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The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region:
The Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA comprises 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people, the region spanning from Turkey to Russia and from Western Europe and the Balkans to Central Asia. The ECA Region has highlighted four priority areas of work which consist of Boosting Human Capital; Enabling Markets; Building and Strengthening Institutions; Green Transition. ECA has a strong lending pipeline as well as a large and growing portfolio of projects and Reimbursable Advisory Services. Knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region in both lending and advisory services. A predominantly middle- and high-income region, ECA continues to be at the forefront in confronting the numerous development challenges that countries face in the evolving global economy.
The region is at the vanguard of building regional connectivity while having to manage the changing structure of the labor market. At the same time, digital technologies are changing the nature of work, populations are aging, and large migration flows have generated environmental and social tensions that have contributed to increased political polarization.
The ECA region is also vulnerable to climate change. It has a large potential to strengthen climate resilience and reduce its contribution to GHG emissions. Other important challenges affecting parts of the region include conflicts and domestic political instability. For more information on ECA, please refer to https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca
The Planet Practice Group:
The Planet Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas covered by the four Departments: Agriculture and Food, Environment, , Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water, as well as cross-cutting area of Climate Change. In addition, Planet’s staff provide services to the rest of the Bank’s program on environmental and social risk management, gender and citizen engagement, and leadership on crafting climate action.
Environment (ENV) Department:
The sustainable management of the environment and natural resources is vital for economic growth and human wellbeing. When managed well, renewable natural resources, watersheds, productive landscapes, and seascapes can provide the foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. The ENV also contributes to sustainability of the entire World Bank portfolio through supporting implementation of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and compliance with safeguards policies.
For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment
The Türkiye Country Management Unit is seeking to hire an extended term consultant, based in Ankara, Türkiye, to support its operations.
Türkiye Country Context:
Since Türkiye became a member of the World Bank Group (WBG) in 1947, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has been supporting its development goals as a key international partner. Ever since 1950 when the very first loan to the country was given, WBG’s lending and technical assistance to Türkiye has been in line with programs outlined in the various Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF) and in support of development programs in the energy, urban development, education, financial markets, agriculture, health, disaster risk management, governance, transport, water and many other sectors.
The current Türkiye CPF is the WBG strategy to deliver impactful solutions at greater scale and speed in Türkiye over Fiscal Year 24-28 (FY24-FY28). The CPF is fully aligned with the WBG’s mission of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet and with the Government of Türkiye’s 12th National Development Plan (NDP) 2024-2028. It aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support recovery and reconstruction from recent shocks. The CPF outlines how the WBG will further scale up impact in one of its largest country portfolios to meet priority country and global challenges.
The key focus of the CPF is to help the country mobilize private capital to address key emerging challenges on the growth, poverty and inclusion, and sustainability fronts.
The ASA portfolio is strategically consolidated around core and extended core ASAs including Country Climate and Development Report, Programmatic Public Finance Review, Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Country Green Growth, Quality Learning and Emergency Response Roadmap, Understanding the Drivers of Regional Disparities in Türkiye and Sustainable, Efficient and Safe Transport for Türkiye.
Duties and Responsibilities:
There are 30 active IBRD operations amounting to $11.7 billion. The portfolio also includes one project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)and six trust fund-supported projects, including almost $600 million in European Union trust funds through the Facility for Refugees in Türkiye (FRiT).
The ASA portfolio is strategically consolidated around core and extended core ASAs including Country Climate and Development Report, Programmatic Public Finance Review, Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Country Green Growth, Quality Learning and Emergency Response Roadmap, Understanding the Drivers of Regional Disparities in Türkiye and Sustainable, Efficient and Safe Transport for Türkiye.
The selected consultant will support a broad and evolving portfolio of lending and policy dialogue in all ENV business lines. He/she will also support operations in all relevant sectors, including but not limited to Emergency Operations, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, Energy, Transport, Agriculture, Climate Change, Housing and Urban Development, Social Protection, Education, Health, Industry and Technology, and Pollution Management. The Selected candidate will work under supervision the ENV SCAE 1 Practice Manager (PM) based in the WB's Vienna Office. He/she will have the following main duties and responsibilities:
Environmental Safeguards/Environmental and Social Framework:
- During project preparation: screen potential Environmental and Social (E&S) risks & impacts; Determine the appropriate risk classification; Prepare Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS); Conduct thorough assessment of E&S risks & impacts; Review E&S documents available prior to Appraisal; and Prepare Appraisal ESRS.
- During project implementation: supervise project compliance with the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and Safeguard Policies as provided in the environmental and social assessment documents and management plans. Participate in project technical discussions and field visits. Review project reports and build effective working relationships with the project implementation agencies to ensure proper implementation of the ESF.
- During both preparation and implementation: go beyond narrow policy compliance to look for opportunities to support clients in achieving the project development goals. Work closely with the project task team and the social development specialist to ensure that projects are implemented in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.
- Capacity building: support and build the capacity of the client on the Bank’s environmental safeguard policies and objectives of ESF.
Operations Support:
- Provide support in the preparation and implementation of ENV operations in Türkiye. Support the country dialogue and the day-to-day follow up on projects in the three ENV lines of business (Brown, Blue, and Green). This includes, but is not limited to, project preparation, implementation; review of procurement plans and TORs submitted by the client to ensure alignment with the project objectives and consistency with World Bank fiduciary policies; participate in implementation support missions under the guidance of the Task Team Leader and follow up on project progress; elaborate mission aide-memoires and ensure timely execution of missions' action plans.
- As requested by the PM, support ongoing dialogue within the Türkiye Country Management Unit and with the other international institutions in Türkiye.
- Analytical Works: Support ENV’s advisory and analytical works in the ENV business lines, and ESF thematic reviews.