Senior Environmental Specialist/Safeguards

Senior Environmental Specialist/Safeguards

Job #: req37232 Organization: World Bank Sector: Safeguards Grade: GG Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Cote d'Ivoire Required Language(s): English, French Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 7/10/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Environmental and Social Risk Management.

On October 1, 2018, the World Bank launched a new Environment and Social Framework (ESF) to help protect people and the environment in the investment projects that it finances. The ESF brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability – including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. ESF helps to ensure social inclusion, non-discrimination, and explicitly references human rights in the overarching vision statement.

As the World Bank Group (WBG) advances with modernizing its ESF approach, a new organizational arrangement has been agreed involving “Makers” (responsible for preparation, implementation support, and monitoring and problem solving) and “Checkers” (responsible for monitoring and risk-based oversight, and identifying and flagging challenges and problems that need to be addressed) to ensure a strengthened approach to risk management on E&S matters. The new arrangements also demonstrate a commitment to promoting “One WBG” and the key role that the Environmental and Social leadership in IDA/IBRD, IFC and MIGA, will play in this effort.

POSITION

SAWM2, one of the two “Makers” units in West and Central Africa in AFW that manages E&S risks, is looking to recruit a Senior Environmental Specialist who is expected to be based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and will support implementing the World Bank’s environmental and social risk management policies (including the Safeguard Policies, ESF and World Bank/IFC/MIGA Performance Standards) with a focus on environmental risk management for the Cote d’Ivoire Country Management Unit’s (CMU) portfolio and building and strengthening national systems and capacity in this regard.

She/he will report directly to SAWM2 Practice Manager and will be expected to work closely with the Cote d’Ivoire CMU unit and task teams.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Senior Environmental Specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

• Lead, or advise SAWM2 team members for, the environmental due diligence of World Bank projects under preparation with substantial or high risk for the Cote d’Ivoire CMU in close collaboration with World Bank task teams and government counterparts. Ensure the effective integration of World Bank environmental and social requirements, including the ESF, Safeguards Policies (for projects that predate the ESF), World Bank/IFC/MIGA Performance Standards, World Bank Group EHS Guidelines, and other international good practice standards and identification and development of risk mitigation measures and value-added solutions.

• Lead, or advise SAWM2 team members for, the environmental due diligence of World Bank projects under implementation with substantial or high risk for the Cote d’Ivoire CMU in close collaboration with World Bank task teams and government counterparts to ensure compliance with applicable World Bank environmental and social policies. Proactively monitor and supervise environmental and social performance with a focus on environmental performance of World Bank investments. Clearly document any outstanding or emerging gaps between project performance and World Bank environmental and social requirements. Provide clear and detailed guidance to clients and World Bank teams on the measures and corrective actions needed to close any gaps.

• For both project under preparation as well as implementation, this includes preparation and implementation of environmental and social impact assessments; environmental and social management plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; specific plans related to biodiversity management, natural resource management, resource use efficiency, waste management, traffic safety management, pest management, forest management, occupational and community health and safety, and dam safety and international waterways management; and ensuring appropriate environmental and social requirements are appropriately reflected in bidding and contract documents.

• Lead the implementation of E&S overview assessment action plans. Lead, support or advise SAWM2 E&S team members for country system strengthening and capacity building for environmental risk management for national agencies, project counterparts, as well as public and private sector entities. Collaborate closely with other World Bank teams to integrate the development of environmental, health and safety risk management capacity into sectoral programs.

• Support E&S PM and Lead environmental and social specialists to (i) address any new corporate priorities, policy and procedural changes in close collaboration with the Social CMU Coordinator; (ii) escalate as needed any issues or incidents that require management attention with recommendations for how to manage these incidents; (iii) report regularly on portfolio risk management including for risk management reviews from the region as well as Checkers; and (iv) mentor and a ‘go to’ person for the environmental staff from the unit supporting the CdI CMU.

• Actively participate in cross-practice teams and provide timely and high-quality inputs for the preparation of policy notes, Country Partnership Frameworks, sector studies, and research and policy development activities on the full range of environmental risk management for the CdI CMU.

• Contribute to a one WBG approach for E&S risk management;

• Contribute to the use of AI within the unit as well as for external clients; and

• Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of E&S staff.

Selection Criteria

The Sr. Environmental Specialist must be a team-oriented professional with proven ability to carry out complex tasks as part of a multi-disciplinary team; capacity to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with and advise task teams and key

stakeholders on environmental risks and impacts.

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Environmental science, Geography, Environmental engineering, natural resource management or related disciplines.

• A least eight (8) years of full time relevant professional experience in environmental risk management in an international context, such as for international financial institutions, other development partners, engineering/construction companies, consultancy firms or the private sector with a sustained record of achieving high quality substantive results.

• Demonstrated experience applying internationally recognized environmental and social policies and standards, including those of the World Bank ESF, Safeguard Policies, World Bank/IFC/MIGA Performance Standards, and other international financial institutions (IFI).

• Extensive experience in environmental risk management, preparation and/or review of

project environmental risk and impact assessments, environmental management plans.

• Extensive experience in the management of the environmental, health and safety risks of large infrastructure, e.g. roads and highways, dams, irrigation schemes and large water conveyance systems.

• Proven experience in country system strengthening and capacity building related to environmental risk management.

• Proven ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations civil society.

• Strong analytical skills related to environmental risk management.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to communicate persuasively on complex issues with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and present environmental risks and management solutions in a manner that non-experts can understand.

• Ability to coach/mentor more junior staff.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French essential.

• Experience with private sector related to environmental risk management a plus.

• Willingness to travel extensively, including to remote rural areas.

Please do not apply if you don’t meet the above criteria in a significant manner.

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.