Senior Counsel
Washington D.C.
- Organization: World Bank Group
- Location: Washington D.C.
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
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Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Closing Date: 2025-04-04
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.
Legal Vice Presidency. In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel (SVP-GC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters.
Department Context:
The Environmental and International Law Practice Group (LEGEN) provides support to internal and external Bank clients to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development, in accordance with Bank policies and relevant international legal requirements. LEGEN’s work program includes providing legal advice and services to the Bank’s Regions, Global Practices and other Vice Presidencies, on the operational aspects of environmental and international law in Bank-financed projects, including those on environmental and social safeguards; climate change; knowledge creation and knowledge sharing; and development of policies and procedures relating to environmental and international law, transboundary water law as well as the financing of activities in areas that may be in dispute between the Bank’s members. Environmental topics include environment and natural resource issues such as climate change, biodiversity, pollution, international waters and water resource management, as well as social issues such as resettlement and indigenous peoples.
Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
The Senior Counsel will play a key role in providing advice on international water law and guide the Bank and its members in navigating the complexities posed by transboundary water systems. With time, the Senior Counsel will also support the Bank’s portfolio of projects on broader environmental and natural resource law issues as well as environmental and social safeguard policy issues. Working under the supervision of the Chief Counsel, LEGEN the Senior Counsel will:
1. Serve as an advisor on international water law and transboundary water issues including on: (i) all aspects of compliance with the requirements of the Bank’s Operational Policy for Projects on International Waterways (OP 7.50), including riparian notification processes, and advising on the processing of exceptions from the riparian notification requirement when warranted; (ii) broader aspects of international water law, including the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, as well as the full range of bilateral regional and river-basin treaties and arrangements; and (iii) as needed, prepare and deliver training sessions on international water law, the negotiation of transboundary water arrangement, OP 7.50 and the international legal framework within which it fits, including the relevant principles of customary international law.
2. Enhance the Bank’s engagement with internal and external practitioners and stakeholders on the broader transboundary water agenda. Connect with networks of international water lawyers and public international law experts globally, including through participation in conferences and scientific committees, staying connected with academia through membership on advisory boards and associations, presentations at external conferences, publications and staying connected with other expert networks such as the International Water Resources Association and the International Association for Water Law among others.
3. Serve as the LEGEN Focal Point on dam safety issues. Help in the analysis of regulatory frameworks for the safety of dams and advise teams on what dam safety instruments are needed for different types of operations and ensure that these instruments are reflected in the legal agreements stipulating the obligations of the borrower. Guide teams in translating these requirements into specific provisions in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan or the legal agreement as necessary, and guide implementation and compliance throughout the project cycle.
4. As needed, advise on the World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguards/Standards with a particular focus on Environmental and Social Standard 3 and Environmental and Social Standard 4. In close consultation with the Chief Counsel, Environmental and International Law, the Senior Counsel will provide timely advice on the legal aspects of the Bank’s environmental and social policies, including providing technical and interpretive guidance to Bank staff. In special or high-risk projects, the Senior Counsel would be available to join the task team if so requested.
5. Work across a wide range of Bank units. The Senior Counsel will work and interact frequently with:
• Lawyers and managers in LEG VPU.
• Counterparts within Regional operational units, Vertical units including the Planet Vice Presidency, as well as corporate units including the Operations Policy and Country Services.
• Management and staff at HQ and in the field, as required.
We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.