E T Consultant Job #: req33836 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 8/6/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
VPU Context: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) (https://www.thegef.org/) is a multilateral family of environmental funds and a partnership of 18 agencies, including the World Bank Group, regional development banks, United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and selected national authorities in recipient countries.
Created in the run up to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the GEF serves as the primary financial mechanism for several major multilateral environmental agreements, including the UN Conventions on biodiversity, climate change, desertification, chemicals, and mercury. It is recognized as the world’s largest multilateral funder for biodiversity protection.
In April 2022, GEF donors pledged a record USD 5.33 billion to finance its eighth four-year replenishment cycle, known as GEF-8, which runs from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2026. GEF-8 aims to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, supporting an integrated programming approach that enables countries to meet their environmental and sustainable development goals.
Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than USD 22 billion in grants and mobilized over USD 120 billion in co-financing for more than 5,200 projects across 170 countries. In addition, its Small Grants Programme has supported nearly 27,000 community-level initiatives, empowering local civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable groups to take direct environmental action. The GEF continues to prioritize cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, private sector engagement, innovation, and knowledge management. Through its broad network of partners and implementing agencies, the GEF plays a vital role in catalyzing transformative environmental change at both the national and global levels.
Unit Context: The GEF is preparing to host its Eighth GEF Assembly and 71st Council meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to be held in late May 2026. Convened every four years, the GEF Assembly brings together representatives from all 186 member countries—ministers, environmental leaders, civil society, and the private sector, among others—to review policies and operations and provide guidance for future GEF priorities.
To support the successful delivery of this high-profile event, the GEF Secretariat is recruiting an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) to provide strategic, operational, and logistical support. The selected ETC will report to the General Manager and Secretary to the Council and serve as a key liaison with the Host Country, coordinating preparations across multiple stakeholders and workstreams to ensure the successful delivery of the event. (https://www.thegef.org/)
Duties and accountabilities:
The ETC will provide direct support across the following several key workstreams:
• In strategic planning, the consultant will facilitate the alignment of Host Country engagement with the GEF’s overarching objectives and Assembly priorities.
• For venue and technical setup, the ETC will assist in identifying and securing the venue and coordinating interpretation services, staging, and audiovisual/IT requirements.
• In terms of logistics, the ETC will help coordinate travel, accommodation, local transportation, and catering services for participants and speakers.
• For protocol and security, the ETC will liaise with local authorities to manage security arrangements, diplomatic protocol, and high-level participation.
• The ETC will also be responsible for participant coordination, including overseeing registration systems, visa support, and on-site services.
• In programme development, the ETC will contribute to designing the official programme, helping to shape session formats, manage speaker invitations, and curate content.
• The ETC will further support the planning, scheduling, and execution of side events in coordination with partners and organizers. In the area of communications and media, the ETC will assist with outreach efforts and coordinate with both local and international media, as well as manage public information campaigns.
• The ETC will also support the coordination of the field visits and exhibitions.
• The ETC will also contribute to budget and reporting by supporting financial tracking, preparing post-event reports, and documenting lessons learned to inform future GEF events.
• The ETC will also develop a Manual on the Assembly procedures.
Note: This internal requisition is open to WB and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.
Selection Criteria
1. Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international affairs, public policy, environmental management, or a related field.2. Minimum 5 years of professional experience in coordinating large-scale international events, partnership building and knowledge management, experience in Central Asia is an asset.3. Familiarity with GEF operations, multilateral processes, or similar institutional environments is strongly preferred.4. Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to work effectively under pressure in a multi-stakeholder environment.5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; command of Russian language is an asset.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
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.
Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET appointment of three years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.