Program Officer
| Job #: | req35425 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Governance |
| Grade: | GF |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 2/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly
worthwhile? The World Bank Group (WBG) is a unique global partnership of five
institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a
living planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for
developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development
challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic,
diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices
worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in
groundbreaking projects and use data, research, and technology to bring
tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information,
visit www.worldbank.org. The over $12.5 billion Climate
Investment Fund (CIF) is the pioneer multilateral fund, mobilizing low-cost
finance for energy system transformation and sustainable development.
Established in 2008, CIF is the only multilateral fund working exclusively
through six AAA-rated multilateral development banks. In 2025, CIF became the
first multilateral climate fund to access capital markets, unlocking $500
million in private sector capital with the CIF Capital Markets Mechanism
(CCMM). The CIF
Secretariat hosted by The World Bank
supports the work of the CIF governing bodies, including strategy and
policy development as well as reporting; manages internal and external
institutional relations as well as strategic partnerships; supports program
development; delivers a large program of thought leadership, knowledge and
learning work; is responsible for portfolio risk management and new private
sector capital mobilization modalities and initiatives. CIF funding, featuring high quality
financing and high co-financing ratios, empowers developing countries, lowers
risk, enables first-of-their-kind investments, and contributes to
transformational change. www.cif.org Duties and Accountabilities: Governance Operations and Documentation • Provide legal and policy analysis on CIF governance matters, advising on compliance with the CIF Hosting Arrangement, policies, governance frameworks, and operational documents Stakeholder Relations and Communications • Provide guidance and legal advisory support to MDBs on CIF policies, procedures, and governance requirements Knowledge
Management and Process Improvement • Ensure governance and TFC documents are properly classified, filed and posted.
The CIF Secretariat is seeking a dynamic Governance
Officer to support CIF's Governance portfolio. The successful candidate is
expected to collaborate effectively with the Head of Governance and teams
across the CIF Secretariat, as well as CIF's key stakeholders, including CIF
partner Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), CIF contributors, recipient
countries, and the CIF Trustee.
• Lead development, clearance, and quality control of documents for Trust Fund Committee (TFC) presentations, ensuring legal accuracy, policy compliance, and confidentiality requirements
• Draft and review decision text, technical governance papers, and policy documents for TFC consideration, providing legal and substantive input
• Serve as backup to the Head of Governance on legal and governance matters, providing advice on interpretation of CIF governance documents and applicable policies
• Maintain document management systems ensuring accessibility and compliance with disclosure policies
• Coordinate day-to-day governance operations, track document submissions, and manage stakeholder workflow
• Support relationship management with CIF contributors, recipient countries, and TFC observers on governance and legal matters
• Prepare briefing materials, legal analyses, and technical governance papers
• Maintain effective working relationships with World Bank Legal, Governance, and other departments affecting CIF operations
• Contribute to enhancement of CIF governance systems, processes, and legal frameworks
• Support institutional knowledge management, maintaining repository of governance decisions and legal precedents
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and streamlining efforts
• Develop materials for capacity building on CIF governance and compliance requirements
Selection Criteria
• Law degree (LL.B., J.D., or equivalent legal qualification recognized for practice) with a Master's degree in law, international law, or related legal field strongly preferred
• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in legal advisory, governance, policy management, or related field in multilateral organizations or comparable institutions
• Strong legal analytical skills with ability to interpret complex governance frameworks, institutional agreements, and operational policies
• Experience providing legal or policy advisory support in international organizations, particularly on governance, compliance, or institutional arrangements
• Experience with document management, disclosure policies, and confidentiality requirements in legal or institutional contexts
• Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex legal or policy documents
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines in a legal/advisory capacity
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build trust and effective working relationships in a multicultural, multi-stakeholder environment
• Experience working with multilateral development banks or international financial institutions strongly preferred
• In-depth understanding of MDBs policies, procedures, and legal frameworks strongly preferred
• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision, exercise initiative, and provide backup support to senior colleagues
• Experience working with virtual teams and international stakeholders, including use of online collaboration tools
• Demonstrated flexibility, sound judgment, and discretion in handling sensitive legal and governance matters
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.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our vision is to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.
We are not a bank in the common sense; we are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 189 member countries: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
Each institution plays a different but collaborative role in advancing the vision of inclusive and sustainable globalization. The IBRD aims to reduce poverty in middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries, while IDA focuses on the world's poorest countries.
Their work is complemented by that of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Together, we provide low-interest loans, interest-free credits and grants to developing countries for a wide array of purposes that include investments in education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture and environmental and natural resource management.
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