The World Bank Policy Officer (Policy and Accreditation)

Background / General
description:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to forge international cooperation and to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and activities that address biodiversity loss, climate change, degradation of international waters, land degradation, ozone depletion and persistent organic pollutants within the framework of sustainable development.  GEF is open to universal membership, and currently, 176 countries are members.

The GEF is governed by a Council comprising 32 Members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries.  An Assembly of all member countries meets every four years at the ministerial level.  The GEF Trust Fund is replenished every four years.   GEF is the designated financial mechanism for three international conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  GEF financing also supports countries to meet the objectives of the Convention to Combat Desertification. 

Since its inception as a pilot facility in 1991, GEF has committed $6.2 billion in grants to over 1,800 projects in more than 160 developing countries and transitional economies. In the period 2006 to 2010, GEF expects to commit a further $3.13 billion (fourth replenishment period).

Ten agencies (the GEF agencies) are principally accountable for the execution of GEF projects: the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank (IBRD/IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The Operations Officer is part of the Operations and Business Strategy (OBS) Team, which is responsible for the management of program and project approvals, taking into account resources available through the GEF Trust Fund, development of effective and transparent business practices and policies, and compliance with GEF policies and procedures.  In exercising these functions, the team collaborates with the technical teams in the GEF Secretariat and in the GEF Agencies.  The team is critical to ensuring the proper management and efficiency of GEF operations. Its duties include coordinating Results-based Management and monitoring across the GEF portfolio, developing and maintaining the GEF Project Management Information System (PMIS), implementing the GEF System of Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR), and the GEF Public Private Partnership initiative.

 Duties and
Accountabilities:

The incumbent will be dividing his/her time equally between the following two areas within the OBS Team:

1. GEF Policy Development: In this role, he/she will assist the development of GEF policy and business strategy papers, including the development and maintenance of a system for GEF policy papers to be on the GEF website, and assistance with other issues including assistance with GEF corporate finance and budget issues, resource allocation, and results-based management.  He/she will work in close collaboration with the GEF Secretariat’s Senior Policy Officer and will be accountable to the Head of Operations and Business Strategy.  Specific tasks include:

a. Work closely with Senior Policy Officer to take the lead on developing and maintaining a system of GEF policy guidance papers by converting previous Council papers and GEF guidance notes/e-mails into GEF Policy and Procedure documents, cataloging them on the GEF website and assisting with ensuring adequate follow up.

b. Assist the Senior Policy Officer and other OBS team members to draft Council papers and GEF policy papers, including editing of papers as necessary.

c. Assist the GEF Secretariat finance and budget teams, including on the preparation of annual GEF business plan and corporate budget presentation to Council and corporate-wide finance issues.

d. Offer assistance, including conducting research, on a range of matters relevant to OBS, including analysis of the GEF corporate budget and finance issues, outreach with the private sector and GEF’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), resource allocation under the STAR, and knowledge management as necessary.

2. Accreditation: In this role, the incumbent will assist the process of broadening the GEF partnership through the accreditation of new GEF project agencies. He/she will work in close collaboration with the GEF Secretariat’s Accreditation Manager and will be accountable to the Head of Operations and Business Strategy.  Specific tasks include:

a. Work closely with the Accreditation Manager to implement the  relevant GEF policy reforms associated with the Broadening of the GEF Partnership as approved by the GEF Council, including the implementation of the GEF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards;

b. Assist the Accreditation Manager in developing business processes and procedures for new and existing activities related to accreditation in accordance with Council decisions;

c. Assist the Accreditation Manager in drafting and preparing progress reports and other documentation for Council approval;

d. Receive application materials from applicant agencies, check for and ensure their completeness, and maintain an organized archive and database of such documents submitted by agencies;

e. Address any technical difficulties that applicants may face during submission of their application materials;

f. Maintain the Accreditation Inbox, responding to general inquiries about the Accreditation process in consultation with the Accreditation Manager, and also maintain and periodically update the GEF Accreditation web page, as required;

g. Assist the Accreditation Manager in establishing the required legal and administrative procedures with accredited agencies, including drafting of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and other legal documents, in collaboration with the GEF’s legal counsel;

h. Provide logistical assistance to the Accreditation Manager in organizing Accreditation Panel meetings, video or tele-conferences, in collaboration with relevant administrative staff;

i. Provide technical assistance to the Accreditation Panel members in accessing agency applications and supporting evidence, as required, in collaboration with relevant technical staff;

j. Make presentations to various audiences regarding the accreditation process.

Selection Criteria:

COMPETENCIES   1. General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical tools and models to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs; understands underlying statistical concepts 2. Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.  3. Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.   4. Environmental Economics - Solid understanding of many of the economic concepts relevant to environment, with hands-on experience.  5. Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Familiarity with environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.  6. Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.  7. Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.  8. Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.  9. Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.

Selection Criteria

1. A Master’s degree with at least 5 years in a field of work relevant to the GEF, including international development, international relations, international law, environmental policy or science, or economics. 

2. Demonstrated strong analytical capacity and critical thinking, including ability to interpret and synthesize information and present it, verbally and in writing, in a coherent manner.

3. Excellent interpersonal, communication skills (ability to communicate clearly in spoken and written English), a positive attitude and ability to work well in a matrix organization and team environment.

4. Excellent client service/orientation skills in a collegial and collaborative relationship among the GEF units and with external organizations.

5. Experience using common computer software programs, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PowerPoint.

6. Enthusiasm for and commitment to work on global environmental issues in an international, multi-cultural setting.

7. High degree of motivation, initiative, flexibility, reliability, and responsiveness to changing demands and tight deadlines.

8. Ability to take on responsibilities and to work independently with minimal supervision and to manage multiple tasks in parallel.

9. A motivated self-starter who is detail oriented, dedicated to be exacting, including doing thorough, in-depth and sometimes exhaustive research on issues such that first drafts of papers are of high quality.

To see full Job Description please visit www.worldbank.org/careers .

Interested candidates are invited to apply to vacancy #130532 on www.worldbank.org/careers.   

 This vacancy closes on 11 Mar 2013.  Only online applications submitted through our careers site will be admitted. The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background.  Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence