Call for Applications! for the post of Short-Term Legal Consultant – Environmental and International Law at The World Bank · Washington, DC
Application Closing Date: 3/7/2024
To Submit Your Application:
Interested candidates should send their CV, Cover letter, and List of 3 references to [email protected]
The subject line of the email should be “Ocean Governance and International Law Specialist – [NAME]”. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview
BACKGROUND
The Environmental and International Law Practice Group (LEGEN) of the World Bank provides advice and support to internal and external World Bank clients to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development, in accordance with World Bank policies and relevant international law. Specifically, LEGEN provides legal and policy advice and services to the Bank’s Regions, Global Practices and Global Themes and their respective Vice Presidencies. Advice is often provided in World Bank-financed projects, particularly on environmental and social safeguards; knowledge creation and knowledge sharing; and development of policies and procedures relating to environmental and international law.
PROBLUE is a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, housed at the World Bank, that supports the development of integrated, sustainable and healthy marine and coastal resources. PROBLUE commissioned LEGEN to develop a series of capacity building activities to address the challenges faced by decisionmakers, policymakers, and practitioners engaged in the Blue Economy to translate principles, rights and obligations of international conventions relating to the preservation of marine ecosystems, prevention of overfishing, promotion of marine scientific research, and elimination or reduction of ocean pollution from plastics, chemicals, and invasive species into national legal frameworks, policies and implementation. These conventions include the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the International Convention on the Control and Management of Water and Sediments from Ships (Ballast Water Management Convention), the UN Agreement Relating to the Convention and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (UNFSA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement, and many regional agreements.
To achieve this objective, the World Bank (WB), through LEGEN and in partnership with University of Melbourne Law School (MLS), the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations (DOALOS), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Center for Maritime and Oceanic Law at the University of Nantes (CDMO) (together, the Partners or the Partnership), and other interested organizations, are collaborating in the development and delivery of a training program titled “Ocean Governance Capacity Building.” Through this ongoing collaboration, the Partners have prepared training resources including an online self-paced e-learning course in English and French and delivered several regional workshops in 2021 and 2023 to officials of the World Bank member countries, World Bank Staff, and other practitioners in industry and civil society. Going forward, the Partners intend to:
- translate the self-paced e-learning course into further languages including Spanish;
- deliver a virtual training program, comprising of several regional workshops, including the one planned for Latin America and Caribbean region in May 2024, led by the WB as the leading partner for this program;
- deliver additional workshops in-person, depending on budget availability and health and safety conditions; and
- identify and pursue additional opportunities for collaboration and delivery of capacity development activities to further strengthen the oceans governance capacity of relevant stakeholders globally.
Objective and Scope of Assignment
The objective of this consulting assignment is to deliver a training program on public international law related to the oceans and international legal framework for the blue economy for participants from Latin America and the Caribbean region. The training covers the main international legal principles and obligations of countries, how these relate to sustainable development and healthy oceans, how they concern the activities of governments, businesses, and community members, and how these international legal principles and obligations can be implemented in national law.
The consultant will:
- Join meetings with the Task Team and partners to prepare for the course delivery.
- Deliver together with a co-facilitator from the World Bank Task Team virtual training sessions of the “Ocean Governance Capacity Building Training Program” in Spanish.
- Work with the co-facilitator to evaluate participants’ performance and overall learning outcomes of training sessions to further refine the training program.
- Provide advice to the World Bank team on oceans governance, the law of the sea, and international maritime law, and other tasks as needed.
This consulting assignment will be carried out by one individual consultant, working in close collaboration with the World Bank Task Team and other consultants and organizations working in partnership with the WB to deliver the training sessions. The assignment requires global expertise of ocean governance frameworks across various regions, and in particular Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Expected Outputs/Deliverables
The training program will cover the main international legal principles and obligations of countries related to sustainable ocean development, in particularly highlighting new developments, as well as relevant international and regional cooperation initiatives and national implementation efforts related to the oceans. Where appropriate, case studies and simulation exercises should be used to provide government officials, Bank staff and other training participants with hands-on knowledge of applying international regulations in national law, in potential judicial disputes in national courts, and in the operations of business and civil society actors. The training should point to tools and best practices that can be employed by government, business, and communities to achieve social and economic goals while preserving and promoting healthy oceans. The training materials will include written materials for training, presentations and other audio-visual aids as appropriate, and a self-paced e-learning course.
The expected deliverables are:
- Facilitate Spanish language sessions for the Latin America and the Caribbean Region workshop – May 2024.
- Deliver a short report including the participants’ performance evaluation and learning outcomes.
Administrative Arrangements
The consultant will be offered a World Bank consultancy contract for 10 days initially. The expected start date is March 15, 2024, and the expected end date is August 31, 2024. The assignment will be extended with additional days based on business needs and upon satisfactory performance.
The assignment will involve desk study, discussions with the World Bank team and other stakeholders via MS Teams or other technology as necessary to deliver training sessions.
The consultant will report to Loren Atkins (Counsel, LEGEN, Task Team Leader) and will work in close collaboration with the World Bank Task Team and other consultants engaged to deliver the overall activity.
Consultant’s Qualifications
The consultant should have the following qualifications:
- Advanced law degree required, with specialization in the Law of the Sea, international maritime law or relevant fields; PhD will be considered an advantage;
- At least 12 years of relevant experience in designing and delivering training and capacity building in a professional setting or at a higher education institution, preferably in Latin America and the Caribbean region;
- Proven track record of publications and prior research on the law of the sea, international maritime law, international marine environmental law, and other fields related to oceans governance;
- Familiarity with World Bank operations or investment projects financed by other multilateral development banks or bilateral development institutions is a plus;
- Cultural sensitivity and experience in presenting at meetings of culturally diverse and international groups;
- Excellent Spanish and English writing and oral skills (additional languages preferred – Portuguese and French); and
- An ability to effectively communicate theoretical concepts and illustrate such examples with practical examples, both hypothetical and factual.
To apply and for more details, refer here
