Junior Professional Associate

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

Junior Professional Associates – Program Description 

The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet. 

We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/careers/jpa 

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program: 

Be 32 years of age or younger 

• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Be fluent in English
• The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank’s Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.
• Positions may be in any of the World Bank’s offices worldwide.

Global Environment Facility  

• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, degradation of international waters, land and forests, ozone depletion, elimination or reduction of persistent organic pollutants and mercury, all within the framework of sustainable development.
• The GEF unites 186 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. An independently operating financial organization, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for five international environmental conventions: The Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
• Since 1991, the GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $23 billion in grants for more than 5,000 projects in over 165 countries. Pledges for GEF activities in the eight-replenishment period of 2022 to 2026, called GEF-8, reached $5.33 billion. The GEF Secretariat, construed for administrative purposes as a Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) within the World Bank, has approximately 70 professional and administrative, and client support staff.
• The GEF Council recently approved a new strategy for Knowledge Management and Learning (KM&L) that will enable the GEF to pursue three main objectives:
• Embed cutting-edge knowledge into investments and generate public goods in line with GEF’s mandate and enhance the role of knowledge management in projects and programs.
• Increase knowledge flows across platforms through partnership and communities of practice; and
• Create and enable the environment for learning and capacity building for greater exchange of knowledge and collaboration across the partnership.
• The GEF Secretariat is seeking a highly motivated JPA to support implementation of the Strategy. The successful candidate will join the Integration and Knowledge Management Division and work as part of designated teams responsible for advancing innovations for knowledge management and learning in the GEF.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Reporting directly to the Division Manager, the JPA will focus primarily on supporting the implementation of the GEF KM&L strategy. Specific responsibilities are as follows:   

• Assist with designing and developing implementation plans for action areas identified in the KM&L strategy.
• Support learning and knowledge sharing activities, including the use of ICT tools, developing incentives mechanisms for the GEF partnership, and facilitating outreach to countries and agencies as needed.
• Support and contribute to the establishment of mechanisms for capturing knowledge on best practices and lessons learned from GEF investments. 
• Assist with the development of knowledge sharing strategies and tools, including categories and types of knowledge products, their sources of origin, target audience and dissemination channels.
• Contribute to distilling lessons learned from GEF projects and programs, including the provision of quality inputs to the CEO and senior management on analytical/strategic documents, thematic briefings, talking points, etc.
• Assist with the organization of regional and global events on GEF programs advancing the integrated approach, including drafting of briefs and agendas, engaging stakeholders, preparing communication materials.
• Undertake additional duties as required by the Division Manager.

Selection Criteria

• A degree in Business Administration Information and Communication Technology, Knowledge Management, and Computer Science or other relevant field, with at least 3 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrable technical skills and experience in knowledge management in the context of institutional learning and programmatic advancement. 
• Experience in and ability to work with cutting-edge ICT tools, particularly in the context of knowledge management and sharing.
• Fluent knowledge of global environmental issues, and some experience with design and / or implementation of environmental projects and programs, preferably within an international / developing countries context.
• Ability to deal with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, private sector entities, developing country counterparts, and NGOs would be an advantage.
• Strong research and analytical skills, as well as the ability to organize and process information gathered.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, as well as the ability to prioritize tasks and ensure timely completion of tasks under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences. Second language (French, Spanish or Portuguese) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team player within and across teams.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment in an international setting.
• Working knowledge of the operations of the Global Environment Facility and its Agencies is preferable.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28356&site=1