Industry Specialist - Climate Smart Agriculture

Industry Specialist - Climate Smart Agriculture Job #: req34162 Organization: IFC Sector: Agribusiness 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: 9/23/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) department covers a wide range of sectors essential for economic growth and for basic human needs such as food, shelter, a habitable and sustainable climate, jobs, health and education. MAS clients – that include leading global and regional / local industry players - play a critical role in producing goods and providing services demanded by consumers and that are required for infrastructure, business and global supply chains. 

Through the business it does with its private sector clients, IFC's priorities in MAS include (but are not limited to): (i) increasing productivity and access to manufactured goods and services,  including production of food/commodities and supply chains, while supporting low carbon growth and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts; (ii) making IFC the financing partner of choice for targeted clients, in part through its world-class industry expertise; (iii) supporting select local companies to grow while improving their transparency, efficiency and sustainable competitiveness; (iv) catalyzing investment through our mobilization activities; and (v) developing scalable client, sector and country-level investment and advisory solutions.

MAS Climate Business helps to deliver IFC’s climate and broader sustainability strategies and targets. Our platform comprises a network of investment professionals, industry specialists, analysts and other staff that work with MAS sector teams and clients to build and finance a pipeline of climate investments. MAS Climate Business crafts strategies, develops tools, and engages in business development with clients to promote IFC’s expertise and finance products for investments in energy efficiency, renewables, green buildings, circular economy, climate smart agriculture, sustainable forestry and other decarbonization pathways. We help clients to achieve their climate strategies and commitments in their operations and supply chains. We look to scale proven abatement/adaptation technologies and to pilot select innovative technologies that our clients want to implement. We identify business models and approaches that can be replicated and scaled.

The World Bank defines Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) as an approach to managing landscapes—cropland, livestock, forests, fisheries—that aims to achieve three “wins”: (1) Increased productivity to improve food security and boost farmers’ incomes; (2) Enhanced resilience to drought, pests, disease and other shocks; (3) Reduced GHG emissions. IFC seeks to contribute to CSA by providing investments and advisory operations that contribute to these three pillars of CSA. IFC promotes CSA through our work with private sector clients to sustainably increase food production on existing agricultural land and reduce the operational environmental footprint of food manufacturing. In CSA, IFC focuses on three strategic themes: (i) Improving yield and productivity of land while reducing input use and GHG emissions per ton of output, especially through precision farming and Regenerative Agricultural practices, (ii) Sustainably increasing productivity and reducing the GHG intensity and resource footprint of animal protein production, and (iii) Reducing post-harvest losses in supply chains globally.

Agribusiness is central to IFC/WBG strategies. The WBG recently announced a major increase in financing in the sector to enhance job creation and food security. This initiative, called AgriConnect, aims to double the WBG’s agri-finance commitments to US$9 billion p.a. by 2030, with a greater focus on farmers and the entire agri/food ecosystem. AgriConnect aims to transform agricultural practices through innovative technologies and sustainable practices. Initially, it will prioritize focus on Africa, where significant agricultural potential remains underutilized.

IFC is seeing increased demand from clients for Regenerative Agriculture, a high impact but complex, multi-dimensional space from an investment thesis and credible impact standpoint. In this context, MAS Climate Business is seeking a Climate Smart Agriculture Industry Specialist,  to support our climate work, and specifically, to help develop and expand our Regenerative Agriculture investment program within our broader AgriConnect and CSA investment programs.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Industry Specialist will work closely with MAS’s Senior Industry Specialist for Climate Smart Agriculture and other relevant investment, and sector specialists across IFC’s industry + regional matrix to develop IFC’s Regenerative Agriculture program and deliver IFC’s climate / sustainability strategies and targets in Agri/Food sectors. S/he will have three main objectives:

Develop IFC’s Regenerative Agriculture approach. Working with specialists and teams across different functions (e.g., Environmental & Social, Nature Finance, Carbon Markets, Climate Metrics Group/Climate Business Department - CBD) and regions to develop, pilot, and then scale a credible and practical approach and framework for Regenerative Agriculture that can be a template for other DFIs to follow and serve as a roadmap for IFC’s investments and advisory operations in this area.
Grow the Business. Position IFC as clients’ chosen partner for Climate Smart and Regenerative Agriculture. Support business development (especially but not limited to clients who have made Regenerative Agri commitments and / or that aim to reduce their Scope 3 emissions) to develop a pipeline of climate investments that can be financed by IFC.

