Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #: req38487 Organization: World Bank Sector: Climate Change Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 10/8/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

1. Background

The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance and global expertise for developing countries. It consists of five institutions that specialize in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

The World Bank Group Climate Department coordinates all aspects of climate business across the Bank Group. The Department is comprised of six units spanning the two main objectives of the WBG: policies & regulations and solutions & impact.

Hosted by Partnerships for Smart Development & Cross-Sector Expertise (KTCPP) unit within the Climate Department, Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) is a voluntary community of financial sector regulatory agencies and banking associations from emerging markets committed to advancing sustainable finance. It assists members in sharing knowledge and access capacity building that helps them design and implement national sustainable finance initiatives. For more information, visit the new website www.sbfnetwork.org

SBFN currently has three working groups—the Measurement Working Group, the Sustainable Finance Instruments Working Group, and the Data & Disclosure Working Group—and the Inclusive Sustainable Finance Task Force. Through these thematic groups, SBFN delivers work programs, develops tools, and provides capacity building and technical assistance to its members, while contributing thought leadership to global platforms and networks.

SBFN is also one of the implementing partners under the WBG Sustainable & Resilient Finance Program (“SURF”) Project, co-leading Component 4: Global Thought Leadership, Market Standards, and Implementation. This component focuses on two mutually reinforcing workstreams: (i) sustainable finance taxonomy and (ii) sustainable finance reporting. Component 4 serves as SURF’s global scaling and knowledge-to-action platform, translating experience from Components 1–3 into practical global public goods and promoting global alignment across emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).

SBFN is seeking an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) to support the operations and delivery of the WBG-facilitated SBFN Secretariat and its work program.

1. Scope of Work

The ETC will undertake the following tasks:

2.1 Support SBFN Secretariat and Program Implementation

• Support the day-to-day operations of the SBFN Secretariat and assist with project management across SBFN’s portfolio including SURF project implementation.
• Lead the Sustainable Finance Instruments Working Group, coordinating member engagement, meeting-setting, and delivery of technical outputs.
• Support the programs and activities of the Measurement Working Group, the Data & Disclosure Working Group, and the Inclusive Sustainable Finance Task Force.
• Provide direct technical review and support to SBFN members on sustainable finance policies and help ensure alignment with the global standards and coherence across workstreams.

2.2 Research and Thought Leadership

• Conduct research and analysis on sustainable finance taxonomies, methane abatement approaches, and relevant market practices, and translate findings into practical guidance for sustainable finance frameworks and investment classification.
• Prepare concept notes, analytical inputs, summaries, briefing materials, technical notes, and presentations to support SBFN tools and related technical work.
• Lead the development of key taxonomy-related knowledge products, including Taxonomy Interoperability Progress Reports, the Global Guideline on methane taxonomy, and SBFN toolkits, ensuring relevance to EMDE contexts and alignment with international good practices.

2.3 Events and Engagement with other networks

• Coordinate the substantive and logistical delivery of SBFN capacity-building and knowledge-sharing events, including the SBFN Global Meeting, regional workshops, COP-side events, and thematic webinars.
• Draft and disseminate SBFN communications, including newsletters, member updates, working group call notes, and event materials.
• Engage strategic partners, including the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group, NGFS, GIZ, the IFRS Foundation, CASI, UNDP, and CBI, on joint knowledge initiatives and event programming.

1. Reporting Line

The consultant will report to Rong Zhang, WBG Senior Environment and Social Development Specialist.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated expertise in ESG and sustainable finance, including corporate sustainability, disclosure, inclusive finance, and climate issues in developed and emerging market contexts.
• Master’s degree in an area related to Economics, Sustainability, International development or other related discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in ESG risk assessment and management, sustainability, or sustainable finance; monitoring and evaluation experience is an asset.
• Good knowledge of IFC Sustainability Policy and Performance Standards.
• Experienced in project management, implementing donor-funded projects, managing budgets and timelines, and reporting.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills. Additional languages welcomed.
• Strong interpersonal skills, experience in engaging with senior executive and leadership teams in government, regulators, and industry associations.
• An ability to work with virtual, multi-region teams and to facilitate dialogues with experts and institutions from diverse backgrounds.
• Detail oriented, team player with organizational skills and demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with minimal supervision. Excellent track record in delivering high quality products on time with minimum delays.

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

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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.