Program Manager – Program and Country Engagement – Fund for responding to Loss and Damage Job #: req33111 Organization: World Bank Sector: Climate Change Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): ENGLISH Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/21/2025 (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, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Background and General Description:
At COP27 and CMA4, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) established funding arrangements to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. This decision included the creation of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), with a focus on providing support to affected nations.
At COP28 and CMA5, the COP/CMA formally approved the Fund’s Governing Instrument, designating it as part of the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism and placing it under the guidance of both COP and CMA. The decision authorized the FRLD’s Board to secure a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as an interim trustee for four years, which includes hosting the Fund’s secretariat. The World Bank has agreed to act as trustee and administer the Trust Fund in line with the COP/CMA’s stipulations. The FRLD Secretariat, hosted by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., supports FRLD governing bodies, manages institutional relations, aids in strategy, policy, and program development, and oversees management systems.
The FRLD Secretariat, led by the Executive Director (ED) with direct support from the Deputy Executive Director (DED), coordinates FRLD’s strategic activities across its governing bodies, including the Board, the World Bank (as Trustee and Secretariat host), and other stakeholders. It also drives thought leadership, manages portfolio risk, and develops initiatives to mobilize resources.
The Program and Country Engagement – Program Manager position will oversee and lead: i) the management of the pipeline and portfolio of activities financed by the FRLD; ii) the development of programming-related policies and systems; and iii) the engagement with countries to support bottom-up, country-led and owned approaches. Expertise and experience in vertical climate fund programming, policies and portfolio management, environment/climate finance, and climate change adaptation and/or disaster risk management are essential.
This position will report directly to the ED with a dotted line to the DED and collaborate closely with the Secretariat staff and external stakeholders, including governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, vertical climate funds, donor organizations, and civil society.
The position is based in Washington, D.C., USA, and involves frequent travel.
Duties and responsibilities
1. Pipeline and Portfolio Management
• Oversee the management of the pipeline of proposals or funding requests submitted by countries, specifically conducting technical reviews and advising national focal points and implementing entities in the development of proposals or funding requests.
• Oversee the management of the portfolio of projects/programmes approved by the Board, including monitoring the status of implementation, reviewing progress reports, and etc.
• Provide strategic advice on programming and policy matters.
• Lead the engagement with the entities in the funding arrangements and partner organizations across environmental/climate funds (GCF, GEF, AF, etc.) Santiago Network, WIM, MDBs, IFIs, UN organizations, NGOs, CSOs, academia, private sector, etc, to enhance complementarity and coherence in supporting countries in responding to loss and damage and sharing best practices and lessons learned in programming.
• Support the Secretariat in strengthening FRLD’s strategic positioning through strategic engagements and partnerships, including representing the FRLD Secretariat in global and regional forums and conferences.
2. Policies and Systems
• Lead the development of the programming-related policies and frameworks, ensuring alignment with the Governing Instrument and the decisions of the Board.
• Oversee the setting up of required systems and structures to implement policies and frameworks, in coordination with other Secretariat teams
• Closely engage with entities in the funding arrangements and other partners to evaluate best practices and lessons learned in policy development and implementation.
3. Country Engagement
• Lead the engagement with partner countries to support bottom-up, country-led and country-owned programming, including advising national focal points and implementing entities on pipeline and portfolio related matters.
• Oversee the readiness activities to support relevant gaps in institutional strengthening and capacity building in countries, in close coordination with the Santiago Network.
4. Board Meetings and Consultations
• Support the Secretariat’s engagement with Board members, alternates, and advisors on strategic and programming-related matters.
• Support the Secretariat in conducting consultations with (prior to Board meetings) and presenting to (at Board meetings) the Board on programming and policy papers, including conducting technical briefings based on request/need.
• Coordinate with the Governance and Board Affairs team on the decision-making processes, including drafting decision text, for papers related to programming and country engagement
Selection Criteria
In addition to meeting the World Bank-wide criteria for this level position, it is expected that the selected candidate will meet the following criteria (in order of importance):
• At least a master's degree in environmental planning/management, climate change, international relations, or another relevant field.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience working in international organizations, including the United Nations and/or multilateral funds, with a focus on climate finance and vertical fund programming.
• Proven experience in working in a Secretariat/interim Secretariat of climate funds, including experience in leading a team of experts to develop and present papers for Board meetings.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in the work of Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, including the key priorities of the Board.
• Experience in engaging with and providing strategic and technical advice to executive or senior management on corporate-level issues related to operational models, systems, and effectiveness.
• Ability to build strong external relationships and engage effectively with external partners, including with the entities in the funding arrangements for responding to loss and damage and with partner countries.
• Experience working in developing countries in more than one region
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, including analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting materials effectively.
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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