Regional Team Lead – ESG Advisory Services and Upstream Vacancy-Job Ref: JKEIFC/0412/2020104

Regional Team Lead – ESG Advisory Services and Upstream Vacancy-Job Ref: JKEIFC/0412/2020104
Nairobi (Kenya)
JOB DESCRIPTION
Description

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), believes that a strong and engaged private sector is indispensable to delivering on the WBG’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. IFC has more than 60 years of experience in unlocking private investment and creating markets and opportunities where they are needed most. Since 1956, IFC has leveraged $2.6 billion in capital to deliver more than $265 billion in financing for businesses in developing countries.
IFC provides both investment and advisory services to support the development of the private sector in emerging markets. IFC’s Investment Services (IS) provide a wide range of financial products, including loans, equity, trade finance, structure finance and syndications, designed to enable companies to manage risk and expand their access to foreign and domestic capital markets. IFC’s Advisory Services (AS) help to establish the necessary conditions to attract private capital, enabling the private sector to grow. IFC’s AS are linked to the greatest needs identified in WBG country and sector strategies, focusing increasingly on developing high-impact projects that can help IFC clients to attract financing.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations (FCS). This strategy calls for generating our own opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries, and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. It also requires capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to develop our own proactive sector interventions and to imagine and design projects even in the absence of reforms.
The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Sustainability Advice and Solutions Department (CEG), includes approximately 200 staff and consultants. CEG supports IFC’s global and regional Upstream teams to manage ESG risks associated with their activities and find solutions to client issues on basis of our Environmental and Social (E&S) Performance

IFC’s ESG Department is seeking a Regional Team Lead for Advisory Services Support and Upstream (RTL AS& Upstream) for the Africa Region.
The Role
The RTL AS & Upstream will have overall responsibility for IFC’s E&S Risk Management Support to IFC’s Advisory and Upstream operations, as well as the delivery of CEG’s ESG Advisory Program in the Region. This includes strategy, transaction support, program development and delivery, quality assurance, team management, relationship management of key internal and external stakeholders. The Regional Team Lead will be part of the ESG Regional Leadership Team and will work in close collaboration with the Regional Corporate Governance Lead, and Environmental and Social Regional Team Leads, in ensuring alignment and coordination of ESG Investment and Advisory/Upstream support in the Region with IFC’s global, regional and industry strategies and priorities. The Team Lead will report to the Regional ESG Manager.
Specific duties and accountabilities include:
E&S Risk Review and Support for IFC’s Upstream and Advisory Operations
Ensure appropriate guidance and support to Operations in the identification, classification and management of E&S risks and impacts in the design and delivery of advisory and upstream engagements, throughout the project life-cycle.
Ensure that relevant ESG analysis and/or support components are included in industry-led advisory and upstream initiatives.
Lead the development of intensive ESG support to fast growing Ventures and Collaborations and Co-Developments programs across the region. Work collaboratively with Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services, and Financial Institutions Group upstream teams, and CEG Specialists to conceptualize, resource and deliver engagements.
In coordination with CEG Sector Leads, oversee the identification of key industry trends technologies and business models and related ESG risks in Africa and their incorporation in country strategies and relevant diagnostics to help develop replicable approaches for upstream ESG support.
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Program strategy, development and management
Contribute to the development of overall ESG regional strategy and develop corresponding priorities for ESG Advisory Client and Market Support engagements, in close coordination with the ESG Regional Team, Regional Investment Departments, and other key internal and external partners.
Lead the development, management and delivery of advisory projects and client engagements that deliver on these priorities (including CEG-led projects, or ESG components of engagements led by other units), including partners, resources, timelines and monitoring of development results.
Lead the development of approaches that deliver ESG support to clients in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCS) in a manner that is effective, and scalable, working in close collaboration with the regional FCS Initiative and regional industry teams.
Lead the development of CEG-led upstream initiatives. Liaise with key internal/external stakeholders to determine priority engagements.
Overseeing technical delivery of Program components, ensuring highest levels of product quality and client service. Manage internal and external reporting, communication and Program promotion across key stakeholders.
Manage relationships for successful delivery, including industry and regional management, development partners, World Bank and other partners/stakeholders.
Consolidate and analyze lessons learned from project implementation experiences and sharing with team members and colleagues across the Region and globally.
Stay abreast of ESG market trends, both regionally and globally, to ensure client products are current and relevant, seeking input from colleagues as necessary.
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Team Management and Coordination
Design and assign team roles and responsibilities, mobilizing and managing a team of professionals and a resource base of consultants to deliver on E&S Risk Management Support and on Advisory Program components. This can include staff that are dedicated to delivery of advisory services, or staff that work across investment, upstream and advisory support.
Manage staff performance of team members, ensuring clear expectations and accountabilities, providing timely feedback and support to enable team members to succeed in their roles.
Help Resolve differences across and among multiple stakeholders, both internal and external.
Budget and Financial Management
Identify and anticipate financial needs, developing detailed budgets, and managing and reporting on financial performance according to plans.
Identifying funding sources to deliver on the Program, including active regional fundraising and writing proposals for development partners, coordinating with the global team and other fundraising colleagues.
Controlling and monitoring expenditures according to IFC policies and guidelines and within own approval thresholds while optimizing results.
Knowledge Management
Consolidating and analyzing lessons learned from project implementation experiences. Facilitate knowledge flow across IFC and the World Bank Group, share adoption of new approaches and best practices, both in the region and globally.
Sharing materials, contributing to ESG Knowledge Management initiatives and ensuring connectivity with IFC colleagues in the Region and globally.
Selection Criteria

The candidate should be a senior professional with comprehensive and in-depth expertise in project and program management. S/he should be recognized as an expert in ESG generally or a relevant area of ESG (Environmental, Social or Corporate Governance), and in providing advisory services. S/he routinely leads complex projects and integrates work of other (often multi-disciplinary) professional staff. S/he can interact with confidence with companies at the most senior levels (board, senior management), and with policy-makers and other market operators at senior levels.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s Degree or higher in an area related to Environmental or Social management, Business Administration, Law, Economics, Finance, Accounting/Audit, Engineering, or other relevant discipline.

• At least 12 years of relevant work experience in an ESG-related area, ideally in the private sector, private consulting firm or international organization.
• Experience managing advisory services to clients, preferably in the areas of ESG Standards and performance.
• FCS and real sector (Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services) experience is essential.
• Experience in managing and implementing donor-funded projects, including reporting to development partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a matrixed, highly complex and global organization, with superior influencing and interpersonal skills; ability to cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of best available practices related to Corporate Governance and/or ESG.
• Relevant experience working in the relevant region is desirable, though not required.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies.
• Demonstrated professional leadership and ability to lead a sizeable and dispersed team of professionals in the execution of major project components.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills are essential.
• Strong presentation and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively.
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.

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