E T Consultant - Nature-Based Tourism Specialist

E T Consultant - Nature-Based Tourism Specialist

Job #: req36002 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: EC3 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Colombo,Sri Lanka Required Language(s): English, Sinhalese Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 3/27/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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 South Asia Region comprises six countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the world’s poorest, with 216 million people living below $1.9/day.
The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar

The Position

The Environment (ENV) Department in South Asia seeks to recruit a highly skilled Tourism Specialist/Extended Term Consultant who would work as part of various task teams involved in preparing and providing technical assistance to World Bank-financed projects/activities involving nature-based tourism, and natural resource management and use.
This position will be based in Colombo, Sri Lanka and will focus on nature-based tourism and associated natural resources management and associated value chain development. The candidate is expected to work across several countries in the South Asia Region.
The Nature-Based Tourism Specialist will report to the ENV Practice Manager for the South Asia Region (SAR) and work as part of the World Bank Nepal/Sri Lanka/Maldives Country Unit.
Job duties and responsibilities:

The Extended Term Consultant will have the following tasks:
Provide operational and analytical support on issues related to nature-based tourism and related natural resources management (forestry, fisheries, biodiversity, ecotourism), rural development, and development of associated value chains including through community-based approaches.

• Support the design and implementation of the World Bank’s nature-based tourism program in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and India. This includes participation in preparation and supervision missions, drafting project documents, etc.

•Contribute to the natural resource management and environment portfolio-related business and pipeline development.

• Support the implementation of tourism- and broader NRM-related advisory services and analytics activities in SAR, including through technical inputs, coordination, and planning for the timely delivery of analytical products. Generate and curate knowledge, such as by identifying best practices and recommendations for implementation approaches and promote dissemination at the national and global levels.

• Contribute to the engagement and policy dialogue with government counterparts and other collaborators on nature-based tourism, natural resource management and climate resilience in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and India. This involves liaising with relevant government partners such as the ministries for tourism; environment, forest and climate change; fisheries and livestock; local government, rural development; private sector; civil society and development partners; among others.

• Build relationships and facilitate effective communication with other clients, development partners, NGOs, civil society, private sector, academia, and other stakeholders.

• Contribute to analyzing and disseminating lessons learned and best practices from specific World Bank projects for research, knowledge, and learning purposes.

• Represent ENV in relevant internal and external meetings on key thematic areas within the region.

• Be a technical team member on projects or activities led by ENV, other departments, and/or IFC.

• Contribute to a variety of written products and communications, including components of briefs, analytical notes, aide memoires, technical notes, project concept notes, and project documents, as well as draft other technical working papers for wider circulation.

Selection Criteria

• Master's or PhD degree in tourism, rural development, natural resources management, fisheries or related disciplines.

• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in the nature-based tourism sector and associated value chain development required. Experience with rural natural-resource-based livelihoods, access to finance, and community-based natural resource management is preferred.

• A sound knowledge of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries, especially the challenges and opportunities.

• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse qualitative and quantitative environmentally related data and information.

•Knowledge of environmental and natural resources management issues, policies, and institutions in Sri Lanka, and ideally other South Asian countries, is a strong advantage.

• Ability to follow up multiple work-streams simultaneously.

• International experience is an advantage; experience in developing countries / emerging economies is a strong advantage. Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including to developing countries and possibly remote, fragile and conflict-affected areas, is required.

• Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations / civil society, financial institutions and project investors and their staff.

• Knowledge of Convention on Biological Diversity, and/or other international agreements and conventions related to climate change and biodiversity is an advantage.

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

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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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