Programming specialist

Overview

Support funding requests and manage the pipeline portfolio.

You have:

• An advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in any of the areas of expertise mentioned above
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in programming, operations and pipeline/portfolio management
• Proven understanding of economic and non-economic loss and damage from climate-induced events
• Specialized expertise in subjects such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, insurance, and risk transfer
• Experience in designing or implementing climate change projects
• Expert knowledge of the international climate finance landscape
• Effective communication skills (written and oral)
• Proven coordination skills and ability to work collaboratively within teams

Programming specialist

Job #: req36613 Organization: World Bank Sector: Climate Change Grade: GF Term Duration: 2 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/9/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

At COP27 and CMA4, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) established funding arrangements to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. This decision established the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) to assist developing countries vulnerable to the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, including extreme weather and slow onset events.

At COP28 and CMA5, the COP/CMA formally approved the Fund’s Governing Instrument, designating it as part of the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism and placing it under the guidance of both COP and CMA. The decision authorized the Fund’s Board to sign a Hosting arrangement with the World Bank as the host for the FRLD Secretariat as well as a Trustee agreement with the World Bank as the interim trustee for four years.

The FRLD Secretariat, led by the Executive Director (ED), is an independent Secretariat, accountable to the Board, and is responsible for executing the day to day operations of the Fund in accordance with the decisions of the Board. The Secretariat is composed of 5 divisions led by Program Managers that report to the Office of the Executive Director: Board Affairs and Governance; Programming and Country Engagement; Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning; Resource Mobilization, Communications and Partnerships; and Budget and Finance Management.

The Programming and Country Engagement (PACE) division under the FRLD Secretariat is the programming and technical core of the Secretariat, responsible for leading the development and operationalization of funding modalities and instruments and managing the pipeline and portfolio of the FRLD in close engagement with countries and access entities. Key functions include

(1) developing programming modalities and instruments for the start-up phase (Barbados Implementation Modalities, BIM) and long-term operations of the Fund;

(2) conducting the review of funding requests submitted to the Fund;

(3) managing the pipeline and approved portfolio throughout the stages of the funding cycle, in close coordination and engagement with countries and access entities;

(4) supporting the development of the simplified mechanism for determining access of countries and entities;

(5) representing the Fund, on matters related to programming and country engagement, in global and regional dialogues and conferences; and

(6) collaborating with the entities in the funding arrangements to ensure complementarity and coherence.

The PACE team is led by the Program Manager that oversees a team of programming and subject-matter specialists in fields related to loss and damage and climate and development finance.

There are total 3 open positions.

Purpose of the Role

The key functions of the Programming Specialists include:

i) supporting the implementation of the programing modalities and instruments for the start-up phase (Barbados Implementation Modalities, BIM),

ii) conducting reviews of funding requests submitted to the Fund and preparing funding request packages for Board submission,

iii) overseeing projects/programmes in the approved portfolio of the Fund, iv) supporting the development of modalities for the long-term operations of the Fund.

The Programming Specialists will report to the Program Manager of the PACE team and will work closely with the PACE team as well as others across the wider Secretariat.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Pipeline and Portfolio Management

• Conduct or coordinate as applicable completeness checks, conformity reviews and technical reviews of funding requests submitted to FRLD, in coordination with other subject-matter expert reviewer including the BIM delivery team

• Consolidate review feedback from all reviewers and send back to countries and access entities (where relevant)

• Lead the drafting of the Secretariat assessment reports based on the outcomes of funding request review, in collaboration with the other reviewers

• Document lessons learned from the funding request review process

• Contribute to the review of risks, risk mitigation measures, and support the risk classification process

• Monitor the implementation status/progress of approved funding requests and consolidate key findings/issues identified

• Contribute to the development of internal SOPs, guidelines and manuals, including coordinating with other teams in the Secretariat, where relevant.

Policies and Systems

• Draft Board papers related to the long-term modalities and instruments of the Fund, ensuring lessons learned from the BIM are incorporated into the design of the long-term model.

• Support the delivery of internal trainings on operationalizing the modalities, instruments and policies adopted by the Board

• Liaise with other teams in the Secretariat to ensure coherence, including providing programming related inputs, where required.

• Support the development of knowledge and communication products, in collaboration with other teams in the Secretariat

• Conduct ad hoc assignments as tasked by the Program Manager.

Country Engagement

• Provide advice and guidance to countries, through bilateral meetings, regarding funding request requirements, funding cycle process, and/or policy requirements

• Support the preparations for the PACE team’s external engagements in representing FRLD, including preparing briefing notes, talking points and presentation slides.

Board meeting and consultations

• Support the preparations for Board meetings, including ensuring programming and country engagement related Board papers are delivered in a timely manner.

• Support the preparations for consultations with the Board and Observers, including delivery of high quality presentation materials, talking points, summary of key issues, etc.

Selection Criteria

• An advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in any of the areas of expertise mentioned above

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in programming, operations and pipeline/portfolio management

• Proven understanding of economic and non-economic loss and damage from climate-induced sudden onset and slow onset events faced by developing countries

• Specialized expertise in one or more of the following subject matters: loss and damage, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, rapid response/crisis response and trigger-based mechanisms, insurance and risk transfer, locally-led participatory approaches, community grants, cash transfers, social protection schemes, livelihood recovery, migration and displacement, non-economic loss and damage, financial instruments, blended finance and etc.

• Experience in designing and/or implementing and/or evaluating climate change projects/programs or activities relevant to loss and damage

• Expert knowledge of the international climate finance landscape, including procedures and processes followed by countries to access and implement international climate finance

• Cross-cutting focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalized communities

• Experience working with or within a variety of international financial institutions (e.g. World Bank, UN agencies, climate funds) is highly desirable.

• Experience working in developing countries across multiple regions is preferred

• Knowledge in the establishment, mandate, and Governing Instrument of the FRLD, including progress made to date is desirable

• Excellent drafting and analytical skills, with ability to synthesize complex technical information/data and operational principles into clear and concise papers.

• Strong judgment, risk awareness, and ability to assess trade-offs in programming and operational dimensions.

• Effective communication skills (written and oral), able to present and train diverse audiences (with or without technical expertise) in concise and accessible language.

• Proven coordination skills and ability to work collaboratively within and across teams.

• Strong ability to work under time pressure, manage multiple assignments, meet tight deadlines and work across different time zones.

• High level of attention to detail in producing high quality products/papers

• Good understanding of organizational and operational effectiveness as well as ways to address challenges and risks

• Capacity to work in a matrix, cross-functional environment and adapt to evolving institutional and policy priorities.

• Proficiency in one or more UN languages beyond English (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese) is an asset.

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

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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Potential interview questions

Added 1 month ago - Updated 13 days ago - Source: worldbank.org