Partnership Specialist

Partnership Specialist

Description

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), at COP27 and CMA4, established funding arrangements to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. This decision included the creation of a dedicated Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).

Since then, the COP/CMA formally approved the Fund’s Governing Instrument, authorized the FRLD’s Board to secure a hosting arrangement with the World Bank, which includes hosting the Fund’s Secretariat. The FRLD Secretariat, based in Washington, DC, supports FRLD Board, manages institutional relations, aids in strategy, policy, and program development, and oversees management systems.

Per the FRLD’s Governing Instrument, one of the FRLD’s main objectives is to develop new coordination and cooperation mechanisms to help enhance complementarity and coherence in the loss and damage (L&D) space globally. To advance this work, the FRLD Secretariat seeks highly motivated Partnerships and External Affairs Specialist who will support development and coordination of strategic partnerships, focusing on collaboration, strategic alliances, and positioning the FRLD within the broader climate finance architecture and L&D finance landscape. The Partnerships and External Affairs Specialist will ensure that partnerships activities are strategically aligned and operationally integrated across all FRLD functions to support resource mobilization, program delivery, and broader FRLD’s leadership in the L&D space.

The position will report to the Program Manager for Resource Mobilization, Communications, and Partnerships. The Specialist will collaborate closely with the Communications part of the team as well as with other teams within the FRLD Secretariat and with the FRLD stakeholders, including governments, international institutions, observers, etc.
The Partnerships and External Affairs Specialist position will be based in Washington, DC.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Positioning and Visibility

• Help position the FRLD as a leader within the global L&D finance architecture.
• Support the efforts to define the FRLD’s role through the production of relevant materials, thought-leadership, and targeted campaigns that articulate the Fund’s unique strategic position.
• Cultivate relationships with key partners, facilitating strategic dialogues that drive shared vision, operational and policy coordination, and measurable impact.
• Collaborate closely with the Communications team to inform the development of compelling narratives. Collaborate with other FRLD teams to ensure consistency and alignment of key messages

Stakeholder Engagement Plan

• Support the Program Manager, and the Fund’s Executive Management Team broadly, in leading the FRLD engagement with relevant stakeholders, including MDBs, Multilateral Climate Funds (MCFs), G7/G20, UN agencies, and other multilateral stakeholders.
• Contribute to the design of FRLD’s partnership engagement and action plan, with the focus on positioning the FRLD within the broader climate finance architecture and L&D finance landscape.
• Ensure effective execution of the plan. Coordinate relevant missions and engagements. Support the planning of executive calendars.

Event and Campaign Support

• Support events coordination, logistics, and participation of FRLD representatives.
• Contribute to organizing annual FRLD high-level dialogues (HLD), supporting evolution of HLDs into a knowledge platform.
• In collaboration with the Communications and other teams, prepare talking points for the FRLD Executive Management Team.

Partnerships and Alliances
• Coordinate the identification, prioritization, development, and management of partnerships and alliances aiding in advancing the FRLD and L&D agenda.
• Monitor other key players in the international climate finance landscape, particularly in the L&D space, and benchmarks best practices among different stakeholders.
• In coordination with other teams (in particular the Programming and Country Engagement team) support the overall coordination of the engagement plan related to the countries and recipients.
• Produce partner briefings and profiles and support FRLD’s learning and knowledge sharing in collaboration with other FRLD teams.
• Serve as the primary focal point for inquiries from existing and potential partners, initiate dialogue with partner counterparts.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in public policy, international development, finance, economics, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in managing external relations, partnerships, in particular in climate, possibly in the adaptation/L&D space.
• Good overall knowledge of the MCFs, including FRLD, their missions, strategies, operations, policies and procedures.
• Experience working with a range of stakeholders, government agencies, contributors, recipients, NGOs, private sector, development partners, etc
• Superior ability to analyze and synthesize data, produce reports and presentations.
• Ideal candidate will possess strong relationship-building skills, and excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English required, knowledge of other language(s) is a plus.

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.

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