Background

All World Bank Investment Project Financing (IPF) operations are expected to be conducted in a way that meets the requirements of the environmental and social standards (ESS) under the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The Environment and natural Resources Global Practice is responsible for providing technical support and oversight to all investment projects to meet these standards. These typically include ensuring due diligence assessment and identification of impacts and the corresponding mitigation measures, as well as preparation of required and applicable project safeguard management instruments, including ESIA, ESMP, ESMF, etc. to mitigate and monitor identified adverse impacts and ensure implementation of projects in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

In the Africa region multiple environmental specialists and short-term consultants are engaged in providing high quality environment risk management support to various projects under the global practice. The Environment specialists (staff and consultants) are generally involved in assisting the borrower to prepare environmental risk management instruments as part of Environmental Assessment, ensuring that content and quality is consistent with the Bank’s safeguards policies/procedures and the ESF, and supervise the instruments implementation.

The World Bank Rwanda Country Office environment risk management coordination unit is looking for an Environmental Specialist to help with environmental risk management of the World Bank Financed Projects.

Assignment Description

The World Bank is seeking to recruit a highly qualified local Environmental Specialist (STC) to be based in the World Bank Country Office in Kigali-Rwanda. The consultant will support the Practice Group’s work on the application of environmental policy and ESF to Bank investment lending, including risk management and knowledge and learning initiatives.

The Consultant will be part of a dynamic team of environment and natural resources management specialists working in Kigali, Rwanda. He/she will also provide technical advice and expertise on a variety of environmental issues related to investment operations, development policy loans, program for result operations, and other instruments, such as Technical Assistance, including adaptation to climate change, waste management, natural resources management and green and inclusive growth.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Consultant will provide environment risk management (safeguard) support for the projects in preparation and supervision stages as assigned by environment focal point, in coordination with Task Team Leaders and other members of Bank’s project teams. This function includes the following tasks:

• Support the effective integration of environmental due diligence as defined by the World bank Group (WBG) ESF and safeguards Policies into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported Projects.
• Provide advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regard to environmental risk management documents; such advise will be based on analysis of baseline conditions, project scope and impacts, requirement from national legal and institutional frameworks and, compliance with the WBG’s operational Polices.
• Provide support to clients in the preparation of project cycle documentation.
• Participate in field missions to contribute to proper implementation of environmental risk management instruments/documents of projects funded by the World Bank.
• Participate and/or undertake analytical work on environmental risk management issues in support of building client capacity; and
• Represent the team to ensure adequate communication, support and reporting on compliance of the new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).

The consultant may have to travel to project field offices and other locations as needed for the performance of the above functions.

Qualification

The Consultant must demonstrate the expertise required to fully appreciate the requirements of World Bank Safeguards Policies, ESF requirements and relevant Government of Rwanda (GoR) requirements related to environmental risk management.

Specifically, the following are required:

• MSc in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resources or related fields.
• A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in environmental management and assessment.
• Demonstrated project management / operational skills and familiarity with Bank procedures and business practices including occupational health and safety management and the WBG safeguard policies would be an advantage.
• Fluency in English (writing, speaking, listening, and reading).
• Proven teamwork and successful experience working with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, NGOs, private sector, international organizations, development partners and/or with the government will be an advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively in rural areas of Rwanda if necessary.

WBG COMPETENCIES

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective, and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

Contract

Under this assignment, the consultant should be based in Kigali, Rwanda. STCs are paid on a daily basis and are paid for actual days worked. The number of working hours per week is not set, as the consultant engagement will depend on the current workload and business needs. It is, however, expected that the STC will start on a trial 40-day contract; then, if performance is satisfactory, the candidates will be offered an extension of the contract in this fiscal year and contract for up to 150 days per fiscal year after this FY based on availability of funds.

Please submit your CV, motivation letter and list of three references to yendaylalu@worldbank.org and bmutesi@worldbank.org by not later than February 15, 2023. All applications will be treated in the strict confidence. Only short-listed candidate will be contacted.