Senior Programming Specialist

Senior Programming Specialist

Description

At COP27 and CMA4, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) established funding arrangements to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. This decision established the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) to assist developing countries vulnerable to the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, including extreme weather and slow onset events.

At COP28 and CMA5, the COP/CMA formally approved the Fund’s Governing Instrument, designating it as part of the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism and placing it under the guidance of both COP and CMA. The decision authorized the Fund’s Board to sign a Hosting arrangement with the World Bank as the host for the FRLD Secretariat as well as a Trustee agreement with the World Bank as the interim trustee for four years.

The FRLD Secretariat, led by the Executive Director (ED), is an independent Secretariat, accountable to the Board, and is responsible for executing the day to day operations of the Fund in accordance with the decisions of the Board. The Secretariat is composed of 5 divisions led by Program Managers that report to the Office of the Executive Director: Board Affairs and Governance; Programming and Country Engagement; Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning; Resource Mobilization, Communications and Partnerships; and Budget and Finance Management. 

The Programming and Country Engagement (PACE) division under the FRLD Secretariat is the programming and technical core of the Secretariat, responsible for leading the development and operationalization of funding modalities and instruments, and managing the pipeline and portfolio of the FRLD in close engagement with countries and access entities. Key functions include (1) developing programming modalities and instruments for the start-up phase (Barbados Implementation Modalities, BIM) and long-term operations of the Fund; (2) conducting the review of funding requests submitted to the Fund; (3) managing the pipeline and approved portfolio throughout the stages of the funding cycle, in close coordination and engagement with countries and access entities; (4) supporting the development of the simplified mechanism for determining functional equivalency of countries and entities; (5) representing the Fund, on matters related to programming and country engagement, in global and regional dialogues and conferences; and (6) collaborating with the entities in the funding arrangements to ensure complementarity and coherence.  

The PACE team is led by a Program Manager who is supported by programming and subject-matter specialists in fields related to loss and damage and climate and development finance. 

Purpose of the Role

Specialist within the PACE team in the FRLD Secretariat. Under the leadership and guidance of the Program Manager, the key functions of the Senior Programming Specialist include: i) effective and coherent implementation of the programing modalities and instruments for the start-up phase (Barbados Implementation Modalities, BIM), ii) pipeline and portfolio management, including quality assurance of funding request reviews, operating procedures and tools, and iii) developing modalities and frameworks for the long-term operations of the Fund.

The Senior Programming Specialist will report to the Program Manager of the PACE team and will collaborate closely with the wider PACE team as well as others across the wider Secretariat.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Pipeline and Portfolio Management

● Coordinate the completeness check, conformity review and technical review of funding requests submitted to FRLD
● Conduct quality assurance reviews of the Secretariat assessment reports prepared for submission to the Board, ensuring consistency and full alignment with the assessment methodology and guidelines.
● Monitor the implementation status/progress of the approved portfolio and consolidate key findings/issues identified
● Assess effectiveness and operational rigor in the execution of Fund modalities and regularly report to the Program Manager on the status
● Monitor internal timelines and deadlines for all key areas of work
● Regularly monitor the status of risk mitigation measures at the portfolio level, and, where needed, escalate key issues to the Program Manager.
● Develop internal SOPs, guidelines and manuals, including coordinating with other teams in the Secretariat, where relevant.

Policies and Systems

● Lead the development of the long-term modalities and instruments of the Fund, including drafting of Board papers, ensuring lessons learned from the BIM are incorporated into the design of the long-term model.
● Quality assure all documents before approval/clearance by the Program Manager, ensuring high quality and technical rigor and full alignment with the Governing Instrument and decisions of the Board.
● Conduct regular internal trainings on operationalizing the modalities, instruments and policies adopted by the Board
● Liaise with other teams in the Secretariat to ensure coherence, including providing programming related inputs, where required.
● Serve as PACE focal point for the development of knowledge and communication products, in collaboration with KMEL and RMCP teams
● Support the Program Manager in developing key performance metrics and provide regular updates on the status to the Program Manager. 
● Conduct ad hoc assignments as tasked by the Program Manager.

Country Engagement

● Support the Program Manager in engaging with partner countries and access entities to support bottom-up, country-led and country owned programming
● Lead the preparations for the Program Manager’s external engagements in representing FRLD, including preparing briefing notes, talking points and presentation slides.

Board meeting and consultations

● Support the Program Manager with preparations for Board meetings, including ensuring programming and country engagement related Board papers are delivered in a timely manner.
● Lead the preparations for consultations with the Board and Observers, including delivery of high quality presentation materials, talking points, summary of key issues, etc.
● Coordinate with the Senior Governance Specialist to support the drafting of decision text required for Board meetings.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience:

● An advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, environmental studies, or a related field, with preference for focus on loss and damage, climate change adaptation and/or disaster risk management
● At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in programming and operations, including but not limited to working in international and/or regional institutions, UN, or multilateral climate funds.
● Expert knowledge of loss and damage, climate change and/or disaster risk management
● Proven track record in drafting complex technical and operational papers, as well as quality assuring papers to ensure high quality and rigor.
● Demonstrated experience designing and reviewing proposals for funding as well as implementing projects and budget support operations in the field
● Experience in pipeline and portfolio management
● Experience working with or within a variety of international financial institutions (e.g. World Bank, UN agencies, climate funds) is highly desirable.
● Experience working in developing countries across multiple regions is preferred

Skills and Abilities:

● Excellent drafting and analytical skills, with ability to synthesize complex technical information/data and operational principles into clear and concise papers.
● Strong judgment, risk awareness, and ability to assess trade-offs in programming and operational dimensions.
● Effective communication skills (written and oral), able to present and train diverse audiences (with or without technical expertise) in concise and accessible language.
● Proven coordination skills and ability to work collaboratively within and across teams.
● Strong ability to work under time pressure, manage multiple assignments, meet tight deadlines and work across different time zones.
● High level of attention to detail in producing high quality products/papers
● Good understanding of organizational and operational effectiveness as well as ways to address challenges and risks
● Capacity to work in a matrix, cross-functional environment and adapt to evolving institutional and policy priorities.
● Proficiency in one or more UN languages beyond English (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese) is an asset.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.