Technical Specialist- Washington, DC

Job #:	122105
Title:	Technical Specialist
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	Washington, DC
Closing Date:	09/28/2012
Background / General description:
The Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent recourse mechanism for the private sector arms of the World Bank Group—the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). Reporting directly to the President of the World Bank Group, the CAO responds to complaints from people affected by IFC/MIGA supported projects in a manner that is fair, objective, and constructive with the aim of improving social and environmental outcomes on the ground and fostering greater public accountability of IFC and MIGA. The CAO has three roles: - Ombudsman: Working to identify the causes of conflict and helping parties resolve concerns using practical and innovative approaches to dispute resolution (ADR) - Compliance: Overseeing compliance investigations of IFC’s/MIGA’s social and environmental performance, both on systemic issues and in relation to projects that raise substantial social and/or environmental concerns - Advisor: Providing independent advice to the World Bank Group President and senior management of IFC/MIGA (The Advisory Role) The CAO seeks a Specialist to lead the Advisory role within the CAO. The Principles that underpin the advisory role are as follows. • The CAO’s advice aims to improve IFC/MIGA performance systemically. • The CAO does not give advice on specific projects, thereby preserving its independence and impartiality should the project(s) be subject to a subsequent CAO process. • The CAO provides advice on broader environmental and social policies, guidelines, procedures, strategic issues, trends, and systemic concerns. • CAO advice is derived from experience gained through its dispute resolution and compliance work. • CAO advice is given formally in writing, and disclosure of the advice is at the discretion of the CAO Vice President.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Reporting directly to the VPCAO, the Specialist will be expected to: • Work closely with the CAO VP and collaborate with Specialists and Analysts in the CAO dispute resolution and compliance teams. • Systematically analyze experiences learned from CAO's Dispute resolution and Compliance roles and, in collaboration with the CAO VP, quantify and formulate advice that could improve IFC/ MIGA social and environmental performance systemically • Assist the VP CAO with initiating and formulating advice to the President of the World Bank Group on systemic and critical issues relating to the CAO's casework. • Prepare responses to the President, IFC/MIGA senior management, or the Board who request advice. • Develop a learning methodology based on CAO cases, which should include collation of lessons learnt, a system for consistent institutional learnings and engagement with industry, academia and other relevant external stakeholders • Have a sound understanding and ability to develop monitoring and evaluation techniques and an ability to utilize such techniques to inform advisory work • Have a sound understanding of applicable research methods, both from an academic and practitioners perspective • Further develop the advisory role through consultation with the VP and Specialists The operational aspects of the Advisory role are outlined in the CAO Operational Guidelines and will provide guidance to the Specialist in executing the role.
Selection Criteria:
- Masters degree in international development and/or environmental and social studies - 5-10 years experience in related/ relevant field - Field experience from a developing country an asset - Comfortable working in pressured environment with issues of ethics and integrity at forefront of work. - Sensitivity and clarity in writing, communication and other inter-personal skills. - Ability to analyze data - Ability to work harmoniously in small teams. - In common with all professionals in the CAO: • A broad knowledge of issues involving sustainable development. • A proven capacity for being an independent thinker and self-starter. • A sensible and balanced professional approach, with good judgment of people and developmental situations • Understanding of the private sector context in which IFC/ MIGA operates • Ability to think strategically within a flexible and challenging framework Only online applications will be accepted. Only Short listed candidates will be contacted.
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