Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist (Suva, Fiji) at World Bank Group

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Suva,Fiji
Required Language(s):English

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The World Bank Group (WBG)’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity reflect a new global landscape: one in which developing countries have an unprecedented opportunity to end extreme poverty within a generation. Sustainable environment and natural resources management (ENRM) is at the heart of the WBG’s poverty agenda. Biodiversity and natural resources constitute the social safety net of the poor, representing a food bank and often their only source of livelihood.

Sustainable ENRM promotes a green, clean, and resilient world where natural resources – from forests to fisheries, freshwater, oceans, coastal zones and ecosystems – are managed to support livelihoods and strong economies. Sustainable ENRM builds a world better prepared for shocks and global challenges, helping countries limit their exposure to resource scarcity, more-volatile weather patterns, and the long-term consequences of climate change.

Global Practice Context

The Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB GP) has been set-up to deliver on the opportunities, benefits and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources. The ENB GP has close to 300 operations under management, representing close to $7 billion, and a growing pipeline of new investments under active development.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment/overview

Regional 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, leaving individuals and regions behind in the dash for prosperity. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the advanced economies clouds the prospects for countries across the region which are being made to adjust to changed growth and development prospects while addressing evolving impacts on macroeconomic stability, employment and poverty. For more information, https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap/overview

Unit and Country Context

The ENB GP Unit for East Asia and Pacific (EAP) for China, Indonesia and the Pacific has about 35 staff with half focusing on environmental risk management. The other 50 percent work primarily on lending and knowledge products in client countries. About 80 percent of staff are based in the field offices of EAP. The balance is based in Washington DC and travel to the region frequently. The skills of our team include experts in economics, pollution management, forestry, fisheries management, landscape management, watershed management, and natural areas protection.

Within the ENB GP, the mission of the SEAE1 unit is to work with national and local governments, communities, regional and sub-regional organizations, and other development partners to improve management of natural resources in the East Asia and Pacific region. Regional and sub-regional operations represent an important and growing agenda for SEAE1 including under the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP).

The World Bank’s “Blue Business Line” within the Pacific Islands currently consists of 14 investment projects and four technical assistance programs. The current investment projects span over various thematic: fisheries, coastal environment, country and community resilience. The technical assistance focusses on ocean policy, habitats protection and livelihoods, marine pollution, and integrated management and development.

In order to accelerate the achievement of the existing PROP program and future ENB business line within the SEAE1 Region, the World Bank is seeking to recruit a Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, to be stationed in Suva, Fiji, to support the growing environment, natural resources and blue economy engagement in the Pacific. The Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist will work under the supervision of the SEAE1 Practice Manager based in Singapore, in close collaboration with the Pacific ENB team and the Country ENB Sector Coordinator.

Duties & Responsibilities:

You will support the overall pacific program on activities, policies, and capacity development to improve fisheries and coastal/aquatic habitat management, strengthen coastal resilience, control aquatic pollution, better handle terrestrial and marine resources such as mangroves, and promote sustainable use of those resources including through links with other sectors including tourism. This includes coordinating with governments, including the GOF, to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination among various relevant ministries and partners.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Carry out in-depth technical assessments of environmental and natural resource management issues in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), with a focus on oceans, coastal and aquatic management, climate resilience, forested and coastal landscapes, and pollution management.
• Conduct natural resource policy dialogue and manage effective communication with government and other partners (NGOs, the private sector, international organizations, and more) related to the Bank’s natural resources and environment portfolio. This includes coordination with other financiers, and review of sector policies, strategies, and legislation.
• Lead and/or support the development and implementation of environment or natural resources operations, technical assistance or analytical work, including your preparation and participation in supervision missions.
• Develop a personal training program to stay on top of World Bank procedures, and environment and natural resources/climate change research and knowledge.
• Organize training or knowledge sharing events and help the country office staff with various tasks specific to the management of the office.
• Lead and or produce input for and present major/complex reports, including the supervision, coordination and quality control of consultant reports.
• Work independently under the general direction of the Country Sector Coordinator, and guide and mentor junior staff.
• Supply knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with key clients.

Selection Criteria

Do you meet the following selection criteria? If so, we encourage you to apply:

• Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in environment or natural resource economics/management, environmental science, engineering, fisheries, forestry or coastal management or related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in the environment/natural resources management field.
• A consistent track record in strategic engagement experience with multidisciplinary teams, and with senior-level NGOs, international organizations, development partners and/or government.
• Sound knowledge of policy, technical, institutional and political economy issues in the oceans/fisheries/forests/natural resources sub-sectors, good understanding of, and prior experience with international agreements and financing instruments.
• Strong operational track record with demonstrated ability to undertake analytical work, review environmental sector policies, and integrate them into operations.
• Proven ability to work independently and with a team in an intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.
• Excellent English language skills (writing, speaking, listening and reading).
• Strong social and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively, including to rural areas.