Job Description

Governance Specialist Job #: req35230 Organization: World Bank Sector: Governance Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic Closing Date: 1/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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 secure a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as an interim trustee for four years, which includes hosting the Fund’s secretariat (Secretariat). The World Bank has agreed to act as trustee and administer the Trust Fund in line with the COP/CMA’s stipulations .

The Secretariat, hosted by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and led by the Executive Director (ED), coordinates the Fund’s strategic activities across its governing bodies, including the Board, and the World Bank (as Trustee and Secretariat host), manages institutional relations with the Fund’s stakeholders, and drives thought leadership to deliver the Board’s vision and policies.

Purpose of the Role

These Terms of Reference define the responsibilities and qualifications for the Governance Specialist within the FRLD Secretariat. The role anchors the Secretariat’s interaction with UNFCCC bodies, Parties, regional negotiating groups, and multilateral climate governance forums and other institutions ensuring FRLD’s policies, procedures, and operations are aligned with evolving intergovernmental mandates, including complementarity and coherence. The post holder will report to the Program Manager for Board Affairs and Governance and work closely with different PMs and the wider team to translate policy developments into guidance, position documents, and engagement strategies.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Monitor, assess and support UNFCCC, COP / CMA / SBI / SCF and other climate governance processes; analyze draft texts, decisions, and negotiation tracks; produce timely briefs, alerts, and strategic recommendations for senior management.
• Lead or coordinate the Secretariat’s inputs into UNFCCC submissions, technical papers, and negotiation processes to reflect FRLD’s mandate, objectives and goals.
• Support the preparation of board related documents including but not limited to draft agendas, explanatory memoranda, decision matrices, background papers, and implementation of strategy and board decisions.
• Act as a principal liaison with observer groups, regional coordinating groups, UNFCCC Secretariat, and climate funds, development institutions to promote policy complementarity and coherence.
• Design and execute capacity building, outreach, and stakeholder engagement initiatives (e.g. workshops, webinars, briefing materials) to enable observers to engage effectively with FRLD modalities.
• Advise the Secretariat on institutional, political, or procedural risks arising from intergovernmental processes, identify constraints, and propose mitigation or engagement strategies.
• Contribute to the Secretariat’s reporting (for instance to Board, UNFCCC) by integrating intergovernmental guidance, requirements, lessons learned, alignment risks, and forward outlooks.
• Develop policies, strategies and initiatives for fostering the engagement and lead the Secretariat’s collaboration with observers to the Board
• Work with other units to ensure that intergovernmental guidance and insights inform program design, implementation, and communications.
• Undertake ad hoc assignments as requested by the Program Manager.  

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in international relations, political science, public policy, environmental / climate studies, or related discipline. 
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in multilateral, intergovernmental, or diplomatic settings, in climate change, environmental treaties.
• Demonstrated experience in loss and damage including but not limited to negotiations within the UNFCCC, preparing submissions, reports, interventions, or decision documents.
• Proven experience engaging across government, multilateral agencies, civil society, and regional climate negotiating groups.

Skills and Abilities: 

• Strong analytical skills to interpret evolving negotiation texts, distill political positions, and advise on party and regional group positioning.
• Demonstrates strong integrative thinking and ability to support project teams in developing an integrated point of view around development challenges 
• Demonstrates ability to seek out, collate and synthesize inputs from across sectoral and thematic boundaries
• Identifies and assesses policy issues and communicates findings/ points of view verbally and through reports and papers 
• Plays an active role in the dialogue with government and/or other stakeholders as part of Bank teams 
• Demonstrates ability to contribute to development and implementation of FRLD and WB strategies
• Demonstrates ability to seek out, collate and synthesize inputs from across sectoral and thematic boundaries
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to draft clear, persuasive policy documents, talking points, and background papers for senior audiences.
• Diplomacy, political acumen, stakeholder management, and sensitivity to intergovernmental dynamics.
• Ability to work under pressure, multitask, manage competing priorities, and deliver in tight timeframes.
• Collaboration, flexibility, and capacity to work in a matrix environment across Secretariat units.
• Familiarity with climate finance policy, including but not limited to operations of trust funds, and multilateral development banks.
• Experience working in or with climate funds / World Bank trust fund mechanisms (e.g. Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Climate Investment Funds, Adaptation Fund).
• Exposure to developing country contexts, climate policy planning, or in-country engagement.
• Experience designing and delivering capacity building or stakeholder engagement programs.
• Proficiency in one or more UN languages beyond English (e.g. French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian).

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.

Job Tags

Interim role,

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