About

Countries

Data & Research

Learning

News

Projects & Operations

Publications

Topics

Home > Jobs > Employment Opportuni... > Professional/Technical



PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A COUNTRY OFFICE POSITION IN GUYANA SUBJECT TO LOCAL RECRUITMENT UNDER THE GUYANA’S COMPENSATION PLAN.  IF A STAFF MEMBER HOLDING AN HQ/INTERNATIONAL POSITION IS SELECTED INTO THIS POSITION, THEN THE STAFF MEMBER WOULD CONVERT TO A LOCAL APPOINTMENT (I.E., A LOCAL SALARY AND NO EXPATRIATE BENEFITS).

The World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean Region (LCR) is organized in six Country Management Units and four Sector Departments (Human Development, Sustainable Development, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, and Operations Services).  The LC3 Country Management Unit (CMU) is responsible for Bank operations in 14 countries in the Caribbean - Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda. The Country Director for the Region is based in Washington, DC and is assisted by a Country Representative that manages the World Bank office in Georgetown, Guyana.

Country Context 
Guyana is a natural resource-wealthy, commodity-based small economy, covering an area of 215,000 square kilometers.  Although the GDP per capita more than doubled between 1991 and 2007, from US$492 to US$1,110, the country ranks 107 out of 177 in the UNDP Human Development Index.  Guyana’s average growth of seven per cent between 1991 and 1997 was the highest in the Caribbean region, but growth has since has stagnated.  While there has been some recovery since 2006, the economy remains highly vulnerable to external risks.  Poverty reduction has mirrored growth trends, and Bank-supported analysis is guiding a renewed focus on pro-poor growth and reduced inequality.

Climate Change Context
Climate change is a primary concern of the World Bank and its clients. Developing countries are expected to be disproportionately impacted by changes in sea level, warming temperatures, stresses on forest and agricultural systems, and increased climate variability. The Bank's role is to help our client countries identify and implement "win-win" actions that bring both developmental and climate change benefits. Bank support to clients focuses on three key areas:

 mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
 reducing vulnerability and adapting to climate change 
 capacity building 

In these three areas, the Bank seeks to mainstream climate change concerns within its development dialogue with its clients. In doing so, the World Bank utilizes three main instruments: 

 IBRD/IDA lending 
 Global Environment Facility (GEF) and donor grant support 
 Carbon financing 

In the area of GHG mitigation, the Bank promotes policy and regulatory reforms, as these tend to have large and sustainable impacts on improving the efficiency of resource use and consequent reductions in GHG emissions.  Simultaneously, the Bank helps its client countries to adopt renewable-energy and energy-efficient technologies within the broader context of their energy-development strategies.  For the large-scale replication and market expansion of these low-carbon emission technologies, the World Bank sees carbon financing as a major instrument. 

To develop and pilot financial incentive mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), the World Bank has established a major global partnership program.  The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) has the dual objectives of building capacity for REDD activities in developing countries and testing -- on a relatively small scale -- a program of performance-based incentive payments in certain pilot countries.  Its initial activities relate to technical assistance and capacity building for REDD in IBRD and IDA member countries in the tropics across Latin America, Africa and Asia.  The FCPF comprises a partnership of dozens of donors, dozens of developing countries, the private sector, NGOs, and forest-dependent communities, including indigenous peoples.

The Government of Guyana (GoG) has formulated the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS; currently in draft) and a Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP); currently in draft) in consultations with key governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.  The Government of Guyana has expressed interest to participate in the FCPF operation and to receive support for finalizing its REDD Strategy, which aims to: (a) protect and maintain its standing forests; (b) reduce global carbon emissions; and, at the same time, (c) mobilize resources for the country’s overall development.

An integral part of the formulation of Guyana’s REDD Strategy is the conduct of the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) during the Readiness Preparation phase of the FCPF.  The SESA is comprised of a series of analytical and diagnostic studies carried out in a participatory manner to help integrate the environmental, social, legal and policy dimensions into the formulation of the REDD Strategy.  Additionally, SESA aims to assist Government of Guyana (GoG) comply with World Bank safeguard policies to prevent and mitigate undue harm to people and their environment in the development process.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The position is based in the World Bank Country Office in Georgetown, Guyana.  Under the supervision of the World Bank Country Representative and LCR Social Development Sector Manager and in close coordination with project specific task teams, the Social Scientist will support the overall climate change portfolio in Guyana and have the following key responsibilities:

• Assist in the implementation of social safeguards, especially with regard to Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples policies in FCPF operations and more specifically, SESA;

• Assist in the review of stakeholder consultations, participation, and social impact assessments carried out by the Government of Guyana in relation to FCPF operations, and where necessary, provide advice for effective and meaningful stakeholder consultations and participation;

• Assist in conducting macro-level social analysis and institutional assessment as it relates to the formulation of Guyana’s REDD Strategy, such as Country Social Analysis;

• Participate in the supervision of social development aspects of projects, including but not limited to implementation of social safeguards frameworks and action plans within the context of SESA;

• Liaise and maintain effective communication with the national and local organizations (civil society, the private sector, Amerindian organizations and institutions as well as other specialized international organizations) in Guyana; and

• Assist in reviews of country social development related systems and institutions.

Selection Criteria

The selected candidate will have an advanced degree in anthropology, sociology or related social sciences with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience - preferably but not exclusively in developing countries.

Minimum requirements include:

• Demonstrated experience with local community development projects and social assessments in the field; 

• Experience in culturally sensitive consultations with various stakeholder groups, including Indigenous Peoples and other local communities;

• Ability to take principled and balanced decisions and able to operate effectively in a results-oriented culture, combined with an understanding of the cultural diversity and political environment in which the Bank operates;\

• Knowledge and experience in the World Bank’s social safeguard policies (Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples policies) preferred; 

• Knowledge and experience of World Bank operational procedures and processes preferred;

• Broad understanding of social and economic issues related to international development, the forest sector and climate change;

• Ability to think creatively in dealing with policy and operational issues while maintaining a strong client focus;

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams 

• Demonstrated outstanding writing skills (Fluency in English); and

• Willingness to travel to remote rural areas.

Site Tools