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Senior Environmental Specialist (Occupational Health and Safety)

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Eastern and Southern Africa

Home to about half a billion of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters. 

The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continues to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.  

The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,207 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities:

1. Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate job creation and economic transformation by leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to promote investment.
2. Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa’s vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030 – a vision that, if realized, can boost growth by up to 2 percentage points per year, and reduce poverty by 1 percentage point per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.
3. Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support is helping governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services.
4. Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities. With the influx COVID-19, we are mobilizing financial support and timely analysis and advice to countries across the subregion deal with the pandemic.
5. Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption:  In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure. A number of East African countries are currently facing a debilitating Desert Locust infestation, threatening the already precarious food security situation. The Bank has put together a program to help affected countries deal with the scourge. 
6. Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity.
7. Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Bank is a dedicated partner for Eastern and Southern African countries, helping them deliver strong development outcomes for their people. A brighter future for Africa is a better future for the world.

Environment and Social Development Context

The World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) is made up of a Vision for Sustainable Development, an Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing and a set of ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs).  These set out the requirements for the Bank and clients relating to identification and assessment of environmental risks and impacts associated with investment projects that the Bank supports. Before the ESF became effective, social and environmental risks associated with Bank projects were governed by a series of Operational Policies and Bank Policies (OP/BPs). These Standards and Policies support clients achieving good international practice relating to environmental and social sustainability, assist clients fulfilling their national and international environmental and social obligations, enhance non-discrimination, transparency, participation, accountability and governance and enhance the sustainable development outcomes of projects through stakeholder engagement.  Occupational health and safety (OHS) is governed by ESS 2 and the World Bank Group’s Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, which are technical reference documents that provide general and industry specific examples of acceptable good international practice.

Staff in the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) and the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practices, together with the Regional Environmental and Social Standards Advisor help Bank teams and clients prepare and implement investment projects in a manner consistent with the ESF or the relevant OP/BPs and supervise the client in the implementation of the environmental and social plans and/or frameworks, including those related to OHS.  When social or environmental (including OHS) incidents occur, Bank teams follow a protocol for following up to work with the client to manage the individual case and also ensure that similar events do not take place in the future.  In some cases, Bank teams work with governments to develop OHS -specific analytical, technical assistance or policy development support. 

Unit Context

The Africa East (AFE) region consists of Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The region has a large portfolio and pipeline, with a disproportionate share of high environmental and social risks, including OHS, security management, sexual exploitation and abuse, and low client capacity to manage those risks.  

As a result, the AFE Vice President has appointed a Senior Advisor to help reduce risks and impacts for projects in implementation across the region.  She will pay particular attention to efforts to improve OHS,  as well as to build client capacity.  Her role is to complement the ENB and SSI teams and the Regional Standards Advisor as well as to advise the Vice President.  She will provide support upon request and any work with clients will be closely coordinated with the operational teams.  She is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The appointee will be part of the Sr Advisor’s team, and will report her, while being professionally mapped to ENB.  

This position is for a senior environmental specialist with specific expertise in occupational health and safety, based in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Duties & Accountabilities

The specialist will have the following tasks:

1. Review occupational health and safety in priority projects.  The appointee will work with the AFE Senior Advisor and project environmental and social teams to review severe OHS incidents that have occurred on Bank-financed projects.  The result of the review will be to develop a series of case-specific measures to recommend to task team that will ensure that the incidents are properly assessed and managed, and risks of further accidents reduced.  The review will also develop more comprehensive measures that the Sr Advisor can propose to regional management to help clients reduce likelihood of and manage the results of OHS incidents.  
2. Support Bank teams and clients in investigating the root cause/s of the incidents and developing appropriate remedial and mitigation measures.
3. Prepare and deliver reports to the Regional Management Team and to individual Country Management Units on OHS incidents, patterns of incidents, and proposed recommendations. 
4. Help develop and implement a comprehensive intervention to improve worker OHS in select countries.  
5. Develop and implement a training program on occupational health and safety for Bank staff, clients and contractors.  
6. Perform as a team member for ESF in select Bank operations as OHS specialist. 

