External Affairs Officer – GF  

Description

Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2023, the WBG committed over $72 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $34 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: 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 WBG is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

Located within the World Bank’s Planet Vertical, the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice (GP) has over 130 operations, representing $15 billion, and a growing pipeline of new investments under active development. The GP provides expertise, technical assistance, and financing to help countries to steward natural resources in a sustainable way. Aligned with the mission of the World Bank to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable plant, the Planet Vertical supports knowledge and actions to enhance ecosystem resilience while creating sustainable livelihoods and improving human well-being. 
 

The ENB GP Global Platform Unit (SENGL) comprises about 35 staff, most of them based in Washington, DC. The team reports to the Practice Manager also based in DC. SENGL is primarily responsible for (i) designing and leading the global programs for the GP whose implementation in country rests with the GP’s regional units, including alignment to key business areas and crosscutting solutions; (ii) resource mobilization and donor coordination, including trust fund management, planning and reporting; (iii) conducting key global studies to advance the environmental agenda globally and internally; and (iv) knowledge management of SENGL’s key outputs. 

The SENGL Unit also administers ENB GP’s three Umbrella TF programs – the Global Program for the Blue Economy (PROBLUE), the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN), and the Global Program on Sustainability (GPS) that providing concessional funding to Bank teams working on themes related to Blue Economy and keeping the ocean healthy, improving ecosystems in resilient landscapes, and measuring and valuing natural capital and ecosystem services.

Its sister unit in the Global Environment Department, the Environment and Corporate Responsibility Unit (SENCR), includes teams that support the coordination of World Bank projects, programs and activities related to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Montreal Protocol (MP) trust funds.

The ENB business lines include:

• Green: Forests, Biodiversity, Watersheds & Sustainable Landscapes – managing renewable natural capital across landscapes; 

• Blue: Marine, Coastal & Aquatic Resources – unlocking the wealth of marine, coastal and fresh water economies;

• Clean: Circular Economy, Management of Pollution & Environmental Health – reducing pollution to improve environmental conditions;

• Environmental Economics and Institutions: Fostering economies and institutions for low carbon, healthy and sustainable growth; and

• Environmental Risk Management and Sustainability: Managing risks and creating opportunity to advance sustainable development in accordance with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).

The SENGL and SENCR units are seeking to recruit an External Affairs Officer to support the department on communications, including on a range of trust funds including especially PROBLUE and GEF/MP. The selected candidate will be housed in one of these units but report to both Practice Managers (one direct and one dotted line), both based in Washington DC.

PROBLUE is a multi-donor trust fund that supports a healthy and productive ocean. PROBLUE supports implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) and is fully aligned with the World Bank’s mission of ending poverty on a livable planet. PROBLUE is part of the World Bank’s overall Blue Economy program, which takes a multi-pronged, coordinated approach to ensuring the protection and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.

As an independent contributor, the External Affairs Officer will plan, develop, and implement effective communications and outreach strategies, activities, and campaigns to support both PROBLUE and GEF/MP, as well as any other WBG corporate and operational activities as they arise.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The External Affairs Officer will have the following duties and accountabilities:
 

• Develop content for communications, online, and/or knowledge products, writing and editing high quality communications materials, including impact stories, flyers, op-eds, feature stories, speeches, talking points, blogs, and briefing materials – for both PROBLUE and the GEF/MP programs.

• Develop an annual Communications and Visibility Plan for PROBLUE specifically, to be endorsed by the PROBLUE Secretariat and Partnership Council.

• Plan, lead, and execute thematic campaigns such as for World Oceans Day or World Environment Day and for major report launches.

• Liaise with teams receiving PROBLUE and GEF/MP support on their communications outreach products. Review, edit, assist, and clear reports, scripts, videos, infographics, blogs, etc. Ensure content is on-message and aligned with ENB’s positioning. 

• Support communications and coordination around ENB, GEF, MP and ocean-related engagements at major events including, among others, UNGA, INC-5, COP16, COP29, Annual and Spring Meetings, etc. 

• Support traditional and social media engagements, including creating content for LinkedIn. 

• Keep partners/donors informed and engaged on a rolling basis and via quarterly update notes.

• Project manage and coordinate the communications strategies around PROBLUE’s Annual Report 

• Field various external requests and requests from donor partners.

• Monitor and analyze current events and public and press opinion with a view to risk management.

• Advise the Practice Manager, ENB Department Communications Lead, and other relevant Bank staff and clients on any trends and developments that may impact the Bank and its work and help determine appropriate strategic responses. Keep staff updated on regular news developments in the Blue Economy and GEF/MP space. 

• Maintain a calendar of events and launches. Support GEF/MP team and PROBLUE Program Manager in engagement planning. Oversee planning, coordination, scheduling, and logistics, often across multiple teams, for press briefings, major conferences and seminars, Annual and Spring Meetings events, and other communications-related activities. 

• Initiate and sustain effective professional relationships with key internal and/or external constituencies (including the media, private sector, civil society, NGOs, academia, businesses, government agencies, parliamentarians). Identify opportunities for and forge strategic partnerships both inside and outside the Bank to improve dialogue and outreach and to strengthen the Bank’s overall effectiveness and image regarding PROBLUE’s activities. 

• Work closely with the Knowledge Management team and help clear internal newsletters, webpages, engagements. Develop and foster new partnership opportunities, notably on messaging with key UN partners. Also, ensure that social inclusion, youth, and gender are reflected throughout messaging. 

• Manage the content of the several ocean-related external webpages (including but not limited to PROBLUE, Ocean, and Marine Plastics), ensuring the latest content is reflected and showcased. Possibly lead in a redesign of these and other pages to improve user experience. 

• Support management in their various external engagements. Create, maintain, and update messaging on various topics such as marine plastics, fisheries, and aquaculture, implementation of the Montreal Protocol etc.   

• Monitor and analyze current events and public and press opinion with a view to risk management. Advise the Hiring Manager, Communications Lead and other relevant Bank staff and clients on trends and news developments that may impact the Bank and its work and help to determine appropriate strategic responses. 

• Collaborate with and support fellow ENB comms staff. Step-in and cover for external affairs colleagues working on other programs, as needed. 

• Communicate narrative of cross-trust fund collaboration and synergies to donors and the public.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree with 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline (communications, journalism, international affairs, or other related fields). 

• Strong knowledge and understanding of Blue Economy/Sustainable Oceans and/or of the GEF and the Montreal Protocol, including the issues, stakeholders, and communications landscape is a plus.

• Proven ability to plan and implement effective online communications strategies and plans, including social media plans. Strong ability to prepare, package, and adapt material into appropriate and effective digital content, including producing multimedia content (slideshows, informational graphics, videos, etc.) and creating and disseminating social media outreach and audience engagement. 

• Thorough knowledge of and practical experience in the full range of the development, execution, and measurement of communications strategies.

• Proven planning and organizational skills, strong conceptual and research and analytical skills, and ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.

• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Spoken and written fluency required in English.

• Ability to work to tight deadlines, juggle multiple tasks, and work effectively under stress.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with both internal and external partners in a multicultural environment.

• Excellent computer skills and ability to use standard technology packages.

• Strong track record of developing innovative solutions and delivering results for clients.

• Interest in international development issues, especially issues relevant to the Planet Vertical and the ENB Global Practice.

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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