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Background
The South Asia Region comprises eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan 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 Environment Department (ENV), located within the World Bank’s Planet Practice Group has been established to deliver on the opportunities, benefits and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources!
ENV provides expertise, technical assistance and financing to help low- and middle-income countries manage land, sea and freshwater natural resources in a sustainable way to help create jobs, improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem services, decrease pollution and increase resilience to climate change. Over 360 ENV staff working across the globe help set developing countries on a clean, green growth trajectory for resilient economies and healthy communities.
The SSAE1 unit, covers two country units (India and Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives) and is one of two ENV units in the SAR region, comprises around 40 staff, with 95 percent based in Country Offices. The rest of the team is based in Washington DC.
Our India country office has approximately 150 staff, including about 18 experienced ENB staff and 1 ETC, providing a vibrant, collegial working environment.
The position
Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will report to the SAR SSAE1 Practice Manager based in Singapore and the Country Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Focal Point based in Delhi.
The Environmental Specialist’s role will be to oversee and support compliance with the WBG’s safeguards policies and ESF, ensuring that environmental sustainability is integrated into project design and implementation!
• Provide advice to clients on environmental risk management in World Bank-financed projects.
• Work closely with the ESF Country Focal Point, ensure the effective integration of environmental due diligence into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects.
• Provide expert advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regards to the preparation of all environment-related due diligence, assessment and management materials. This includes environmental impact assessments (both project-specific and regional), strategic and cumulative assessments; and specific plans related to occupational health and safety, natural habitats conservation etc.
• Provide environmental input in project documents in accordance with the Bank operational policies and assist with managing timely and proper disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.
• Working closely with World Bank procurement specialists, provide expert guidance to clients in tendering and contracting specialized consultant services for environmental risk assessment and management tasks. This includes the preparation of terms of reference for due diligence and management activities, and assistance in selection, contracting and supervision of consultants.
• Provide technical training and capacity building related to environmental risk management, including WBG safeguard policies and ESF requirements.
• Participate as a team member in various projects, including participating in identification missions; seeking and developing opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies into various investment project operations. In addition, maintaining regular dialog with the client and enhancing their capacity for understanding of and compliance with environmental policies; and contributing to mission outputs and reports.
• Other assignments as and when required.