Requisition ID 35616 Office Country United Kingdom Office City London Division Indep. Project Accountability Mechanism Contract Type Regular Contract Length Posting End Date 01/06/2025
Purpose of Job
The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) is the EBRD’s Accountability Mechanism. IPAM independently reviews environmental, social, and public disclosure-related complaints raised by project-affected people and civil society organisations concerning Bank projects. IPAM is an independent function, governed outside the Bank’s investment operations, reporting directly to the EBRD Board of Directors via the Audit and Risk Committee. The Project Accountability Policy (2019) established mandate, structure and operation of IPAM.
Within this context, the Associate Director, Problem Solving works in close coordination with the Chief Accountability Officer (CAO), leading the Problem Solving function, which is responsible for seeking resolution of concerns raised through alternative dispute-resolution processes.
Key to the role is engaging with relevant case stakeholders, identifying interest of Parties and possible solutions, designing effective dispute resolution processes, promoting constructive engagement, and identifying levers to reach agreements and monitor their completion, all within the framework of the Project Accountability Policy. The Associate Director, in the absence of the CAO and the Director.
Managing a small team, the Associate Director is expected to be a very hands-on individual that ensures the robust and timely implementation of all cases and work closely with other members of the IPAM team to ensure deliverables meet the IPAM case management standards and the methodological process established in the policy and on any internal guidance developed.
Providing substantive Problem Solving products to feed into IPAM’s institutional learning work is another important part of the role and the Associate Director will actively identify trends and systemic issues and work in collaboration with the IPAM Outreach and Institutional Learning Team to provide content and support delivery.
The role requires approximately 40% travel to our countries of operation.
Background
The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism office was established in July 2020 and its mandate, functions and process are provided by the Project Accountability Policy approved by the EBRD Board in April 2019, under the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, predictability, equitability and accessibility.
The Mechanism works to mediate disputes between project stakeholders in highly sensitive contexts; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy and Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to recommend both Project-specific and institutional-level changes to address non-compliance with these policies. IPAM has two additional functions: to conduct outreach among internal and external stakeholders, in order to ensure that IPAM’s purpose, functions and activities are known and understood; and to promote institutional learning and integrate management action plan commitments across EBRD projects, sharing lessons learned and offering guidance to Bank management based on the insights, experiences and evidence emerging from its casework.
IPAM is managed by the Chief Accountability Officer who is responsible for the executive leadership, strategic direction, complaint management, operational/administrative management, stakeholder outreach, staff training and internal coordination with other areas of the Bank. IPAM is independent from EBRD Management and reports directly to the Board of Directors via the Audit Committee.
As established in the Project Accountability Policy, Problem Solving and Compliance Review are the two complementary, non-judicial functions that IPAM has within its mandate to address the environmental, social and disclosure concerns of communities and civil society organisations regarding projects with EBRD financing. Additionally, IPAM also has a mandate to: (a) identify institutional learnings that distinguish common challenges, provide constructive recommendations, and promote a culture of continuous learning at EBRD and, (b) conduct outreach among internal and external stakeholders, in order to ensure that IPAM’s purpose, functions and activities are known and understood.
IPAM is based on an in-house expertise model that requires its staff to possess the necessary skills and competencies to undertake casework at the standards set by the Project Accountability Policy. This work can be supported by external technical experts in an ad-hoc fashion to provide specific inputs in areas where the team lacks expertise or where continuous engagement is required to generate successful outcomes.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities
Under limited direction of the Managing Director, Chief Accountability Officer, the Associate Director, Problem Solving is responsible for the Problem-Solving and Monitoring stages of the IPAM case management process and has a combination of function specific, and general administrative-coordination functions including:
Outreach and Advisory
Other
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
Please include a motivational cover letter along with your resume.
To safeguard the independence of the IPAM, this role is not open to CCTs of EBRD who have been involved in the Bank transactions within the last five (5) years.
What is it like to work at the EBRD?
Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.
The EBRD environment provides you with:
Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does. A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.
Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).