Program Manager – Governance and Board Affairs – Fund for responding to Loss and Damage

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Background and General description:

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 included the creation of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), with a focus on providing support to affected nations.

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 FRLD’s Board to secure a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as an interim trustee for four years, which includes hosting the Fund’s secretariat. The World Bank has agreed to act as trustee and administer the Trust Fund in line with the COP/CMA’s stipulations. The FRLD Secretariat, hosted by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., supports FRLD governing bodies, manages institutional relations, aids in strategy, policy, and program development, and oversees management systems.

The FRLD Secretariat, led by the Executive Director (ED) with direct support from the Deputy Executive Director (DED), coordinates FRLD’s strategic activities across its governing bodies, including the Board, the World Bank (as Trustee and Secretariat host), and other stakeholders. It also drives thought leadership, manages portfolio risk, and develops initiatives to mobilize resources.

The Governance and Board Affairs – Program Manager will support the ED and DED in formulating and implementing strategy, capital mobilization, program design, operations, and managing the FRLD Governance framework and bodies, ensuring the effective delivery of FRLD’s mission. Expertise in climate finance, adaptation, resilience, or disaster risk management and operations is essential.

The Governance and Board Affairs – Program Manager will report directly to the ED with a dotted line to the DED and collaborate closely with the Secretariat staff and external stakeholders, including governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, vertical climate funds, donor organizations, and civil society.

The position is based in Washington, D.C., USA, and involves frequent travel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Director (ED) and senior management team in developing and implementing Fund strategies, to ensure compliance with the World Bank policies and procedures, Governing Instrument and board decisions.

• Serve as Secretary to the Board to support the Co-Chairs and the Board to prepare, coordinate, and manage the Board meetings, ensure compliance with the Rules of Procedure, the Governing Instrument, and board and governance-related policies, disseminate meeting documents, draft decision text, and coordinate with the senior management team of the Secretariat as needed.

• Provide strategic advice to the FRLD’s governance structures, including Board member engagements, ensuring alignment with the FRLD’s priorities, the Governing Instrument, and board decisions.
Lead a team of experts to support the organization and facilitation of Board meetings, including preparing agendas and board papers that reflect Board and observer input and strategic priorities.

• Contribute to FRLD's governance, risk, and compliance frameworks, including reviewing and drafting operational templates, guidelines, and key documents, ensuring compliance with FRLD Board decisions, frameworks, and international governance standards.

• Advise on FRLD’s programming, including but not limited to operational frameworks and systems, and access modalities for Board approval.

• Oversee, in collaboration with the Secretariat, the preparation of key documents, including but not limited to board papers, technical briefings, and presentations to inform the Board’s decisions on strategy, policy, operations, funding, and work plans.

• Facilitate engagement between the Secretariat and key stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, and development partners, to support capital mobilization and to enhance the Fund’s impact.

• Any other duties assigned by the ED leadership.