Climate Change Specialist (WBG Young Professionals Program)

Do you want to join a diverse group of professionals who help change the world?

The World Bank Group (WBG) is a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

Our Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP) is an exciting way to start a career with the World Bank Group. For close to 60 years, the program has recruited some of the brightest young minds to contribute to our top priorities, from poverty eradication, social development and climate change to the current response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Climate Change Specialists, Economists and Climate Finance Specialists with YPP qualifications below are encouraged to apply from June 15 - July 15 at www.worldbank.org/ypp

We are looking for individuals who are younger than 32 years of age, who demonstrate a passion for international development, graduate level education, relevant professional experience and the potential to grow into leadership roles across the World Bank Group. 

Description

The World Bank Group (WBG) is more committed than ever to helping countries meet the challenge of climate change, recognizing that its twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity cannot be achieved without tackling climate change. In fiscal year 2020, the WBG committed 29 percent of its financing to climate actions, exceeding its 28-percent climate finance (i.e. climate co-benefits) target set in 2015 for a third year in a row. Building on this achievement, IBRD and IDA set the post-2020 climate finance target of 30 percent as part of their IBRD General Capital Increase (GCI) and IDA19 policy commitments, and the WBG recently announced a goal of 35% on average over FY21 to FY25. The Climate Change Group (CCG) in the World Bank helps client countries recognize, prepare for, and respond to the risks that climate change poses. With CCG support, the World Bank mobilizes the necessary public and private finance, provides technical assistance, and utilizes its convening power to support countries in their transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways. 

YPP Selection Criteria

• Born on or after October 1, 1990
• Relevant Master’s by September 2022 OR PhD by September 2023
• 3+ years of relevant experience OR continued study at the doctoral level
• Fluency in English

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Economics on a topic related to climate change (adaptation or mitigation), energy, environment, or disaster risk management.  
• Demonstrates knowledge of climate change economics, either on adaptation or mitigation, and including various sources of costs and benefits from climate change impacts to climate policies.
• In-depth knowledge of a range of analytical methods, with demonstrated record of working in an interdisciplinary environment linking economics approaches with other disciplines (e.g., engineering, hydrology, decision-making under uncertainty) 
• Good understanding of the establishment and operation of carbon markets, with knowledge of approaches to carbon pricing and/or taxation policies and systems
• Good ability to conceptualize and structure financing solutions for specific adaptation/mitigation projects
• Strong writing skills and an ability to produce user-friendly written outputs. 

World Bank Group Core Competencies

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.

• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
•  Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Project Design for Impact and Sustainability - Contributes to the design of projects and programs based on an understanding of the country and sector context.
• Sector Dialogue - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client including on complex issues, based on a solid understanding of the sector.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions, and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning, and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

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 accommodation 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, IFC and MIGA including our values and inspiring stories.