World Bank Ethiopia Job Vacancy 2026 – Environmental Specialist

The World Bank is hiring an Environmental Specialist in Addis Ababa to support environmental, social, health, and safety risk management for World Bank-financed projects in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

About the World Bank

The World Bank Group is an international development organization that works with governments and other partners in developing countries to support economic development, reduce poverty, and improve living conditions.

The position is part of the Eastern and Southern Africa Region and the Central Safeguards Unit, which provides environmental and social risk management support and oversight for World Bank-financed investment projects.

Available Position

Position 1: Environmental Specialist – 1 Position

• Job Reference: req38036
• Organization: World Bank
• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
• Sector: Safeguards
• Grade: GF
• Contract Duration: 3 years
• Required Language: English
• Preferred Language: Amharic
• Application Deadline: August 25, 2026
• Duty Travel: Extensive travel, including to remote rural areas

Position Overview

The Environmental Specialist will focus on environmental and social risk management, environmental health and safety, and safeguards for World Bank-supported projects in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The position will support implementation of the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and related environmental and social risk management requirements. The role will also help strengthen national systems and institutional capacity for environmental, health, and safety risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental and social risk management due diligence for World Bank-financed operations.
• Support preparation of Environmental and Social Review Summaries (ESRSs), Environmental and Social sections of Project Appraisal Documents, and related documentation.
• Integrate environmental, health, and safety considerations into project design, preparation, appraisal, and implementation.
• Support compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, WBG Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, IFC Performance Standards, and other applicable good international practices.
• Guide clients and counterparts in preparing environmental and social documents, including ESIAs, ESMPs, ESCPs, Labor Management Procedures, Stakeholder Engagement Plans, and Project Implementation Manuals.
• Support environmental assessment disclosure and public consultation processes.
• Provide technical guidance on biodiversity management, resource efficiency, waste management, occupational health and safety, dam safety, and international waterways where applicable.
• Support incident and accident management, including root-cause analysis, corrective actions, reporting, and appropriate confidentiality.
• Organize needs assessments, capacity-building activities, and technical training on environmental, health, and safety risk management.
• Collaborate with World Bank teams to integrate environmental and social risk management capacity development into sector programs.
• Work with Lead Specialists, Country Management Unit coordinators, Task Team Leaders, Procurement, Legal, and other technical teams to ensure quality and consistency in safeguards and risk management.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in environmental or natural sciences, environmental engineering, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Technical training or experience in areas such as:
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Solid waste management
  • Large-scale civil engineering
  • Pollution prevention and control
  • Biodiversity and conservation
• Minimum 5 years of full-time relevant professional experience in environmental management.
• Experience managing environmental, social, health, and safety risks associated with large infrastructure, extractive, or industrial projects.
• Experience applying the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework or similar international sustainability frameworks.
• Experience preparing environmental safeguards and risk management documents.

Additional Experience and Skills

• Experience with environmental, social, health, and safety risks associated with large infrastructure projects such as roads, dams, irrigation, power systems, and water systems is highly desirable.
• Project management and operational skills.
• Occupational health and safety management experience.
• Experience working with contractors with varying levels of capacity.
• Capacity-building experience in environmental, health, and safety risk management is an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain a diplomatic approach.
• Experience working in developing countries and understanding national environmental policy and institutional challenges.
• Experience in fragile, conflict, and violence-affected countries is beneficial.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative environmental data.
• Willingness to travel extensively, including to remote locations.
• Fluency in English and Amharic, both spoken and written, is required.

Employment Benefits

The World Bank Group states that its benefits include:

• Retirement plan
• Medical insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid leave, including parental leave
• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities

Job Summary

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should apply through the World Bank Group Careers portal and search for Job #req38036 – Environmental Specialist.

Applicants should carefully review the selection criteria before applying, as the employer advises candidates not to apply if they do not substantially meet the stated requirements.

Application Deadline: August 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC

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