environmental Risk Management: 

• Provide advice to clients on environmental risk management in World Bank-financed projects.

• Work closely with the ESF Country Focal Point, ensure the effective integration of environmental due diligence into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects.

• Provide expert advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regards to the preparation of all environment-related due diligence, assessment and management materials. This includes environmental impact assessments (both project-specific and regional), strategic and cumulative assessments; and specific plans related to occupational health and safety, natural habitats conservation, etc.

• Provide environmental input in project documents in accordance with the Bank operational policies and assist with managing timely and proper disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.

• Working closely with World Bank procurement specialists, provide expert guidance to clients in tendering and contracting specialized consultant services for environmental risk assessment and management tasks. This includes the preparation of terms of reference for due diligence and management activities, and assistance in selection, contracting and supervision of consultants.

• Provide technical training and capacity building related to environmental risk management, including WBG safeguard policies and ESF requirements.

• Participate as a team member in various projects, including participating in identification missions; seeking and developing opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies into various investment project operations. In addition, maintaining regular dialog with the client and enhancing their capacity for understanding of and compliance with environmental policies; and contributing to mission outputs and reports.
Environment, Climate and Natural Resources Management 

• Working closely with the ENB Country Sector Coordinator, serve as key day-to-day focal point for communication and dialogue with key government counterparts (including Ministry of Tourism and Environment, and other key environment, climate and natural resources-related agencies/institutions). Facilitate and maintain effective communication with key local collaborators and actors, including Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), academia, civil society, the private sector as well as specialized international organizations to keep abreast of emerging environment and natural resources issues in Mongolia and the region. Participate in events related to natural resource policy and manage effective communication with government and other partners related to the WBG’s natural resources, environment and climate portfolio.

• Participate in and/or possibly lead natural resource or environmental management projects and the policy dialog with the government and other stakeholders on environment or natural resources aspects relevant to Mongolia and the region, including climate change. This includes coordination with key government line agencies, other financiers, review of sector policies, strategies, and legislation.

• Support ENB teams in carrying out in-depth technical assessments of environmental and natural resource management issues in Mongolia.

• Support the development and implementation of environment or natural resources operations, technical assistance or analytical work, including preparation and participation in supervision missions, ensuring close coordination and linkage between the Mongolia-based teams and Country Management Unit representatives, and the rest of the environment team in China and the region.

• Supply knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with key clients.

Selection Criteria

In addition to meeting Bank-wide Grade GF level positions (see below), it is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria.

• Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in environmental engineering, environmental science, in environment or natural resource management, or related fields; Technical training and practical experience in environmental risk management is required.

• A minimum of 5 years of full-time relevant professional experience in the environment engineering or environmental/natural resources management sector.

• Knowledge and experience in environmental assessment and management of investment projects involving large scale civil works, extractive or industrial activities.

• Familiarity with WBG’s safeguards policies, ESF and/or IFC’s Performance Standards/MIGA Environmental and Social policies or similar standards would be an advantage.

• Field experience in both assessing project site vulnerabilities/risks, as well as supervising / inspecting / monitoring projects with significant environmental dimensions and/or risks during implementation to mitigate and monitor environmental impacts.

• Sound knowledge of policy, technical, institutional, and political economy issues in the environment and natural resources sub-sectors in Mongolia.

• Project management experience.

• Proven teamwork and successful experience working with multi-disciplinary teams.

• A strong sense of teamwork and ability to work independently with limited supervision.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Willingness to travel extensively in Mongolia and possibly to other countries is necessary, including to remote rural areas.

• Fluency in English and Mongolian (writing, speaking, listening, and reading).

The following would be an advantage but not required: 

• Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: environmental sector policy, or integrated development planning in various sectors (e.g., water supply and sanitation; transport, energy, natural disaster management, rural development, health and education); capacity assessment and institutional strengthening, public consultation, health and safety plans.

• Experience in the preparation of the environmental assessment and management documents of the lending projects of the WBG or other international organizations.

• Experience working in China and/or Mongolia, understanding of the institutional and political context, and exposure to the national environmental policy challenges.

• Familiarity with World Bank procedures and business practices including occupational health and safety management and the WBG’s safeguard policies and ESF would be a strong advantage.

• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, NGOs, international organizations, development partners and / or with the governments.

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.

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