Post of duty: Washington, DC - USA

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position

You will work in CSD/CCS, through the Natural Capital Lab program, is looking for a professional to provide support to current and future debt for nature transactions.

The role of the expert is to support technical and practical knowledge about the design and implementation of conservation commitments in marine and terrestrial areas, support multi-stakeholder negotiation of these commitments, help to outline the processes required to meet the conservation commitments, identify appropriate conservation trust funds to channel savings, and to support governments in the necessary analysis of these transactions.

Consistent with the increasing demand for Multilateral Development Banks (MDB), to support the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Paris Agreement Commitments (PAC), and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) the IDB is committed to increase its technical, financial support to LAC countries to fill financing gaps for biodiversity, nature-based solutions, climate, and sustainability, while also supporting debt-reduction strategies.

In 2022, the IDB was the first MDB to support a debt for nature transaction, in Barbados, in which a policy-based guarantee was used to support issuance of sustainability-linked bonds. The proceeds from this transaction were used to buy-back more expensive debt, and the savings were channeled to a conservation trust fund to support marine protection.

You will work for the Climate Change Division (“CSD/CCS”), which is part of the Climate Change and Sustainability Sector (“CSD”). This team is responsible for advising IDB management and developing policies, strategies, operational guidelines, and programs on issues relevant to the sector, as well as related areas. In addition, CSD carries out relevant sector research, analytical work, sector practices and case studies on climate change and sustainability. As a division of CSD, CSD/CCS provides support: (i) in the mainstreaming of climate change in the actions and operations of the IDB group and (ii) in the mainstreaming of climate change in the regional countries of the IDB group through support to the ministries of environment, planning, and economy and finance of the region. Both axes share the objective of strengthening climate policy at the subnational, national, and regional levels.

What you’ll do

  • Advise on technical and policy-related issues concerning NbS and participate in missions to support other sectorial teams as part of the climate change and biodiversity mainstreaming mandates of the division.
  • Support preparing project documentation providing technical inputs and leading collaboration to develop natural components.
  • Support negotiating complex conservation commitments in a multi-stakeholder environment.
  • Support revision of conservation trust fund governance, and/or development of new conservation trust funds.
  • Support revision of national climate, biodiversity, social, and development plans to determine key conservation areas in target debt for nature conversion countries.
  • Support development of sustainability components of policy matrices.
  • Support the creation of MRV systems to track impact of debt for nature conversions on key sustainability indicators.
  • Participate in design missions, capacity building workshops, and organization visits.
  • Participate in applied research regarding to environmental governance.
  • Prepare inputs for cross sector strategic documents, institutional strategies, country strategies, private sector strategic documents.

    What you'll need

    • Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental engineering, environmental sciences, environmental policy, or international development with a focus on environment.
    • Experience: At least 10 years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience in environmental engineering, sustainable infrastructure, ecosystem services, climate change, nature loss, climate finance, public policy, environmental management, conservation, forestry, or other related subjects. Understanding of project design, financing related to climate change or biodiversity, protected area management, as well as project management principles. Experience working with MDB, government agencies in LAC is a must.
    • Languages: Proficiency in English and Spanish, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

      Key skills

      • Learn continuously.
      • Collaborate and share knowledge.
      • Focus on clients.
      • Communicate and influence.
      • Innovate and try new things.

        Requirements

        • Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
        • Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

          Type of contract and duration

          • Type of contract: International Consultant Full-Time
          • Length of contract: 12 Months
          • Work Location: On site.

            What we offer

            The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include:

            • A competitive compensation packages.
            • Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender- neutral parental leave.
            • Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance.
            • Savings plan: The IDB Group cares about your future, depending on the length of the contract, you will receive a monthly savings plan allowance.
            • We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.
            • Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
            • Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.
            • Health and wellbeing: Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for all employees.
            • Other perks: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, and others.

              Our culture

              At the IDB Group we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work, willing to try new approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions.

              Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are at the center of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply.

              We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at diversity@iadb.org to request reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

              Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.

              About the IDB Group

              The IDB Group, composed of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IDB Lab offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through lending and grants to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

              About IDB

              We work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, we help improve health and education and advance infrastructure. Our aim is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. With a history dating back to 1959, today we are the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. We provide loans, grants, and technical assistance; and we conduct extensive research. We maintain a strong commitment to achieving measurable results and the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

              Follow us

              https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-american-development-bank/

              https://www.facebook.com/IADB.org

              https://twitter.com/the_IDB

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