IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.
IFC provides both investment and advisory services to support the development of the private sector in emerging markets. IFC’s Investment Services (IS) provide a wide range of financial products, including loans, equity, trade finance, structure finance and syndications, designed to enable companies to manage risk and expand their access to foreign and domestic capital markets. IFC’s Advisory Services (AS) help to establish the necessary conditions to attract private capital, enabling the private sector to grow. IFC’s AS are linked to the greatest needs identified in WBG country and sector strategies, focusing increasingly on developing high-impact market and client level projects that can help IFC clients to attract financing.
IFC’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) team supports IFC IS and AS projects to avoid, mitigate, and manage risks as a way of doing business in a sustainable way. This work is informed by IFC’s Environmental and Social (E&S) Performance Standards (https://www.ifc.org/en/insights-reports/2012/ifc-performance-standards and Corporate Governance Methodology (https://www.ifc.org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/corporate-governance).
The Role
IFC’s Eastern Africa Team is seeking a Senior Operations Officer – Regional ESG Advisory Lead (REAL) to manage AS support for the Africa Region. The REAL will be responsible for delivering ESG advisory solutions through projects and programs across Africa. Based in Nairobi, the position will report to the Regional ESG Manager for Eastern Africa and will support the other two Regional ESG Managers in Africa. The role will be further defined in response to the recent reorganization of the ESG function within IFC.
Specific duties and accountabilities include:
Program strategy, development and management
• Contribute to the development of the overall ESG regional strategy and develop corresponding priorities for ESG advisory client and market support engagements, in close coordination with the ESG, Regional and Industry Teams, and other key internal and external partners.
• Lead the development, management and delivery of ESG advisory projects and client engagements, including overseeing resources, timelines and monitoring of development results.
• Lead a team of ESG specialists in the region to develop business opportunities and client proposals, manage projects and portfolios, and oversee quality of work performed by the team.
• Lead the development of approaches that deliver ESG support to clients in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCS) in a manner that is effective and scalable, working in close collaboration with the regional FCS Africa team and regional industry teams.
• Oversee the technical delivery of projects and program. Manage internal and external reporting, communication and program promotion across key stakeholders.
• Manage relationships for successful delivery, including industry and regional management, development partners, World Bank and other external stakeholders.
• Consolidate and analyze lessons learned from project implementation experiences and share with team members and colleagues across the region and globally.
• Stay abreast of ESG market trends, both regionally and globally, to design and provide client products that are current and relevant, seeking input from colleagues as necessary.
• Coordinate with global and regional staff responsible for delivering ESG advisory services to harmonize offerings, problem-solve and coherently deliver advisory support.
Team Coordination, Budget and Financial Management
• Coordinate a team of staff and consultants to deliver an impactful ESG advisory program. This can include working across investment and advisory teams.
• Support the Regional ESG Managers in managing staff performance, communicating clear expectations and accountabilities, providing timely feedback and support to enable team members to succeed in their roles.
• Identify and anticipate financial needs, develop detailed budgets, and manage and report on financial performance per those plans.
• Identify funding sources to deliver on the ESG advisory program, including active regional fundraising, writing proposals for development partners, coordinating with the global team and other fundraising colleagues.
• Control and monitor expenditures according to IFC policies and guidelines and within own approval thresholds while optimizing results.
• Manage relationships with donors, oversee donor reporting and support the Regional ESG Managers in their duties as trust fund managers.
Knowledge Management
• Consolidate and analyze lessons learned from project implementation. Facilitate knowledge flow across IFC and the World Bank Group, sharing lessons and best practices, in the region and globally.
• Share materials, contributing to ESG knowledge management initiatives and enabling connectivity with IFC colleagues in the region and globally.