Vacancy title:
Environmental and Social Development Specialist

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Banking, Category: Business Operations, Civil & Government, Social Services & Nonprofit, Science & Engineering]

Jobs at:
World Bank

Deadline of this Job:
Monday, February 16 2026

Duty Station:
Lilongwe, Malawi | Lilongwe

Summary
Date Posted: Saturday, January 31 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:

The Position:

Environmental and Social Development Specialist

The Environmental and Social Development Specialist will support the World Bank’s engagement in Malawi, and potentially other countries in the region. As part of a multidisciplinary team, the Specialist will advise on environmental and social risk management and ensure that Bank-financed projects are inclusive and sustainable in line with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework. The position is based in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

Duties and Accountabilities:

As a core member of World Bank Task Teams, the Environment and Social Development Specialist will advise Task Teams and clients in various sectors, and support project designs and implementation, making sure that Bank-assisted projects are inclusive and present clear and implementable measures for addressing environmental and social risks whilst finding opportunities to enhance the development outcomes of Bank financed operations in East Africa. The specialist will lead and promote the ESF agenda in the design and implementation of projects in East Africa.

The specialist will lead and promote the ESF agenda in the design and implementation of projects. The Specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

• Ensure the effective integration of environmental and social due diligence as defined by World Bank Group (WBG) Environmental and Social Management Framework, safeguards policies as well as international good practice documents (e.g. Equator Principles) into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects and analytical work.
• Provide Environmental and Social advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regard to preparation and implementation of E&S instruments and tools which include but are not limited to: Environmental and Social impact assessments; regional, strategic and cumulative E&S assessments; environmental and social management frameworks and thematic subject plans, including plan for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM); and Labor Management Procedures (LMP), and specific plans related to natural habitats conservation, natural resource management, pest management, forest management, dam safety and international waterways management etc. Such advice will be based on a detailed analysis of baseline conditions, project scope and impacts, requirements from national legal and institutional frameworks and, and compliance with the WBG’s ESF and operational policies.
• Conduct environmental and social due diligence and prepare Environmental and Social Risks Review Summaries (ESRS); Environmental and Social Commitment Plans (ESCP); and contribute to Project Appraisal Documents and operational manuals (e.g., Environmental, Social, Health and Safety Risk Management Manual). This also includes completing necessary administrative activities used by the Bank to track and monitor environmental and social performance of projects.
• Review environmental and social TOR for E&S instruments and tools including assessment products and E&S instruments prepared by clients for other Bank Global Practices, such as Education, Health, Social Protection, Water, Transport and Energy, and private sector development. In this regard, provide timely feedback and suggestions to clients on measures for ensuring such instruments are in line with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework.
• Participate in project preparation, appraisal, and supervision, including actively participating in operational missions and reporting on ESF compliance. support the resolution of emerging issues to ensure results on the ground and project implementation progress.
• Contribute to policy dialogue, portfolio reviews, and analytical work on environmental and social sustainability and risk management with internal and external clients.
• Maintain active engagement with stakeholders, identify partnerships, and support ESF development initiatives.
• Ensure timely reporting on ESF compliance, proactive monitoring, management, and preparation of relevant ESF risk management briefs.
• Contribute and provide support to practice teams responsible for the preparation of policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), Country Policy and Institutional Assessments, Development Policy Lending (DPL), sector studies, and research and policy development activities as well as analytical advisory activities and research on ESF related issues.
• Contribute to enhancing the capacity of the client countries to implement the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework for handling project risks and enhancing the sustainability of World Bank financed projects, especially in low-capacity contexts.

Selection Criteria

• At least a Master’s degree in environmental or social sciences (environmental science, Natural Resources Management, Environmental planning and management, Environmental economics, Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology), or related discipline is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of full-time relevant professional experience in environmental and social management, or environmental and social risk assessment and mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa and/or elsewhere in Sub-Sahara Africa is required with experience in Malawi preferred.  
• Knowledge and experience in environmental risk assessment and management of environmental and social compliance including occupational health and safety in investment projects involving civil works.  
• Technical experience in environmental and social risk assessment, mitigation management and compliance related to infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge and demonstrated competence in operationalizing the global sustainability frameworks of International Finance Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, IFC’s Environmental and Social Performance Standards, the African Development Bank’s Policies and Standards and/or standards of other Development Partners.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society.
• Experience in the preparation of environmental safeguard/risk management documents of the lending projects of the WBG or other international organizations Ability to present complex environmental and social risks and sustainability issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds. Fluency in English is required (writing, speaking, listening and reading).
• Fluency in Chichewa is Preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems within a team.
• Readiness for frequent travel within Country duty station and the AFE region.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: bachelor degree

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