Help MAS deliver its climate commitments. Advise clients and IFC investment teams on climate related aspects and opportunities of our investment projects in the agriculture and food industry and analyze, quantify, document and maximize climate impacts / co-benefits.  Make the case and build and process pipeline until final climate finance credit is given.

More specifically, key areas of responsibility will include:
•   Engage with internal (including WBG) and external stakeholders to develop a credible and practical approach to Regenerative Agriculture as part of IFC’s strategic focus in CSA. 
•   Develop and operationalize an IFC framework and toolkit for Regenerative Agriculture with criteria that can identify a baseline for clients and guide their progress over time.
•   Analyze the strategic and climate / environmental / business benefits for clients from adopting regenerative practices, sustainability certifications, and making CSA related investments. Utilize different recognized internal and external tools to estimate climate impacts.
•   Discuss and share knowledge with IFC investment and advisory teams and with clients on CSA - in general and Regenerative Agriculture more specifically.
•   Prepare case studies, knowledge products, and publications on relevant IFC projects for internal and external audiences.
•   Prepare concise reports and presentations with logical climate arguments of CSA interventions and investments, clearly demonstrating expected climate impacts and business benefits.
•   Help to shape new business models and implement transactions that can be replicated and scaled, especially those that target farm level improvements in clients’ supply chains. Explore delivery platforms (e.g. Financial Institutions, Funds, client country programs).
•   Participate in discussions with existing or prospective agribusiness clients to understand their strategies, business models and operations from a climate standpoint. Prepare questions on climate risks and GHG reduction opportunities in client operations and planned investments. 
•   Support the development of CSA related tools that are relevant to MAS clients. 
•   Support the Senior Climate Smart Agriculture Industry Specialist with market research, reviewing reports, business development and other tasks as requested.
•   Help build a pipeline and work with investment teams to proactively shape and review the climate related aspects of MAS’s agri-forestry investments: analyze, quantify and document climate impacts / co-benefits. Actively support the process until CBD recognition is given.  
•   Liaise with World Bank Agriculture and Climate Change Global Practices for knowledge sharing, coordinate with MAS sector teams and specialists where appropriate.

Selection Criteria

•   Commitment to IFC and the World Bank Group’s mission, strategy, and values.
•   Advanced degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g. agriculture, environmental sciences or related field).
•   Experience in contributing to the development of innovative solutions and building a new product or business line 
•   Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the private sector or a private sector facing organization. 
•   Hands on experience in the agribusiness sector (especially related to Regenerative Agriculture) and on relevant climate change (mitigation, adaptation, carbon markets) topics for the role.
•   Experience working on technologies relevant to Climate Smart / Regenerative Agriculture - climate smart fertilizer use, efficient irrigation, sustainable forestry management, animal/agri waste management, cold-chain development, improved logistics and storage, among others. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and sound business judgment to identify issues and present creative and practical solutions.
•   Knowledge of MDB Climate Finance Methodology and Paris Agreement alignment process.
•   Experience working on structured financing products (Green, Blue, and Sustainability Linked Loans/Bonds, or other incentive linked instrument) is a strong plus.
•   Strong business sense on what motivates private sector strategic and investment priorities, what is / is not economically viable; ability to exercise good judgment and selectivity on where to prioritize focus given the internal and external audience.
•   Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams, attention to detail and drive for results.
•   Track record in effective multi-stakeholder project management.
•   Proven ability to manage complexity and resolve competing priorities and interests.
•   Ability to work independently and quickly course correct post-feedback.
•   Ability to manage multiple priorities and demands in fast paced environment.
•   High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; and willingness to travel.
•   High degree of discretion, ethics, and sensitivity in handling confidential information.
•   Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. French, Portuguese or Spanish a plus.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.