Reporting:

1. Reports to Senior Regional Advisor AFEVP, based in Nairobi.
2. Mapped professionally to ENB.

Selection Criteria

• At least 10  years of experience working in OHS, with at least five in sub-saharan Africa. Experience outside Africa is an advantage.
• Advanced degree in relevant discipline, such as engineering (civil, environmental, quality, safety), environmental science, environmental management, health and safety or closely related field.Internationally recognized OHS related certifications
• Demonstrated project experience in developing, implementing and/or supervising OHS in construction, with experience in transport infrastructure, energy and extractives sectors an advantage.
•  Knowledge of OHS management systems, including experience auditing/assessing health and safety programs and systems
•  Demonstrated ability to address technical issues of occupational health and safety and to effect a cultural change to create a culture of safety across a workplace or organization.
•  Experience with Good International Industry Practice.  Knowledge of and knowledge of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework and/or IFC Performance Standards is an advantage.
•  Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society.
•  Ability to design and deliver training courses ;
•  Experience working in a multicultural setting ;
•  Readiness for frequent travel across the region ;
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.  Proficiency in Kiswahili, French, and/or Portuguese is an advantage.
• Membership of professional bodies an advantage. 

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and foster a positive team dynamic;
•  Experience managing complex organizational tasks;
•  Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills;
•  Ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems;
•  High level of energy and initiative;
•  Ability to conduct policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners

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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. 

Environment Specialist (Environmental and Social Framework)

Description

Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data. 

Environment and Social Development Context

The World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) is made up of a Vision for Sustainable Development, an Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing and a set of ten Environmental and Social Standards.  These set out the requirements for the Bank and Borrowers relating to identification and assessment of environmental risks and impacts associated with investment projects that the Bank supports.   Before the ESF, social and environmental risks associated with Bank projects were governed by a series of Operational Policies and Bank Policies (OP/BPs).   These Standards and Policies support borrowers achieving good international practice relating to environmental and social sustainability, assist borrowers fulfilling their national and international environmental and social obligations, enhance non-discrimination, transparency, participation, accountability and governance and enhance the sustainable development outcomes of projects through stakeholder engagement. 

Staff in the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) and the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global practices, together with the Regional Safeguards Advisor, help Bank teams and clients prepare and implement investment projects in a manner consistent with the ESF or the relevant OP/BPs

Unit Context

The Africa East (AFE) region consists of Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The region has a large portfolio and pipeline, with a disproportionate share of high environmental and risks, including occupational health and safety, security management, sexual exploitation and abuse, and low client capacity to manage those risks. 

As a result, the AFE Vice President has appointed a Senior Advisor to help reduce risks and manage impacts for projects in implementation across the region.  She will pay particular attention to efforts to improve occupational health and safety as well as to build client capacity.  She is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and will have a small team in Nairobi and work closely with the SSI and ENB teams for Africa East as well as with the ESF specialists in the Bank’s Operational Policy and Client Services vice presidency. 

This position is for an environmental specialist with experience in environmental and social impact assessment based in Nairobi, Kenya.  The appointee will report to the Sr Advisor.   

Key tasks

The specialist will have the following tasks:

1. Work with the Senior Regional Advisor to review all projects that have had occupational health and safety incidents to ensure that the incidents are properly managed and risks of further accidents reduced.  Help develop and implement a plan to reduce such incidents in select countries.  Results of this review will go to the Regional Management Team and specific project teams and be conducted in collaboration with the ENB and SSI teams. Work with the Senior Regional Advisor in select countries, in collaboration with the ENB and SSI global practices, to develop loans and technical assistance to strengthen client environmental and social risk management capacity.  Perform as a team member in some of the activities.
2. Help the region implement agreed action plans to streamline ESF processing in the region as well as in select countries. Work with the Senior Regional Advisor to properly manage projects that have closed or are shortly to close with outstanding environmental and social commitments. Help task teams manage the environmental and social risks in high-risk operationsPerform as a team member for ESF in select operations. 

Reporting:

1. Reports to Senior Regional Advisor AFEVP, based in Nairobi.
2. Mapped professionally to either ENB.
3. Selection Criteria

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ of experience working in environmental and/or social risk management in sub-Saharan Africa. Experience outside Africa is an advantage
• Advanced degree in relevant discipline (engineering, environmental science, etc.)
• Knowledge of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). Experience with ESF or other Good International Practice.
• Experience managing complex organizational tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society;
• Experience working in a multicultural setting; 
• Readiness for frequent travel within Kenya and the region;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Core Competencies

• Ability to present complex social risk management and social development issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds;
• Demonstrated ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and foster a positive team dynamic;
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems;
• High level of energy and initiative; 
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team to develop innovative solutions to complex social risk management problems. 
• Demonstrated ability to create, apply and share knowledge from a range of sources to strengthen internal and or external client solutions.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Language         Speak Proficiency         Read Proficiency       Write proficiency  

English               Essential
Kiswahili             Advantage

French                 Advantage

Portuguese          Advantage

The selected candidate will be offered a four-year term appointment.

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