Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Specialist, USAID/Thailand PAGI

Project Background

The USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) Partnerships for Green Investment (PAGI) Activity will accelerate the transition in the land use sector across Southeast Asia to greater emissions reductions, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, inclusiveness, and benefit sharing. The Activity will advance systemic change in agricultural, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) systems in the region to reduce carbon emissions at meaningful scale through inclusive and sustainable approaches, enabling the regional transition to net zero climate-resilient economies. The three objectives of PAGI are to: 1) increase sustainable and scalable investments in low emission land use, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in AFOLU supply chains; 2) adopt and/or implement credible environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards for low emission, biodiversity conservation, and resilient investments; and 3) enhance inclusive and equitable benefit sharing to local communities and smallholders. Partner countries include Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Position Purpose

The ESG Specialist will serve as a part of PAGI’s investment team and support the adoption and strengthening of credible ESG standards and sustainability metrics for PAGI-supported investments. She/he will provide strategic leadership on ESG standards, processes, and trends, including conducting and updated annual an assessment of ESG metrics as applied to land sector investments in Southeast Asian countries. They will be responsible for reporting on and applying the findings to advance ESG outcomes and standards. The ESG Specialist will report to the Senior Green Finance Advisor and work collaboratively with them, other team members, and partners to co-design, develop and roll-out strategic interventions that advance PAGI’s objectives.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct a rapid mapping of relevant ESG standards for land use investment projects, to be reviewed and updated annually.
• Support the adoption and strengthening of credible ESG standards and sustainability metrics for PAGI-supported investments.
• Analyze leading ESG standards, frameworks, metrics, and trends for alignment with PAGI objectives and project screening processes.
• Support due diligence assessments for potential PAGI partners through appraisal of ESG risks and impacts associated with target investments.
• Identify, recommend, and support opportunities and interventions to improve ESG outcomes in PAGI supported investments and country contexts.
• Oversee development and implementation of PAGI’s Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) and work with project stakeholders to improve environmental and/or social aspects of investment projects and operations.
• Provide training on ESG issues to PAGI staff, project stakeholders, and others.
• Analyze and disseminate best practices and lessons learned from target investments.
• Coordinate with the MEL Director to ensure that ESG metrics of PAGI supported investments are captured in project monitoring and reporting.
• Contribute to annual workplan development, quarterly progress reports and other deliverables as required.

QualificatioNS

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, business, sustainability, social science, or related field.
• At least five years’ work experience in sustainability, ESG, social and environmental impact assessment, investment, or related experience.
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of internationally accepted and credible ESG standards and frameworks, such as TNFD, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, ISSB, & GRI.
• Familiar with ESG contexts related to land use investments in Southeast Asian countries.
• Experience in conducting ESG assessments, preferably in a consultancy or regulatory role.
• Experience in evaluating, applying and/or monitoring environment and social safeguards and standards for investments, preferably with some prior experience in the land use sector.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with financial institutions, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experience working with USAID and/or other international donors preferred.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong writing, analysis, and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to travel within the Southeast Asia region; position may require some evening and weekend hours.