Associate/ Industry Specialist

Job :	req14475
Organization:	IFC
Sector:	Investment
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
Closing Date:	1/23/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Mitigating climate change and helping our clients and member countries to adapt to climate change risks and impacts is a strategic pillar of the WBG. In its Climate Change Action Plan for FY21-25, IFC committed that, among other things:

an average of 35% of its own-account long-term finance commitments will finance climate related activities
85% of new IFC investments will be Paris Aligned by July 2023 and 100% will be Paris Aligned by July 2025; and
100% of IFC projects will be screened for climate risk by the end of FY2023.

IFC’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) department covers a wide range of sectors essential for economic growth and for basic human needs such as food, shelter, a habitable and sustainable climate, jobs, health and education. MAS clients – that include leading global and regional / local industry players - play a critical role in producing goods and providing services demanded by consumers and that are required for infrastructure, business and global supply chains.

Through the business it does with its private sector clients, IFC's priorities in MAS include (but are not limited to): (i) increasing productivity and access to manufactured goods and services, including production of food/commodities and supply chains, while supporting low carbon growth and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts; (ii) making IFC the financing partner of choice for targeted clients, in part through its world-class industry expertise; (iii) supporting select local companies to grow while improving their transparency, efficiency and sustainable competitiveness; (iv) catalyzing investment through our mobilization activities; and (v) developing client, sector and country-level investment and advisory solutions that can be scaled and replicated.

MAS Climate Business helps to deliver IFC’s climate strategies and targets. Our platform comprises a network of investment professionals, industry specialists, analysts and other staff that work with MAS sector teams and clients to build and finance a pipeline of climate investments. MAS Climate Business crafts strategies, develops tools, and engages in business development with clients to promote IFC’s expertise and climate financing products for investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, green buildings, circular economy, climate smart agriculture, sustainable forestry and other decarbonization pathways. We help clients to achieve their climate strategies and commitments in their operations and in their supply chains. We look to scale proven abatement/adaptation technologies and to pilot select innovative technologies that our clients want to implement. We identify new business models and approaches that can be replicated and scaled.

The World Bank defines Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) as an approach to managing landscapes—cropland, livestock, forests, fisheries—that aims to achieve three “wins”: (1) Increased productivity to improve food security and boost farmers’ incomes; (2) Enhanced resilience to drought, pests, disease and other shocks; (3) Reduced GHG emissions. IFC seeks to contribute to CSA by providing investments and advisory operations that contribute to these three pillars of CSA. IFC promotes CSA through our work with private sector clients to sustainably increase food production on existing agricultural land and reduce the operational environmental footprint of food manufacturing. In CSA, IFC focuses on three strategic themes: (i) Improving yield and productivity of land while reducing input use and GHG emissions per ton of output, especially through precision farming and regenerative or conservation agricultural practices, (ii) Sustainably increasing productivity and reducing the GHG intensity and resource footprint of animal protein production, and (iii) Reducing post-harvest losses in supply chains globally.

MAS Climate Business is seeking an Associate/ Industry Specialist, Climate Smart Agriculture, to support our climate work, and specifically, to help us expand our CSA investment program.

Role and Responsibilities:

The Associate/ Industry Specialist will work closely with MAS’s Senior Industry Specialist for Climate Smart Agriculture and is expected to support IFC’s CSA program by: (i) working with investment teams to review the climate related aspects of IFC investment projects in the agricultural and food industry and to analyze, quantify and document the climate impacts / co-benefits, (ii) coordinate the process to ensure investments are Paris Aligned, and (iii) support strategic engagements with Agri-Forestry clients on their decarbonization strategies and to help develop a pipeline of CSA investments that can be financed by IFC.

More specifically, key areas of responsibility will include:

Prepare concise reports and presentations with logical climate arguments of CSA interventions and investments, clearly demonstrating expected climate impacts and business benefits.
Analyze the climate / environmental / business benefits from adopting improved agricultural practices, sustainability certifications, and making CSA related investments. Utilize different tools (including Gleam-I and IFC’s Food Loss GHG Calculator) to estimate climate impacts.
Engage with various internal stakeholders to help coordinate the Paris Alignment process for MAS’s Agri-Forestry sector investments.
Discuss and share knowledge with IFC investment and advisory teams and with clients on CSA; prepare case studies on relevant IFC projects for internal and external audiences.
Support the development of CSA related tools that are relevant to MAS clients.
Participate in discussions with existing or prospective clients in the agroforestry sector to understand their strategies, business models and operations from a climate standpoint. Prepare list of questions that can be shared with the client regarding the climate risks and GHG reduction opportunities in their operations and planned investments. Support MAS teams/clients with market-based climate financings.
Support the Senior Climate Smart Agriculture Industry Specialist with market research, reviewing reports, business development and other tasks as requested.
Liaise with World Bank Agriculture and Climate Change Global Practices for knowledge sharing, coordinate with MAS sector teams and specialists where appropriate.

Selection Criteria

Commitment to IFC and the World Bank Group’s mission, strategy, and values.
Advanced degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g. agriculture, environmental sciences or related field).
Minimum five years of relevant work experience in international organizations and/or in the private sector.
Hands on experience in agribusiness sector and on relevant climate change (mitigation and/or adaptation; carbon markets) topics for the role is sought.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and sound business judgment to identify issues and present creative and practical solutions.
Knowledge of technologies such as climate smart fertilizer use, efficient irrigation, regenerative agriculture, sustainable forestry management, animal/agri waste management, cold-chain development, improved logistics and storage, among others, is helpful.
Knowledge of climate financing products (Sustainability Linked Loans, Green Loans / Bonds, Blue Loans / Bonds…) knowledge of carbon finance / carbon credit markets is a plus.
Strong business sense on what motivates private sector strategic and investment priorities, what is / is not economically viable; ability to exercise good judgment and selectivity on where to prioritize focus given the internal and external audience.
Demonstrated ability to work in teams, attention to detail and drive for results. Experience in multi-stakeholder project management a strong plus.
Ability to work independently to develop solutions and quickly course correct post-feedback.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and demands in fast paced environment.
High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; and willingness to travel.
High degree of discretion, ethics, and sensitivity in handling confidential information.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. French or Spanish a plus.

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.

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