[ES_JOBS_NET] Research Fellow on Natural Capital, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC

[Christine Wiedinmyer]

Research Fellow on Natural Capital
Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CSD/CSD)
https://iadbcareers.taleo.net/careersection/consulting/jobdetail.ftl?job=486523

Background: The Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CSD) was established in May 2016 with the mandate to place sustainable development at the core of the Bank's work, thereby contributing to its member countries' achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The Department seeks to make natural capital (biodiversity and ecosystem services) a central theme for the work of its three Divisions, both in terms of knowledge creation and operations.

Recognizing a need to create a space where the public and private sectors can work together in innovative projects, and where partners can be mobilized to support the region's national capital agenda, in 2018 the IDB created a Natural Capital Lab within CSD, jointly with its Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) Innovation Lab. This Lab focuses on the natural resources that provide a diverse array of ecosystem services to the planet. It is only recently that these natural capital assets have been viewed as economically important. Replacing the services that these ecosystems provide would require large investments in traditional structures, or, in some cases they are irreplaceable. Methodologies exist to value ecosystem services, but few investors or governments have calculated or reported on these values in a systematic way, and trading these values is still difficult.

The Natural Capital Lab serves as a one-stop shop for the IDB Group to drive innovation in the conservation, landscape, biodiversity, and marine ecosystem finance spaces. Building from existing IDB group partnerships, the Lab is creating a network of cutting-edge partners from the technology, finance, government, academic, and international organization communities. The Lab convenes these actors in multi-sectoral dialogues to examine issues such as the valuation of ecosystem services, methodologies to trade these values, innovations in sustainable landscapes, nature-based solutions, ocean conservation, pollution, and territorial approaches.

The Natural Capital Lab also leverages funds to support initiatives with departments across the IDB group. It can access a full range of instruments, including grants, loans, and equity, which it will deploy to private and public clients. Projects supported by the Lab prove new concepts that will be transformational for a country or sector, with scalability potential. The Lab emphasizes the use of innovative finance for the achievement of its purpose, including an extensive use of blended finance and results-based solutions. It is developing projects to accelerate and incubate natural capital entrepreneurs, deploy new technologies in the natural capital space, and fund conservation through new instruments. It currently works with $18M in funds from the UK for mangroves and coastal ecosystems, 24M Euro from France for forests and biodiversity, and $10M from the GEF for hazardous chemical maintenance.

In October 2018, the Bank participated in COP 14 of the Convention on Biological diversity with the IDB participating in panels in innovative finance, sustainable infrastructure, and oceans. Subsequently, the NCL has worked with the Convention on Biological Diversity to advance the mainstreaming of financial innovation in biodiversity conservation as the CBD prepares for COP 15 in China in 2020 and the setting of new targets. This has included partnering on an event with Finance Ministers at the Climate Pre-COP in Costa Rica, initial development of concepts for a toolkit on biodiversity finance, and the development of several pilot projects to be highlighted at the CBD Pre-COP in Cali, Colombia and at COP 15 in China.

The team's mission: Provide research support, assistance in drafting documents and communications materials, and general support to the Natural Capital Lab team.

What you'll do:
The selected candidate will:

  *   Provide technical, research and analytical support and contribute to research efforts on areas of work of the NCL, including:
     *   Conducting critical gathering of existing theoretical and empirical literature.
     *   Help to identify, collect and integrate data
     *   Provide technical, research and analytical support
     *   Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations and any administrative documents that might be needed.
     *   Provide support and engage in other activities agreed during the consultancy and coordinated by CSD supervisor.


What you'll need:

  *   Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may help with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.
  *   Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.
  *   Education: Associate Degree or equivalent
  *   Experience: two years of experience of relevant professional experience working in environmental areas
  *   Languages: the candidate must be fluent in English and Spanish, Portuguese a plus.
Core and Technical Competencies: Candidate should be self-motivated, demonstrate capacity to develop creative approaches to everyday administrative challenges and have the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a focus on details and a positive attitude. Excellent inter-personal and organizational skills; respond to requests promptly and resourcefully.

Opportunity Summary:

  *   Type of contract and modality: Consultant full time
  *   Length of contract: 6 months.
  *   Location: Headquarters, Washington DC, United States of America.
  *   Responsible Person: Sector Lead Specialist, CSD/CSD
  *   Requirements: You must be a citizen of one of the IDB's 48 member countries and have no family members currently working at the IDB Group.
Our culture: Our people are committed and passionate about improving lives in Latin-America and the Caribbean, and they get to do what they love in a diverse, collaborative and stimulating work environment. We are the first Latin American and Caribbean development institution to be awarded the EDGE certification, recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality. As an employee you can be part of internal resource groups that connect our diverse community around common interests.
We encourage women, afro-descendants, people of indigenous origins, and persons with disabilities to apply.
About us: At the IDB, we're committed to improving lives. Since 1959, we've been a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. We do more than lending though. We partner with our 48-member countries to provide Latin America and the Caribbean with cutting-edge research about relevant development issues, policy advice to inform their decisions, and technical assistance to improve on the planning and execution of projects. For this, we need people who not only have the right skills, but also are passionate about improving lives.
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.

Primary Location HQ-US-Washington DC

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