Nature Based Solutions Specialist
- Extended Term Consultant Job #: req39138 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: EC3 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location:
New Delhi,India Required Language(s): English, Hindi Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 11/26/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd India's 11,099-kilometer coastline is home to 250 million people and supports key blue economy sectors including fisheries, tourism, agriculture, and transport. Despite its ecological richness, India's coastal ecosystems face mounting pressure from climate-induced hazards, coastal erosion, pollution, and land-use change. One-third of India's coastline is reported as vulnerable to erosion, threatening livelihoods, settlements, and biodiversity of global significance. The SHORE MPA has begun implementation in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka under Phase 1 and will be expanded to other coastal states such as Goa, Maharashtra, Puducherry and West Bengal under subsequent phases. It aims to increase the resilience of targeted coastal communities and ecosystems, focusing on four components: (i) strengthening institutions for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); (ii) shoreline management, coastal protection and conservation; (iii) improving livelihoods for natural resource-dependent communities; and (iv) enhancing marine pollution management and plastic circularity. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are central to Component 2, which supports mangrove, seagrass and coral reef conservation management and restoration, along with shelter belts, bio-shields, and hybrid coastal erosion management measures such as beach nourishment, sand dune stabilization, artificial reefs, and others. Where relevant, NBS investments should be coordinated with livelihood activities such as eco-tourism and mangrove-friendly value chains to ensure that conservation-livelihood tradeoffs are managed. The project also involves establishment of Centers of Excellence for coastal ecosystem management, long-term biodiversity monitoring, and eco-tourism. The Environment (ENV) Department in South Asia seeks to recruit a highly skilled and motivated ET Consultant (Nature-based Solutions Specialist) to provide technical, operational, and analytical support to the World Bank task team and the state-level implementing agencies in planning, implementing, and monitoring nature-based solutions for coastal resilience under the SHORE MPA. The ET Consultant will report to the ENV Practice Manager for the South Asia Region (SAR) and work under the supervision of the SHORE Task Team Leaders. The South Asia Region comprises six countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis.



This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the world’s poorest, with 216 million people living below $1.9/day. The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar The Environment Department (ENV), located within the World Bank’s Planet Practice Group has been established to deliver on the opportunities, advantages and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources. ENV provides expertise, technical assistance and financing to help countries manage land, sea and freshwater natural resources in a sustainable way to help create jobs, improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem services, decrease pollution and increase resilience to climate change. Over 360 ENV staff working across the globe help set developing countries on a clean, green growth trajectory for resilient economies and healthy communities. The SSAE1 unit comprises around 30 staff, with 95 percent based in Country Offices. The rest of the team is based in Washington DC. Our Sri Lanka country office is a joint World Bank/International Finance Cooperation office, comprising approximately 100 staff, including an ETC working on setting, providing a vibrant, collegial working environment. Duties and accountabilities: The ET Consultant will have the following tasks: 1)Technical Advisory and Operational Support •Provide technical guidance to the task team and clients on the design, siting, and implementation of NBS interventions including mangrove, coastal sandy-soil & cliff forests, seagrass and coral reef conservation and restoration, bio-shields and shelter belts, and hybrid erosion management. •Support preparation and quality review of sub-project-level technical designs for NBS activities, including for e.g. Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), and Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs). •Advise on screening of NBS sub-project sites to avoid ecologically sensitive areas, no-go zones, and areas with high biodiversity value in line with State Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) and Shoreline Management Plans (SMP). •Contribute to Implementation Support Missions and progress report reviews from implementing agencies related to NBS design and implementation. 2)Global Knowledge and Technical Expertise •Support the implementation of nature-based solutions-related advisory services and knowledge products, including through technical inputs, guidance materials, and planning for the timely delivery of analytical products. •Generate and curate knowledge, such as by identifying best practices and lessons learned on NBS for coastal protection, and promote dissemination at the national and global levels. •Support the team in technical assessments/analyses related to NBS e.g. cost-benefit analysis frameworks for NBS interventions, assessment of ecosystem services and livelihoods benefits. •Support the design and operationalization of long-term NBS/ecosystem monitoring programs in line with project results frameworks. 3)Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building •Contribute to the engagement and policy dialogue with government counterparts and other collaborators in the NBS space. •Support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities for state officials, community groups, and technical staff on NBS principles,



implementation, and adaptive management. This may include knowledge exchange between SHORE state teams, with national institutions (e.g., NCSCM, NIOT, NCCR, IIT-Madras, SDMRI), and with other countries that are implementing coastal NBS projects. •Engage with local natural-resource dependent communities and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the design of community-driven NBS interventions. This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered. Selection Criteria
• Master's (or higher) degree in marine ecology, coastal engineering, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, geography, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in nature-based solutions, forestry/mangroves, coastal ecosystem management, coastal resilience, natural resource management, and/or sustainable development fields with demonstrated experience in World Bank operations and analytics.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise on nature-based solutions, which may include mangrove restoration, coral reef rehabilitation, seagrass conservation, shelter belts, bio-shields, or green-grey hybrid coastal protection.
• Robust technical skills with remote sensing, coastal modeling tools, or GIS as applied to coastal ecosystem management.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse qualitative and quantitative data and information. Ability to develop, conduct, or review assessments of NBS design and implementation is an advantage.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to produce high-quality analytical and advisory outputs for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working on South Asia and familiarity with the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification framework and ICZM principles in the Indian context is an advantage.
• Good team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, motivate and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries.
• A drive for results while working with limited supervision and under tight timelines.
Additional Considerations: As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working on fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV)-related contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable. 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 As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments. 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.

📌 Nature Based Solutions Specialist (New Delhi)
🏢 World Bank Group
📍 New Delhi